Michael Leonard: How to STOP Playing Scared Golf

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EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00: Michael Leonard introduces his four Wicked Smart Golf books that focus on mental and fitness aspects of golf rather than swing mechanics.
02:11: Discussion on training strategies, ditching the ego, and moving forward on the tee box.
04:38: Explaining the quote "only the paranoid survive" and using visualization apps like Kairo.
10:35: How golfers focus too much on outcomes rather than deep processes and underlying principles.
15:32: Exploring why golfers typically perform worse during high-stress tournament competitions.
25:02: Analyzing the role of anger in golf and how to process it neutrally to get it under control.
32:50: Strategies for managing game-day jitters and dealing with the fear of hitting bad shots.
42:52: A breakdown of strokes-gained metrics, long putting techniques, and how to build a stronger mental foundation.
50:20: Michael details his plan to achieve a plus-five goal through rigorous stat tracking and distance training.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Why do golfers play worse under pressure—even when they have the swing to shoot lower scores?

In this episode of The Mental Golf Show, I join Josh to dive deep into the psychology of golf and share the mental strategies that have helped me go from an average golfer to a +2 handicap while chasing my goal of +5.

We discuss why pressure feels overwhelming, how visualization can improve your performance, the importance of embracing discomfort, and why your decisions—not just your swing—determine your scores. We also explore anger on the golf course, target selection, playing freely, and the mindset shifts that help golfers finally break through scoring barriers.

Whether you're trying to break 90, shoot your career low, or simply enjoy golf more, this episode is packed with practical mental game strategies you can use in your next round.

In this episode:
⛳️Why golf feels so hard (and why that's a good thing)
⛳️The real purpose of visualization—and how to use it correctly
⛳️Why golfers struggle under pressure
⛳️How to stop playing scared golf
⛳️Using discomfort to become a better player
⛳️Can anger actually help your game?
⛳️Smarter target selection and decision-making
⛳️Breaking through scoring plateaus
⛳️My plan to go from a +2 to a +5 handicap

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