Mind Caddie - Improve Your Mental Golf Game

Are you focusing on the wrong things in your putting? In this fascinating episode of Mind Caddie, I speak with the internationally renowned golf coach, researcher and creator of The Stack System, Dr Sasho MacKenzie, to explore the science of putting performance and why so many golfers struggle to improve on the greens. For years golfers have been told to focus on stroke path, strike location and mechanics. But what if those factors aren't nearly as important as we think? Dr MacKenzie shares groundbreaking insights into: • Why most golfers fail to improve their putting • The real importance of green reading and face control • Why pace control is the biggest opportunity for lower scores • The science behind heads-up putting • How visual information influences distance control • Why your brain may need different information than your current putting method provides • Practical ways to develop a smoother, more natural putting stroke If you're looking to hole more putts, reduce three-putts and improve your overall golf performance, this episode will challenge some long-held beliefs and give you a fresh perspective on what really matters on the greens. Dr Sasho MacKenzie is one of the most respected researchers in golf performance and the creator of The Stack System, one of the world's leading speed-training and player development platforms. Learn more about Dr Sasho MacKenzie and The Stack System: www.thestacksystem.com Buy the Mind Caddie book: Mind Caddie: How to Become the Golfer You Know You Can Be Become a Certified Mind Factor Coach: www.themindfactor.com Join the Mind Caddie community: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell #GolfPutting #PuttingTips #GolfPerformance #HeadsUpPutting #PaceControl #GolfCoaching #TheStackSystem #SashoMacKenzie #GolfPsychology #MindCaddie

Can you actually play better golf when you have less time to practice? In this episode of The Mind Caddie, performance coach, psychologist, and former Stanford golf team player Don Christensen explains why the answer may be yes. Don combines decades of academic psychology with elite golf experience to reveal why intention, attention, and trust are often more important than technical practice. Drawing on the principles of The Inner Game of Tennis and Tim Gallwey, he explores how golfers can access their best performances by learning to quiet the analytical mind and trust their natural ability. In this episode: Why golfers with less practice time can sometimes improve faster The hidden power of practicing with intention How to quiet the thinking mind on the golf course Why over-analysis destroys performance The psychology behind playing "in the zone" How attention influences athletic performance Why your intellect always wants to take control Learning to trust a deeper level of intelligence The challenge of keeping golf simple Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation Why rewards can sometimes reduce motivation The indirect path to success in golf and life The happiness delusion and the pursuit of achievement Falling in love with improvement rather than outcomes How elite performers learn to get out of their own way This is a fascinating conversation for golfers, coaches, sports psychologists, and anyone interested in peak performance, mindset, focus, flow states, and human potential. About Don Christensen Don Christenson is a professor of psychology, Certified Mind Factor Coach, former Stanford University golfer, and one of the leading voices in applying Inner Game principles to golf performance and personal development. Connect with Don Christensen Don Christensen Coaching & Inner Game Resources Learn More The Mind Factor Coach Certification The Mind Caddie Golf Podcast Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell #GolfPsychology #MentalGame #GolfMindset #InnerGame #GolfPerformance #SportsPsychology #GolfCoaching #FlowState #PeakPerformance #GolfPodcast #MindCaddie #DonChristensen #StanfordGolf #MentalStrength #GolfImprovement

What if the biggest thing holding your golf back… is your mind? In this fascinating and thought-provoking episode of Mind Caddie, we're joined by author of Seeing No Self, Katrijn Van Oudheusden — and this one goes way beyond your usual golf psychology conversation. Katrijn isn't a golf coach (or even a golfer), but her insights into non-duality, identity, and the illusion of control could completely change how you approach your game. Together, we explore a radical idea: 👉 What if trying to control your thoughts is the very thing ruining your golf? This episode challenges everything you think you know about focus, control, and performance — and offers a surprisingly freeing alternative. 🧠 In this episode, we explore: Why your mind might actually be getting in the way of good golf The truth about not being able to control your thoughts What happens when you stop trying to "manage" your game The power of "let's see what happens" thinking The idea that there is no 'doer' behind your actions How to stop overthinking and start playing with freedom Why taking yourself less seriously might be your biggest advantage This is a different kind of episode — deeper, more philosophical, and potentially game-changing if you're open to it. 🎧 If you've ever felt stuck in your own head on the golf course… this one's for you. 🔗 Find out more: Katrijn's work: https://katoudheusden.com/ Become a Certified Mind Factor coach: www.themindfactor.com Join the Mind Caddie journey: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

What does it really take to become a PGA Tour winner—and stay at the top of your game? In this episode of The Mind Caddie, we're joined by PGA Tour winner Derek Ernst, now Associate Head Coach at the University of Tennessee, for a deep dive into the mindset, discipline, and decision-making behind elite golf performance. Derek shares powerful insights from his journey—from teaching himself the game to winning on the PGA Tour in a dramatic playoff—along with the lessons he now passes on to the next generation of top golfers. Inside this episode, we explore: How Derek developed his game from scratch The importance of setting clear, tangible goals Why loving the process is key to long-term success The mindset shift that helped him win on the PGA Tour The hidden dangers of playing too much golf How to schedule smarter and avoid burnout The challenge of competing on multiple tours Why understanding your values is crucial for performance The surprising downside of being a "selfish golfer" His transition into elite college coaching How modern college golf has evolved in the U.S. The growing influence of sponsorship in amateur golf Coaching top-level amateurs, including Walker Cup players Lessons from renowned coach Randy Joyner: focusing on shots, not swings Whether you're a competitive golfer, coach, or simply love the game, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you improve your mindset and performance on and off the course. 👉 To become a Certified Mind Factor coach: www.themindfactor.com 👉 Join The Mind Caddie journey: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

400 Episodes of the Mind Caddie: The Real Keys to Golf Improvement What could the Mind Caddie do for your golf game this year? Today marks a huge milestone — Episode 400 of the Mind Caddie podcast. Hard to believe that over the past 8 years we've shared hundreds of conversations exploring the mental game of golf, performance psychology, and what it truly takes to improve your game. Have we solved every problem in golf? Probably not. But along the way, we believe we've started asking better questions about how golfers actually improve. In this special episode, we turn the tables as Ben interviews Karl Morris about the evolution of the Mind Caddie and the lessons learned from 400 episodes of conversations about golf mindset, coaching, and performance. Together they explore: • The real keys to lasting improvement in golf • How to rediscover the joy and creativity of shot-making • The biggest myths and misconceptions about the mental game • Why golfers struggle to transfer practice range skills to the golf course • The power of being open to new possibilities in your game • The impact of AI and technology on the future of golf coaching • Practical steps you can take right now to improve your golf The Mind Caddie exists because of the incredible support of listeners around the world. Thank you for being part of the journey. If you want to take your understanding of the mental game further: Become a Certified Mind Factor Coach www.themindfactor.com Join the Mind Caddie community www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

Can a Rite of Passage End Modern Psychological Suffering in Golf? | Golf Psychology & The Mental Game Why do so many golfers struggle with fear, frustration and emotional suffering on the course? In this powerful episode of The Mind Caddie, I'm joined by renowned golf coach and deep thinker Jim Waldron for a fascinating conversation about golf psychology, ego, performance pressure and the concept of the rite of passage. For most of human history, societies marked the transition from child to adult with a rite of passage — a psychological shift from ego-driven identity to mature responsibility. Today, that structure has largely disappeared. Are many of us trying to play golf — and live life — with a childlike ego in an adult world? We explore how this unresolved psychological development fuels fear of failure, score protection, shame, and emotional reactivity on the golf course. In this episode, we dive into: Why golfers experience so much fear and anxiety under pressure How protecting your score increases suffering The hidden power of willingly experiencing shame and humiliation "Whatever we resist, we strengthen" — and how this applies to golf performance The principle of impermanence and why embracing it transforms your mindset The Buddhist concept of the Second Arrow — responding instead of reacting to setbacks Why letting go of outcome control creates freedom and better performance The real and immediate psychological consequences in professional golf What your golf — and your life — could look like after a true psychological rite of passage This is a deep, thought-provoking conversation about emotional resilience, mental toughness, spiritual growth, and what it really means to "grow up" psychologically in sport. If you're serious about improving your mental game in golf — and reducing unnecessary suffering on the course — grab your notebook. This episode may change how you see performance forever. Learn more about Jim Waldron at: www.balancepointgolf.com Become a Certified Mind Factor Coach at: www.themindfactor.com Join us on the Mind Caddie journey: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

How do you lower your handicap without rebuilding your swing? On this episode of the Mind Caddie Podcast, we're joined by Ben Hacker — co-developer of the Mind Caddie app and a committed club golfer who has significantly reduced his handicap through mastering the golf mental game. We explore why swing changes aren't the answer for most time-pressed golfers, the biggest myths in golf psychology, and how building resilience, adaptability and acceptance can transform your scoring. If you want to handle bad shots better, stay in the game under pressure, and finally see real improvement on the course, this conversation is for you. Better golf starts in the mind. In this conversation, we explore: How the Mind Caddie app was created and the mission to make mental game coaching for golfers accessible and practical Why technical swing changes aren't the answer for most time-pressed golfers The biggest myths about golf psychology and mental coaching Why accepting that you will hit bad shots is the starting point to better scoring How to build true mental resilience on the golf course What it really means to "stay in the game" when you don't have your best stuff The breakthrough power of adaptability in golf performance Why acceptance is one of the most liberating skills in lowering scores How to improve your golf within the constraints of career, family and real life If you're a club golfer looking to improve your mindset, handle pressure better, and finally translate your practice into lower scores, this episode will resonate deeply. Because better golf isn't just about better swings — it's about better thinking. To become a Certified Mind Factor coach go to www.themindfactor.com To join us on the Mind Caddie journey go to www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

In today's unpredictable and high-pressure world, mental resilience is no longer optional — it's a vital life skill. In sport, especially golf, resilience is what separates good players from great ones. Bad shots, missed putts, poor rounds and stalled progress are inevitable. The difference is how you respond. On this episode of The Mind Caddie, we're joined by Matt Caldaroni, a performance coach specialising in mental resilience, mindset, and elite performance. Matt's journey into resilience began early. At just twelve years old, a coach tried to end his dream of becoming a professional football goalkeeper, telling him the sport "wasn't for him." Instead of quitting, Matt took control. From that moment, Molliteum was born — a mindset built on ownership, grit, and mental strength. By weaponising adversity, Matt earned a football scholarship at seventeen and turned professional in Italy by nineteen. It was there he discovered a powerful truth: resilience isn't visible — but it can save careers, performances, and lives. Whether it's sport, work, or everyday life, setbacks are unavoidable: We miss the shot We don't make the birdie We finish down the leaderboard Progress stalls Resilience isn't about avoiding failure — it's about how you deal with it. In this episode, Matt breaks down how to train resilience like a muscle and apply it on and off the course. In this episode, we cover: The four cornerstones of mental resilience How to build a strong resilient identity Practical steps to developing mental toughness Training a resilient mind and body Why resilience is the hidden advantage in sport and life If you want to improve your mindset, performance, and ability to bounce back stronger, this episode is for you. Find out more about Matt: https://www.molliteum.com To become a Certified Mind Factor coach go to www.themindfactor.com To join us on the Mind Caddie journey go to www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell (revised repeat Aug 2022)

Today on the Mind Caddie we welcome back again my great friend Jim Waldron. We have built this whole podcast around the legendary Ben Hogan. For so long there has been an endless fascination about his golf swing and the supposed 'Hogan Secret' Whilst there may have been some secrets around his incredible swing as we discuss there were also some amazing secrets around the way he played and approached the game. Jim Waldron has studied Hogan for over 40 years and spent time with many people who worked with and for Hogan He is currently writing a book called 'The Many Secrets of Ben Hogan' We discussed: Hogans golden rules of the swing The importance of balance Good tension in the swing How Hogan worked out what to focus on to access his skills What he did when TARGET focus didn't work How he changed his swing How ACCEPTANCE allowed him to begin to WIN His joy at working on his game The path to self mastery The importance of researching your own experience A brilliant thought provoking session with a great coach To find out more about Jim Waldron go to https://balancepointgolf.com/ To become a Certified Mind Factor coach go to www.themindfactor.com To join us on the Mind Caddie journey go to www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell