#116: [Inside the Mind] Andrew Reynolds: Reducing Cognitive Fatigue, Skill Development Lag, and How to Play Freely

Pressure, perfectionism, and overthinking—three traits that quietly sabotage golfers chasing freedom on the course.

In this conversation, Andrew Reynolds, cognitive performance coach and founder of The COG Coach, breaks down what it truly means to play with freedom—and why most golfers never achieve it. He shares how to design practice that mirrors real pressure, add consequence to every rep, and build process-driven routines that hold up when the stakes rise.

We explore the hidden cost of mental fatigue, how to protect cognitive energy over 18 holes, and the psychological "skill-development lag" that frustrates so many golfers chasing progress. Andrew also explains the three-step framework to reframe destructive self-talk, find safety in discomfort, and make your best golf automatic under pressure—whether you're grinding for your first club championship or a tour card.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What "playing with freedom" actually means—and how to create it on demand
• How to add consequence to practice so it transfers under pressure
• The accountability hacks that keep you in the hard reps (where skill grows)
• A simple blueprint for durable pre-shot and pre-round routines
• How to spot and reframe irrational self-talk in real time
• Managing cognitive energy and decision fatigue across 18 holes
• Why process beats results—and how to believe it when scores matter

Get your pencils ready and start listening.

P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here.

More About Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds is a Cognitive Performance Coach based in the UK. Andrew helps golfers, from weekend amateurs to touring professionals, develop the ability to perform under pressure and play their best golf when it matters.

You can reach Andrew via email at andy@thecogcoach.com or at his website www.thecogcoach.com.

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High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching

Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.

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