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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
  • #93: [Inside the Mind] Michael Leonard: Training Your Mindset and The Blueprint for Tournament Golf

    #93: [Inside the Mind] Michael Leonard: Training Your Mindset and The Blueprint for Tournament Golf
    Sep 11 2025
    Tournament golf will test every ounce of your discipline, patience, and emotional control—and Michael Leonard has lived it. In this conversation, good friend and founder of Wicked Smart Golf, Michael Leonard, is back on the show to break down the real differences between the mental game and mindset training, the traits that separate consistent performers from the rest, and how to protect your energy when negativity surrounds you. In this episode, you’ll learn: The key differences between the mental game of golf and true mindset trainingHow to identify and eliminate self-talk that sabotages your performanceWhy protecting your energy is a prerequisite for tournament successThe growth mindset traits every serious golfer must developHow to use your “dark side” and competitive drive as fuel for improvementStrategies for thriving in high-pressure, tournament conditionsThe #1 mistake golfers make when transitioning into competitive play 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 Michael Michael is the founder of Wicked Smart Golf, a brand and podcast dedicated to helping golfers shoot lower scores without overhauling their swings. A competitive amateur with hundreds of tournament rounds under his belt, Michael has authored a trilogy of golf improvement books covering breaking 90, breaking 80, and mastering tournament play. Through his writing, speaking, and coaching, he simplifies the mental game, sharpens course management skills, and teaches players how to build the mindset needed to perform under pressure—on and off the course. Connect with him on Instagram. Watch him on YouTube. Purchase “Wicked Smart Golf” on Amazon. Subscribe to the Wicked Smart Golf Podcast. Work with Michael. 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 Twitter: @parsoverbogeys Key Takeaways: Mindset is how you think off the course. The mental game is how you execute on it.Self-talk, especially speaking in absolutes, directly shapes performance.Growth mindset starts with how you respond to others’ success—use it as fuel.Purpose and competition keep men emotionally engaged and focused.Mentally tough golfers have self-discipline, challenge themselves, and “just keep going.”Tournament golf requires planning, emotional regulation, and stimulus management.Stick to your routine. Under pressure, you fall to the level of your habits.The dark side—if understood—can be a powerful motivator.Complacency is the real enemy of progress. Key Quotes: If you're not training mindset daily, it won’t be there when you need it most.Self-talk isn't just words—it’s wiring your subconscious for what happens next.Tournament golf exposes the gaps between preparation and performance.You fall to the level of your habits, not rise to your expectations.I don't want to retire. I want to die with nothing in the tank.Discipline eventually becomes identity—and that's where the breakthroughs happen.Sometimes you need to create an enemy to bring out your best. Time Stamps: 00:00: Rebuilding Mindset After Loss03:06: Understanding the Mental Game of Golf vs. Mindset05:38: The Power of Self-Talk and Its Impact08:50: Navigating Negative Influences in Golf11:46: Embracing a Growth Mindset for Success14:26: The Importance of Perseverance and Patience17:27: Characteristics of Mentally Tough Individuals20:18: The Role of Purpose in Motivation24:58: The Purpose of Work and Life26:05: Understanding Competitiveness27:18: Defining Winning in Golf28:14: Embracing the Dark Side30:54: Using Enemies as Fuel32:10: The Importance of Standing Out33:13: Reflecting on Personal Growth36:55: Common Misunderstandings in Tournament Golf40:09: Staying Present in the Moment41:26: Resources for Improvement
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    50 mins
  • #92: You Are Your Biggest Enemy to Next-Level Success

    #92: You Are Your Biggest Enemy to Next-Level Success
    Sep 9 2025
    What do an NFL spitting incident and a sideline scuffle have to do with your scorecard? Everything—because they expose how quickly a Destructive Mindset Program (DMP) can hijack your brain and your behavior. In this solo episode of The Scratch Golfer’s Mindset, I break down the trigger → emotion → belief → behavior chain, discuss how it plays out on the course (and at work, and at home), and share how to dismantle these patterns so you stop self-sabotaging and finally play to your potential. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why triggers flip your brain “offline” and create tunnel visionThe simple flowchart of every DMP: Trigger → Emotion → Belief → BehaviorHow anger, fear, or pressure quietly rewrite your self-talk mid-roundWhy “survive, not thrive” is your default—and how to reverse itRapid reset tools (breathwork, presence, gratitude) you can use between shotsThe deeper identity-level work (mindset coaching + hypnosis) that rewires patterns Listen now if you’re done with two-steps-forward, three-steps-back rounds and ready to build beliefs and behaviors that hold under pressure. Get your pencils ready and start listening. 1-1 High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching: If you’re serious about getting out of your own way and playing to your potential, click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit. High-Performance Hypnosis Guided Audios: Ready to get a taste of hypnosis? Click here to choose from one of my unique hypnosis audios to help you accelerate improvement in a specific area of your game. Click here to read my Ultimate Guide to Golf Hypnosis. Purchase the Wicked Smart Practice Plan Formula: Click here to learn how to practice with intention and what to do to get the most out of your practice sessions to drop your scores - fast. Use the code “salter” at checkout to save 10%. 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 Twitter: @parsoverbogeys Key Takeaways: It’s not “if,” it’s “when.” Triggers will happen—build a plan for them.DMPs are learned. You fall back to what kept you “safe” before, even if it costs you now.Tunnel vision = trouble. Big emotions narrow attention and drive rash decisions.Scorecard sabotage is identity-level. Close to a breakthrough? Fear of success often fires a DMP.Awareness beats willpower. Map your trigger → emotion → belief → behavior sequence in writing. Key Quotes: “When a trigger hits, an emotion hijacks the steering wheel of your decision-making.”“Every DMP follows the same chain: trigger, emotion, belief, behavior—fast and unconscious.”“Your brain is built to survive, not thrive; safety is familiar, not optimal.”“On the course, you don’t rise to your goals—you fall to your programs.”“Awareness without action is trivia; awareness with a plan is transformation.”“If you keep stopping what works right before the breakthrough, that’s a DMP, not a discipline problem.”“Success is a choice—once you retire the programs that keep choosing safety.” Time Stamps: 00:00: Introduction to Irrational Behavior02:53: Understanding Destructive Mindset Programs05:36: Triggers and Emotional Responses08:18: The Role of Learned Behavior11:18: Relating Mindset to Golf and Poker14:13: The Impact of Pressure and Expectations16:55: Dismantling Destructive Mindset Programs19:41: The Importance of Coaching22:34: Conclusion and Future Directions
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    33 mins
  • #91: Toxic Positivity: Why “Just Stay Positive” Holds You Back

    #91: Toxic Positivity: Why “Just Stay Positive” Holds You Back
    Sep 4 2025
    What if the very “stay positive” mindset you’ve been praised for is actually keeping you stuck? In this solo episode of The Scratch Golfer’s Mindset Podcast, I call out toxic positivity for what it is: emotional avoidance dressed up as optimism. We dig into why the golf world has gone too soft, how repressing anger and discomfort quietly drains your energy and focus, and why elite performers train themselves to operate when conditions are far from perfect. You’ll learn how to replace false cheer with authentic optimism—the relentless belief in yourself to handle hard things—using a simple three-step framework: Acknowledge, Accept, Act. We’ll talk negativity bias, energy management, and why sitting with uncomfortable emotions turns them into teachers and fuel. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between toxic positivity and authentic optimismWhy “be happy all the time” backfires on the course and at workHow negativity bias hardwires you to scan for threats—and what to do about itThe Acknowledge → Accept → Act playbook to perform under pressureHow to use anger and discomfort as focused fuel, not dead weight If you’re ready to stop plastering a smile over struggle and finally play (and live) to your potential, this one’s for you. Get your pencils ready and start listening. 1-1 High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching: If you’re serious about getting out of your own way and playing to your potential, click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit. High-Performance Hypnosis Guided Audios: Ready to get a taste of hypnosis? Click here to choose from one of my unique hypnosis audios to help you accelerate improvement in a specific area of your game. Click here to read my Ultimate Guide to Golf Hypnosis. Purchase the Wicked Smart Practice Plan Formula: Click here to learn how to practice with intention and what to do to get the most out of your practice sessions to drop your scores - fast. Use the code “salter” at checkout to save 10%. 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 Twitter: @parsoverbogeys Key Takeaways: Toxic positivity = emotional avoidance. It looks noble but blocks growth, honesty, and results.Authentic optimism is belief + behavior. “This is hard—and I can handle it. Now act.”Acknowledge, Accept, Act is the reset loop that turns emotions into execution.Negativity bias is real. Your brain defaults to threat-scanning; train optimism, presence, and focus deliberately.Operate when it’s not perfect. Elite golfers perform amid discomfort, not after it disappears. Key Quotes: “At its core, toxic positivity is emotional avoidance disguised as optimism.”“Life isn’t sunshine and rainbows—and neither is golf. Train for the valleys, not just the peaks.”“Authentic optimism says: this hurts—and I can handle it. Then it moves.”“Emotion is energy. Repress it and it leaks; face it and it fuels.”“Write it down: Acknowledge. Accept. Act. That’s how you play to your potential.” Time Stamps: 00:00: Understanding Toxic Positivity04:15: The Dangers of Emotional Avoidance09:16: The Reality of Negative Emotions13:44: Why We Engage in Toxic Positivity17:34: The Cost of Seeking Approval21:01: The Importance of Acknowledgment and Acceptance24:51: Authentic Optimism as a Solution
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    37 mins
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