Between the Ears! Attention to Training and Performance
🎯 Internal vs External Focus — and Why “Always External” Is a MythEveryone says, “Focus on the target, not your body.” But that’s only half true.External focus means attention on what happens outside the body — the ball flight, the clubhead, the target line.Internal focus means attention on you — your feel, rhythm, or motion.The problem? Most studies make internal focus look bad by using robotic cues like “extend your arms rapidly.”Nobody plays golf that way.Here’s the nuance: there are two kinds of internal.Control – consciously steering every part (clunky).Awareness – sensing, not forcing (fluid).When internal = awareness, the “external is always better” myth falls apart.The best players blend both — they might start with the line (external), then shift into stroke feel (internal awareness) right before impact.Training tip:Start with technique (yes, internal).Progress to awareness (feel it, don’t force it).Add targets and goals so practice looks like play.Avoid “don’t” goals. Saying “don’t miss left” creates conflict — like tracing clockwise and counterclockwise at the same time. Messy motion, messy strikes.Mike’s take: Match cues to the player. Some thrive on external, others on awareness, most need a blend.💡 Practical coaching keys:Build an Attention Plan: evaluate, decide, rehearse, execute, reflect.Use Blind or Net reps to train feel without chasing ball flight.Keep “make it” as your goal on putts; grade the leave if it doesn’t drop.Add pressure reps — shot clocks, night practice, or quick warm-ups to simulate chaos.The real game isn’t just where you look — it’s what you choose to notice.#golfcask #GolfMindset #GolfCoach #PuttingTips #GolfTraining #PerformancePsychology #FocusInGolf #GolfPractice #GolfDrills #MentalGame #GolfPerformance #GolfImprovement #GolfCues #GolfAwareness #GolfTips #SportsPsychology #FlowState #GolfRoutine #GolfFocus #GolfCoaching #GreensAndGrains
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1:22:34
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1:22:34
Rituals, Roots & a Cavalier Pour
Whiskey in the glass, golf on the mind—let’s get started. This episode dives into the rituals that make life taste better and swing smoother: the art of lighting a cigar with patience and purpose, the Irish double tap that honors both presence and memory, a bourbon lover’s paradise at the Cavalier in Virginia Beach, and a quick walk through six centuries of golf’s evolution. From flame to fairway, it’s all about respect—for craft, community, and history.Join GolfCask Nation—it’s free and on the house. Access the podcasts, 19th Hole forum, events, and the next issue of GolfCask Life Magazine at golfcask.com. Bring your stories; we’ll bring the pours.Spark. Sip. Swing at GolfCask.#GolfCask #WhiskeyAndGolf #CigarRituals #BourbonInvitational #GolfTradition #PourDecisions #GolfLife #WhiskeyCulture #VirginiaBourbon #GolfCaskNation #SparkSipSwing
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20:35
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20:35
From Barrel to Green: Where Ritual Meets Readiness
In this week’s Inside the Ropes Review, host Brian Bailie blends whiskey wisdom, golf grit, and heartfelt legacy.The pour begins with “From Reuse to Revelation”, tracing how necessity birthed whiskey finishing — from reused rum and sherry casks to today’s double-oaked creativity. Angel’s Envy, Bardstown, and Penelope lead the lineup, proving that a great finish can turn spirit into story.Then comes “The Edge: Smoke and Mirrors,” exploring cigar rituals that echo golf’s patience and superstition. Smoke becomes memory — a reminder that some spirits are poured, and some are smoked.Next, “Train to the Event, Not Your Ego” delivers a masterclass in mental and physical golf preparation. Brian challenges players to stop rehearsing comfort and start simulating competition, trading ego for execution and readiness for results.The show closes with “The Excellence of Wilson Ritchie,” a moving tribute to the Charlottesville restaurateur behind The Whiskey Jar. His legacy of mentorship, hospitality, and whiskey passion continues to pour through every bottle and every guest he inspired.Together, these stories capture the heart of GolfCask Nation — where ritual becomes rhythm, and every pour tells a story.Join the GolfCask Whiskey Syndicate at golfcask.com — your clubhouse for golf, whiskey, cigars, and stories worth sharing.Spark. Sip. Swing. & Savor.Because the best rounds start with a pour and end with a story.#InsideTheRopes #GolfCask #WhiskeyAndGolf #GolfLife #WhiskeyTasting #CigarCulture #BottleShare #GolfPodcast #WhiskeyNation #GolfCaskLife #SparkSipSwing #GolfCaskSyndicate #WhiskeyJarCharlottesville #GolfPreparation #WhiskeyStories #BetweenTheRopes #PourDecisions
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13:55
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13:55
The Numbers Beneath the Surface
This week on Inside the Ropes, we dive into “The Numbers Beneath the Surface” — where precision meets feel in both golf and whiskey. From Trackman data and distiller’s proof to your first cigar and LPGA Coach John Lewellen’s take on distance, it’s all about mastering what matters and refining your craft. Whether you’re chasing spin rates or savoring small batches, the secret isn’t in the numbers — it’s in the balance. Spark. Sip. Swing. & Savor.Ready to dig deeper than the stats?Pour a glass, tune in, and join us as we uncover the shared science of precision—from Trackman to tasting notes.Subscribe to Inside the Ropes wherever you listen, and get the stories that live between the swing, the sip, and the stats.Visit GolfCask.com to become part of The Nation — where every pour tells a story.#InsideTheRopes #GolfCask #GolfLife #WhiskeyWisdom #PourDecisions #TrackmanTalk #GolfAndWhiskey #CigarCulture #GolfPodcast #WhiskeyNation #SparkSipSwingSavor #GolfCaskLifeMagazine
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13:09
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13:09
The Spark That Starts It All
Hook Summary:From the first draw to the final pour, this week’s Inside the Ropes explores the intention behind the spark, the precision behind true preparation, and the geometry that makes whiskey—and golf—an art of contact. Whether it’s striking a match, crafting a game plan, or understanding the hidden edge of oak, it’s all about slowing down, training smart, and appreciating the quiet beginnings that shape great stories.Featured Articles:🔥 From Match to Moment — Why the First Draw Still Matters🎯 Train to the Game, Not Your Preference🥃 The Cask’s Hidden Edge — Why Size Matters More Than Age🌄 Chapelco, Patagonia — A GolfCask Review (-4 under)Final Pour:When the spark meets the sip and the swing finds its rhythm, that’s where GolfCask lives. Ritual. Readiness. Reverence.Join the Nation that turns good stories into great ones.👉 Join today at GolfCask.com#GolfCask #InsideTheRopes #WhiskeyGolfCulture #GolfLife #BlindTastingSociety #GolfCaskLifeMagazine #WhiskeyNation #CigarRitual #GolfCommunity #SparkSipSwing #PourDecisions #GolfCaskNation
Where golf, whiskey, cigars, and community collide. Each week, we tee up stories that shape our adventures and pour out 19th-hole banter—served neat, with a splash of wit.
Inside the Ropes (Weekly): Your steady pour of golf, whiskey, and life stories.
Between the Ears (Monthly): A deep dive into the mental game with Dr. Mike Grevlos and guests.
GolfCask Trails (Coming 2026, Monthly): Full-day adventures pairing golf, distilleries, and local culture—captured and shared with our members.
Laughs, questionable wisdom, and great stories await. Cheers to slowing down and not taking too seriously!
New Zealand