Mind Caddie - Improve Your Mental Golf Game

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

Today on The Mind Caddie, we're joined by a true legend of the game — Ian Baker-Finch, winner of The Open Championship in 1991. In this fascinating and deeply honest conversation, Ian reflects on his unforgettable victory at Royal Birkdale, including that extraordinary back-nine 28 on Saturday that helped secure his place in golfing history. He also opens up about the emotional highs of winning one of golf's greatest prizes—and the very real challenges that followed. We dive into his new book To Hell and Back (or perhaps, as Ian suggests, To Heaven and Back), exploring the full journey of a career that saw both incredible triumph and difficult struggles. Ian shares invaluable insights on: Learning to think your way around the golf course, inspired by Peter Thomson Why mastering shots—not just swings—is key to long-term success The mental side of the game and how losing confidence can impact performance His experiences across golf's "golden era," from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods Why appreciating the whole game matters far more than just the score This is a powerful, insightful, and often moving conversation with one of golf's true gentlemen—full of lessons for golfers of all levels. 👉 To become a Certified Mind Factor coach: www.themindfactor.com 👉 To follow The Mind Caddie journey: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

A celebratory look back at 400 conversations about golf mindset, coaching, and performance. They explore why practice often fails to transfer to the course and practical ways to structure training. Expect discussions on embracing error, using tech to refine feel, creative shot-making, and strategies to break plateaus and stay open to new possibilities.

Today on the podcast we're joined by rising golf fitness coach Kiran Mistry, founder of The Golf Athlete X and one of the fastest-growing voices in golf performance training. We met at the European Teaching Conference in Portugal, and his approach to golf conditioning, movement efficiency, and pre-round preparation immediately stood out. With a large and rapidly growing Instagram following, Kiran has become known for his simple but powerful message: 15 minutes can transform your golf performance. In this episode, we dive into: The non-negotiables of a proper golf warm-up How to activate the exact muscles used in the golf swing Why split-leg movements improve balance and power Centre of mass distribution and its effect on ball striking Core engagement for stability and rotational speed Lunges with rotation for real swing carryover How to safely create acceleration before you tee off Warming up tissue vs. just "stretching" Connecting mind and body before a round Engaging your attention for sharper focus on the first tee This is a practical, no-fluff conversation about how to give yourself the best possible chance to play great golf — physically primed and mentally ready. If you want to improve consistency, increase swing speed, reduce injury risk, and feel more prepared before every round, this episode is for you. Follow Kiran Mistry on Instagram: @thegolfathletex 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

Jim Waldron, golf coach and thinker who blends golf psychology with Buddhist ideas, explores rites of passage and mental resilience. He discusses why fear and score-protection cause suffering. Short, deliberate challenges and exposure can reduce shame and calm the amygdala. Practical drills, letting go of outcome and accepting impermanence are covered in concise, provocative conversation.

On this episode of Mind Caddie, we welcome back leading golf performance expert Chris Finn, founder of Par4Success — one of the top golf fitness and rehabilitation companies in the world. If you want to increase clubhead speed, improve mobility, prevent injury, and finally make lasting changes to your golf swing, this conversation is essential listening. Chris and his team specialise in golf-specific strength training, flexibility, rehab and conditioning. In this episode, we break down: The biggest myths about stretching for golfers Why traditional flexibility routines may be making you worse What actually works to improve mobility and rotation Why your body must support the swing changes you're trying to make How to improve your golf swing without spending hours in the gym How a structured golf fitness programme can transform performance If your swing won't change, your body may be the reason. Take action today: 👉 Take the rotation test and book your free consultation at www.par4success.com/mindcaddie 👉 Become a Certified Mind Factor coach at www.themindfactor.com 👉 Join the Mind Caddie journey at www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell

Ben Hacker, app developer and avid club golfer who co-created Mind Caddie, shares how mental habits cut his handicap. He discusses why swing overhauls rarely help time-pressed players. Short stories on acceptance, resilience, adaptability and practical on-course coaching highlight the conversation. Practical app tips and AI tools for real-life golfers wrap up the chat.

Why do some golf swings stick while others fall apart under pressure? The answer may lie in your brain chemistry. In this episode, we explore the crucial role of neurotransmitters in golf performance, with a special focus on dopamine and motor learning. We're joined by Dr Keith Wallace and Steven Yellin for a fascinating conversation on how the brain learns movement, builds repeatable golf swings, and performs under pressure. How Dopamine spikes can influence your golf game Why your reactions to your shots are so important How do you RECOVER from a poor shot Keeping dopamine at optimal levels Not letting Cortisol overwhelm you Developing TRUST in yourself The quality of the SPACE in your mind BEFORE the shot The crucial role of ATTENTION Not allowing your mind to get to the outcome before the ball A really great and thought provoking session What happens when time gets distorted during the motion To find out more about Steven Yellin go to https://stevenyellin.com/ To find out more about Dr Keith Wallace go to https://www.miu.edu/academic-departments/physiology-and-health 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)

And how it could make a huge difference to the clarity, composure and timing in your game Today we are joined on the show by the outstanding Canadian coach JS Legare JS is a certified Mind Factor coach but also an expert on BREATHWORK We had a fascinating conversation about how we can become more aware of the impact of our breathing on our physiology When our breathing is poor our access to our skills is compromised Just merely OBSERVING the breath can be a profoundly beneficial exercise We can down regulate our nervous system simply by observing our breath Think of the opportunities golf can provide to explore the impact that breath focus can have on your game The ability to RESPOND instead of REACT Breathing, the low hanging fruit to develop a better mindset on the golf course. Everyone has that tool, but not a lot of people know how to use it. It's free, it's always available and the effects are instantaneous. There's nothing "woowoo" about observing your breath. It's the first step and it's a skill, plain and simple. To find out more about JS Legare go to appnez.com info@appnez.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