Fear, Focus, and the Phone That’s Ruining Your Round

What Jared Shared From His Book, “EVERYDAY GOLF PSYCHOLOGY” 1. Emotions aren’t random—they’re signals • Anger, fear, embarrassment, overconfidence… none of these are “mental weaknesses.” • They’re outputs of something deeper: expectations, flawed goals, poor preparation, or misjudged skill. • Trying to “stay calm” without understanding why you’re upset is like trying to fix a slice by adjusting your grip every hole. 2. Overconfidence is a silent killer Most golfers don’t realize they’re overconfident until they’re already playing poorly. Overconfidence often comes from: • A few good practice sessions • A hot streak on the range • Misjudging actual skill level • Tournament performance exposes the truth: practice success ≠ competitive readiness. 3. Fear of embarrassment is more common than fear of failure Recreational golfers especially worry about: • Looking stupid • Holding up the group • Hitting a bad shot in front of others This creates tension, rushed routines, and poor decision-making. Focus: The Real Engine of Performance 4. Focus is driven by goals, not discipline Jared was adamant: “Focus isn’t something you do—it’s something your goals create.” If your goals are vague (“play well today”), your focus will be vague. Clear goals = clear attention. 5. Phones destroy focus more than people admit • Even checking your phone between shots fractures your mental rhythm. • The brain doesn’t fully “return” to golf for several minutes. • Recreational golfers underestimate how much this matters. Accessing Information During Shots 6. Great players access more detail, not less They see: • Wind patterns • Lies • Shot windows • Tendencies • Emotional state Most amateurs try to “simplify” too much and end up ignoring critical data. Bridging Practice → Competition 7. Practice must simulate pressure Otherwise: • You build skills you can’t access under stress. • You create false confidence. • You never learn how your emotions behave in competition. Jared’s strategies included: • Adding consequences to practice • Tracking emotional patterns • Practicing decision-making, not just mechanics • Using post‑shot evaluations to build awareness Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.