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The Scratch Golfer's Mindset

The Scratch Golfer's Mindset

By: Paul Salter
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 Paul Salter is a triple-digit golfer on a quest to become a scratch golfer. He's also a High-Performance Mindset Coach and Credentialed Hypnotherapist with 15 years of experience helping high performers from all walks of life get unstuck and unlock their full potential. Each week, Paul will share the emotional and mindset shifts you need to make to make mastering the mental game of golf simple, tangible, and relatable so that you can overcome the mental hazards keeping you stuck in the proverbial bunker of poor performance. He'll also routinely keep you updated on his progress toward par while sharing a raw and vulnerable look into his own collection of mental hazards he must overcome. Whether you're an occasional amateur, a weekend regular, or a competitor seeking a tournament trophy or your pro card, this podcast will help you play better golf.2024 Golf Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • #121: Delusional Goals Require Delusional Action (Your Effort is Embarrassing)

    #121: Delusional Goals Require Delusional Action (Your Effort is Embarrassing)
    Dec 22 2025
    Most golfers aren't short on belief… They're short on behavior. They'll say they're going to qualify for a USGA event, win their club championship, or finally break 80 consistently… then practice "when it's convenient," avoid pressure, and wonder why their confidence keeps collapsing the moment things get uncomfortable. This episode is a gut-check (and a blueprint): being delusional in your thinking isn't the issue—being delusional without matching action is. Because that gap—between what you say you want and what you repeatedly do—is where frustration, self-doubt, guilt, and stalled progress live. You'll hear why high performers aren't just delusional in their goals… they're delusional in their standards, their commitment, and their consistency—and how to bring that same congruency into your off-season so next season finally matches the player you believe you are. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "big belief + small execution" creates anxiety—not confidenceHow to stop underestimating the action required to reach big goalsThe real difference between being interested and being committedWhy small goals create negotiation, and big goals create clarityHow to build identity through consistent, unreasonable repsWhat your subconscious does when you start standing out—and how to override itA simple weekly lens: "What would a scratch golfer do this week?" 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. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. 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. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: Delusional thinking is fun—delusional action is what changes your handicap.The real problem isn't lack of belief; it's underestimating the reps required.When your goals and habits aren't aligned, you don't feel confident—you feel anxious.Small goals invite negotiation; big goals demand commitment and simplify decisions.Identity isn't what you claim—it's what your calendar proves.The moment you stand out, your subconscious will try to pull you back into "safe."Your breakthrough happens when thinking, doing, and identity finally match. Key Quotes: "Being delusional isn't the problem. Being delusional without matching action—that is the problem.""Big beliefs, small execution. And this dissonance creates anxiety, not confidence.""The reason you're not achieving your goals isn't lack of capacity to believe—it's lack of action taken to align with the delusional thinking.""As soon as you accept how hard it is, the journey becomes easier.""Small goals require constant negotiation. Big goals demand full commitment.""Most people are delusional in their thinking, conservative in their action, inconsistent in their identity.""Your breakthrough doesn't happen when you feel confident—it happens when your thinking, doing, and identity finally align." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Delusional World of Jake Paul02:39: Understanding Delusion in Action07:50: The Gap Between Thinking and Action10:24: The 10X Rule and Its Implications13:21: Commitment vs. Interest in Goals15:46: The Power of Delusional Thinking18:35: Personal Stories of Delusional Action21:16: Closing the Gap with Action23:35: Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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    29 mins
  • #120: [Inside the Mind] Casey Jacox: Strength in Humility, Staying Curious, and the Endless ROI on Prioritizing Relationships

    #120: [Inside the Mind] Casey Jacox: Strength in Humility, Staying Curious, and the Endless ROI on Prioritizing Relationships
    Dec 18 2025
    What if your ego is quietly costing you the very things you say you want—better numbers, deeper relationships, more freedom, and more fun on the golf course? In this conversation, former all-time leading salesperson turned coach, author, and podcast host Casey Jacox joins me to unpack how humility, curiosity, and relationship-driven leadership can help you win in business, golf, and fatherhood—without burning yourself (or everyone around you) out. We dig into the invisible pressure high performers feel to always do more, how easily we tie our worth to our results, and why so many men confuse anger and intensity with "high performance." Casey shares powerful stories from his football career, corporate life, and his journey as a dad and scratch-level golfer to show you a more sustainable way to compete and win. In this episode, you'll learn: How to chase big goals without tying your self-worth to your numbers or handicapWhy humility and relationships are your real competitive advantage in sales, business, and golfThe difference between fear-driven and curiosity-driven behavior—and how to shift into curiositySimple questions you can ask clients, teams, and yourself to uncover blind spots and ego trapsHow to "bench your ego" for 30 days and the measurable changes that will show up in your life and gameThe hidden pressure many dads carry—and how to protect presence with your kids without tanking your careerPractical ways to use gratitude, curiosity, and "even though…" reframes to bounce back faster after setbacks on and off the course Get your pencils ready and start listening. P.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 Casey Casey Jacox is an author, keynote speaker, executive coach, sales advisor, former collegiate quarterback, and the host of The Quarterback DadCast. After a 20-year career in corporate leadership—where he became the all-time leading salesperson at his company—Casey shifted his focus to helping leaders communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and lead with humility in business and at home. He is the author of WIN the RELATIONSHIP, Not the DEAL, and is widely known for his work with elite athletes, high-performing executives, and entrepreneurial founders. Whether he's coaching CEOs, interviewing world-class performers, or sharing real stories of fatherhood, Casey blends honesty, vulnerability, resilience, and leadership in a way that challenges people to grow from the inside out. Connect with Casey. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. 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. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: Humility isn't weakness; it's how you stay grounded when success, money, and recognition start stacking up.Relationships are not transactions—treat them like a bank account and make consistent deposits before you ever ask for a withdrawal.Fear-driven behavior protects the ego; curiosity-driven behavior unlocks growth and deeper connection.The right questions at the right time are more powerful than the perfect pitch, speech, or pep talk.Benching your ego leads to better leadership, less stress, stronger teams, and more enjoyment on the golf course.Being a present dad often requires brave decisions about boundaries, time, and saying "no" to good opportunities.Golf is a mirror: how you respond to bad shots, slumps, and frustration reveals how you handle pressure everywhere else. Key Quotes: "When you're great, other people will tell you. If you have to tell everyone how good you are, you're probably not that good.""People who treat relationships like transactions miss the bigger picture—you get back what you consistently deposit.""Fear-driven people are afraid to ask for help. Curiosity-driven people say, 'I don't know' and then do something about it.""It's not what you say that closes the deal or builds trust. It's what you ask.""The mind is the best tool in your golf bag—and only you have access to it.""Do you want to be right, or do you want to get what you want?""I'm never ...
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    50 mins
  • #119: The Likeable Loser: Why Being "Easy to Play With" Is Costing You the Life and Game You Want

    #119: The Likeable Loser: Why Being "Easy to Play With" Is Costing You the Life and Game You Want
    Dec 15 2025
    You've been "the fun guy" in the group for so long that you've started confusing being liked with being safe. You crack jokes. You wave people through. You rush putts. You skip your full routine because you don't want to be "that guy." You downplay your standards with, "We're just out here having fun." And then you walk off 18 quietly frustrated… because you do care. You do want to play well. You do want to shoot lower scores and be taken seriously. This episode is about the identity I call the Likeable Loser: the man who sacrifices his standards, edge, and ambition to remain accepted, easy, and socially safe—on the course, in business, and in relationships. In this episode, you'll learn: What the Likeable Loser is (and why he's not lazy, broken, or incapable)How people-pleasing shows up on the scorecard through rushed process and softened standardsWhy "winners are assholes" is a hidden belief that keeps you stuckHow labeling a "part" of you creates distance, clarity, and choiceWhy this pattern formed: belonging, approval, and social safetyThe real cost: self-trust, self-respect, integrity, and inner peaceHow to pursue excellence without becoming arrogant, intense, or unlikeable 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. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. 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. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: If you keep choosing "liked" over "aligned," your game will always feel capped—even if your swing improves.The Likeable Loser isn't unmotivated—he's over-indexed on approval, and it's leaking into every decision.Rushing your routine to protect group comfort is a form of self-betrayal that compounds over 18 holes."We're just out here having fun" becomes a shield—until the round ends and the truth shows up as frustration.You won't win consistently while you secretly believe winners are jerks—your subconscious will keep you 'safe' at good-enough.Labeling the part ("the Likeable Loser") creates space: you can observe the pattern instead of being owned by it.The upgrade isn't trying harder—it's giving yourself permission to be fully you: standards, routine, voice, ambition. Key Quotes: "Somewhere along the way, being liked became far more important than being great.""You're not lazy. You're not unmotivated. You're not incapable. You are, however, over-indexed on approval.""The likable loser is the man who sacrifices his standards, edge and ambition in order to remain accepted, easy and socially safe.""When you can label the emotion you're feeling… you create distance, and that distance allows you to invite in curiosity.""On one hand you want to win. On the other hand there's a belief that says winners are assholes. There's an incongruency there.""The cost isn't just strokes or revenue. It's self-trust, self-respect, integrity, inner peace.""The upgrade here doesn't require trying harder… it requires being truer, giving yourself permission." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Likable Loser: An Introduction02:34: Understanding the Patterns of People Pleasing05:36: The Cost of Being Liked08:04: The Impact of the Likable Loser on Performance10:49: Unpacking Beliefs Around Winning13:23: Transforming the Likable Loser Identity16:00: Embracing Authenticity and Ambition18:38: The Journey to Self-Respect21:17: Taking Aligned Action23:54: Conclusion and Call to Action
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    28 mins
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