Wicked Smart Golf

>>Work with Michael for 1:1 performance coaching (better golf without swing changes) -- email michael@wickedsmartgolf.com to see if it's a good fit (3 spots left)
>>Get my FREE pre-shot routine cheatsheet
In this episode of The Mental Golf Show, I join Josh to dive deep into the psychology of golf and share the mental strategies that have helped me go from an average golfer to a +2 handicap while chasing my goal of +5.
We discuss why pressure feels overwhelming, how visualization can improve your performance, the importance of embracing discomfort, and why your decisions—not just your swing—determine your scores. We also explore anger on the golf course, target selection, playing freely, and the mindset shifts that help golfers finally break through scoring barriers.
Whether you're trying to break 90, shoot your career low, or simply enjoy golf more, this episode is packed with practical mental game strategies you can use in your next round. In this episode:
Why golf feels so hard (and why that's a good thing)
The real purpose of visualization and how to use it correctly 
How to stop playing scared golf (especially if you struggle under pressure)
If anger can help your golf game  
Smarter target selection and decision-making
Breaking through scoring plateaus
Michael's plan to go from a +2 to a +5 handicap
And more mental golf tips. 
WICKED SMART GOLF 
Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available)
Join Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: Proven paths to break 90, break 80, and crush competitive golf (no swing changes required)
Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans.
Recommended Products
Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) 
Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link).
Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). 
Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). 
Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%).
Wicked Smart Golf Books
Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. 
Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. 
Follow Wicked Smart Golf  
Follow on TikTok
Follow on Instagram  
Subscribe on YouTube

>>Work with me for performance golf coaching (3 spots left) - email me: michael@wickedsmartgolf.com 
>>Get Voice Caddie Launch Monitors 15% off w/code WICKEDSMART. 
SC200 Plus: The easiest to use launch monitor, no app needed.

SC300i: An upgrade with access to more data using the Voice Caddie app. 

SC4 Pro: Even more data and simulation to help you practice like a pro.

I just finished one of the craziest stretches of golf I've ever played: 182 holes in 12 days.
Between tournament golf, match play, long days, pressure, nerves, slow rounds, and a whole lot of walking, I learned a ton about my game—especially the mental side.
In this episode, I'm breaking down the experience and sharing some of my biggest lessons, including:
Why you can be nervous and still play great golf
The importance of having a clear strategy before every round
What I learned from adopting a "Tiger mentality" — call the shot, rehearse it, and get extremely clear before pulling the trigger
Why routines really are everything under pressure
How verbalizing the shot helped me commit in big moments
What my bad shots taught me about my tendencies under pressure
Why gratitude, calmness, and acknowledging good luck matter more than you think
Putting lessons that helped me improve my reads and stop forcing putts into the hole
What match play taught me about momentum
Why conditioning matters if you want to play your best during long tournament stretches
The danger of overthinking when slow golf gives you too much time
Plus, I'll share some of the smaller adjustments that made a huge difference—from intermediate targets and staying loose between shots to a new hybrid punch shot and simplifying my mental approach over the ball.
182 holes. 12 days. A lot of golf and even more lessons.
WICKED SMART GOLF 
Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available)
Join Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: Proven paths to break 90, break 80, and crush competitive golf (no swing changes required)
Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans.
Recommended Products
Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) 
Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link).
Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). 
Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). 
Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%).
Wicked Smart Golf Books
Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. 
Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. 
Follow Wicked Smart Golf  
Follow on TikTok
Follow on Instagram  
Subscribe on YouTube

>>Read Wicked Smart Golf III: Tournament Golf Secrets to Perform Under Pressure
>>Get my FREE Tournament Golf Cheatsheet
>>Join the Tournament Golf Bootcamp
>>Try out Nik's Golf Strong, Hit Bombs App (Free trial)
Michael Leonard welcomes back Nik Neal, an accomplished tournament golfer, physical therapist, and TPI-certified creator of Golf Strong, Hit Bombs. After a seven-year burnout break following college golf, Nik has completely revamped his game, shattered his previous personal ceilings, and is now capturing his journey across social media. 
Tune in to hear how he balances life as a public golfer while documenting the raw, unfiltered realities of high-stakes competitive golf. In this episode, you will learn: 
The "Road to Augusta" Blueprint: Discover the inspiration behind Nik's viral video series and what it really takes to film and share entire tournament rounds—the good, the bad, and the ugly—with hundreds of thousands of viewers.

The Normalization of the Bad Shot: Why golf is inherently a game of managing misses rather than executing perfect shots, featuring relatable proof from elite players like Scotty Scheffler and Tom Kim.

Chasing SCGA Player of the Year: The grueling reality of a season-long points race in Southern California, competing against stacked fields of Division I college standouts and elite mid-amateurs.

The High-Stakes US Open Roller Coaster: An inside look at Nik's biggest achievement on the course—surviving a brutal, 35-mph wind-swept local qualifier to advance to the "longest day in golf" sectional.

Subconscious Programming & Pumping Up: The exact morning routine Nik used for six months straight to transform his putting from a weakness into a weapon through vivid, emotional visualization techniques.

On-Course Vibe Shifting: Quick, physical triggers and breathing mechanics you can use mid-round to immediately halt a negative downward spiral.

Tournament Day Variable Control: Why Nik avoids pre-round gym workouts and heavily relies on a universal, bodyweight dynamic warm-up to prepare his spine and hips anywhere in the world.

Mid-Round Fueling Mechanics: Why swapping out traditional carb-loaded bananas and PB&Js for high-fat, high-protein chicken salads and apples can eliminate late-round cognitive exhaustion and headaches.

Wicked Smart Course Management: The step-by-step pre-shot routine of evaluating lies and winds to effectively calculate risk-reward, minimize shortsiding, and ensure your next shot is always your best shot.

WICKED SMART GOLF 
Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available)
Join Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: Proven paths to break 90, break 80, and crush competitive golf (no swing changes required)
Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans.
Recommended Products
Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) 
Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link).
Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). 
Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). 
Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%).
Wicked Smart Golf Books
Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. 
Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. 
Follow Wicked Smart Golf  
Follow on TikTok
Follow on Instagram  
Subscribe on YouTube

>>Read/listen to the Wicked Smart Golf trilogy
>>Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available)
In today's episode, I share new insights to Tiger Woods mental game based on the 2002 book, Think Like Tiger by John Andrisani. This book is a great read and shares valuable insights into how the GOAT thinks about the game.
In this episode, you will learn:
How planning the night before can boost your mental game
The Bobby Jones tip that inspired his mid round confidence
The two things Earl Woods taught him that will help your game
Why rehearsal swings are a necessary part of your pre-shot routine 
And a lot more.
WICKED SMART GOLF 
Join Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: Proven paths to break 90, break 80, and crush competitive golf (no swing changes required)
Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans.
Recommended Products
Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) 
Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link).
Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). 
Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). 
Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%).
Wicked Smart Golf Books
Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. 
Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. 
Follow Wicked Smart Golf  
Follow on TikTok
Follow on Instagram  
Subscribe on YouTube

>>Join DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Today I'm joined by Jeff Sullivan, a +4 handicap (at 40 years young) who shares what it takes to become an elite golfer. In this episode, you will learn:
How he uses DECADE Golf to think like a pro.
The truth about speed, exercise, and distance.
How to make better decision on the golf course.
Why it's important to schedule your practice week.
How to practice at home so you can improve without going to the range.
And a lot more tips to go low. Make sure to follow his Instagram to get inspired with his epic practice routines and tips. And check out his website to learn more about course management coaching using DECADE Golf. 
WICKED SMART GOLF 
Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available)
Join Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: Proven paths to break 90, break 80, and crush competitive golf (no swing changes required)
Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans.
Recommended Products
Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) 
Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link).
Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%).
Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). 
Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). 
Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%).
Wicked Smart Golf Books
Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. 
Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. 
Follow Wicked Smart Golf  
Follow on TikTok
Follow on Instagram  
Subscribe on YouTube