Most golfers don’t struggle with their swing — they struggle with what happens between the ears.
Golf exposes how the mind responds under pressure, uncertainty, and expectation. It’s common to perform well on the range, but when score, playing partners, or pressure enter the picture, things change.
This isn’t a character flaw — it’s a mental, nervous-system and focus process that can be trained.
I work with golfers in Reading, Didcot, and online to improve performance using NLP, hypnotherapy, sports mindset coaching and flow-state principles.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142
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Common Golf Performance Issues I Help With
Golfers often describe patterns such as:
- Great performance on the range, inconsistency on the course
- Tension in hands/arms over putts or drives
- Hesitation or overthinking before the shot
- Loss of confidence after one mistake
- Difficulty “switching off” internal noise between shots
- Fear of embarrassment when playing with others
- Scorecard anxiety / match play pressure
- Emotional swings that affect performance
- Lack of enjoyment despite knowing they’re capable of better golf
Most of these issues are state-based, not technical.
Golf-Specific Performance Problems
Golf has unique mental demands. Some common performance blocks include:
Putting & Short Game Breakdown
Where tension and overthinking are most obvious:
- Fear of missing inside 6ft
- Over-analyzing line/pace
- Deceleration
- Loss of feel
- Score/playing partner pressure
Short game confidence is state-dependent, not logic-dependent.
Slicing & Poor Ball-Striking Under Pressure
Many golfers say: “I’m fine on the range.”
Then on the course:
- Swing quickens
- Shoulders tighten
- Breath shortens
- Focus narrows to the ball only
- Body stops rotating
- Ball flight suffers
This isn’t mechanics — it’s anxiety-driven interference.
Lack of Power & Poor Weight Transfer
Power disappears when the nervous system is in protect mode.
We work on:
- Ground reaction awareness
- Sequencing & tempo
- Breathing control
- Performance
- Somatic confidence cues
- Commitment vs caution
Power returns when the body trusts the movement.
How Coaching Actually Works
You don’t need to visualise, force confidence, or “think positive”.
We work on:
- Nervous-system regulation
- Reducing interference
- Building identity & confidence
- Removing fear-based caution
- Commitment to target vs technique
- Helping sport performance
- Pressure resilience
- Emotional control between shots
- Flow thresholds (access & protect)
Athletes describe it as golf that feels:
✔ calmer
✔ clearer
✔ more automatic
✔ less self-conscious
Who This Is For
This approach helps if you:
- Play well in practice but not in competition
- Collapse under pressure or expectation
- Get stuck in overthinking loops
- Lose confidence quickly
- Struggle with putting/short game tension
- Want to activate flow more reliably
- Want to enjoy the game again
Age or handicap doesn’t matter — patterns are patterns.
Tools & Methods Used
Depending on your goals, sessions may include:
- NLP & language-state training
- Hypnotherapy for subconscious interference
- Focus-width training & attention control
- Somatic (body-based) confidence work
- Nervous system & breath control
- Flow-state activation
- Identity & belief shifts
- Error recovery & emotional reset tools
- Internal voice management
- Aphantasia-adapted methods (no visualisation required)
This is not sports psychology based on theory only — it’s practical and felt.
Expected Benefits
Golfers commonly report:
✔ More consistent ball-striking
✔ Reduced tension over the ball
✔ Better performance under pressure
✔ Improved putting confidence
✔ Quicker recovery after mistakes
✔ Stronger competitive mindset
✔ Clearer focus and decision-making
✔ Returning enjoyment to the game
And for many, scores drop because performance becomes playable, not because they changed their swing.
Summary: The Mental Game at the Highest Level
Elite golf has shown repeatedly that technical skill alone is not enough.Many of the world’s best golfers work with mental performance coaches, sports psychologists, and mindset specialists to help them stay composed under pressure, recover quickly from mistakes, and perform consistently when it matters most.
These players don’t use mental coaching because they’re weak — they use it because golf exposes the mind under stress. The difference at the highest level is often who can stay present, committed, and emotionally neutral, not who swings the club best.
Why Top Golfers Work on the Mental Game
Modern professional golf openly acknowledges the role of mindset and psychology.
- Collin Morikawa works with Dr. Rick Sessinghaus, focusing on commitment, emotional control, and decision-making under pressure — a key factor in becoming a multiple Major winner.
- Jordan Spieth developed a calm, process-focused mindset from a young age under coach Cameron McCormick, helping him remain composed in high-pressure situations.
- Rory McIlroy has worked with leading mental performance specialists such as Dr. Bob Rotella, focusing on confidence, perspective, and playing freely rather than cautiously.
- Tiger Woods consistently spoke about the mental side of golf as his greatest strength, particularly evident in his 2019 Masters win, where patience, emotional regulation, and belief were decisive.
At this level, mindset coaching isn’t about “thinking positive” — it’s about training the nervous system and attention under competitive pressure.
The same principles apply at club and competitive amateur level.
Sessions & Locations
I offer golf performance coaching:
- Reading, Berkshire — Mon–Fri (day & evening)
- Didcot, Oxfordshire — Tuesdays with flexible times
- Online (UK & International) — Zoom or Teams
I support golfers across:
Reading • Caversham • Tilehurst • Woodley • Earley • Wokingham • Didcot • Abingdon • Wallingford • Wantage • and internationally via online coaching.
FAQ
Do you change my swing?
No — swing mechanics are for your golf pro.
I work on the mental & somatic layer that changes how you swing under pressure.
Can this help with competitions?
Yes — match play, club comps, opens, qualifiers.
Does this work online?
Yes — many golfers prefer online because it’s calmer and more focused.
Do I need to visualise?
No — everything can be adapted for non-visual thinkers (including aphantasia).
How many sessions?
Typically 3–6 sessions, depending on goals.
Next Step
If you want to perform without interference, handle pressure better, and genuinely enjoy the game:
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142