#56: [Inside the Mind] Michael Leonard: Minimizing Mental Stress, Cultivating Consistency, Upgrading Your Identity, and Breaking 80 Regularly

Meet Michael Leonard - the creator of Wicked Smart Golf, a +2 handicap, and mental golf coach. He uses his five-pillar approach to help players shoot lower scores and play more consistently... without swing changes.

In today's episode, you'll learn:

• The key elements to focus on changing to upgrade your identity
• The power of consistency - and how to cultivate it
• The importance of slowing down to regain focus after mistakes
• How less is more in practice and preparation for tournaments
• The role of mindset in developing consistency and breaking 80
• Actionable strategies for building effective post-round reflections
• Why mental and physical self-care off the course impacts on-course performance

Get your pencils ready and start listening. 

P.S. You can learn and connect with both Michael and I live at The Mental Game of Golf Summit. Learn more and reserve your seat here. 

More About Michael

• Connect with him on Instagram.

• Watch him on YouTube.

• Purchase "Wicked Smart Golf" on Amazon.

• Subscribe to the Wicked Smart Golf Podcast. 

• Work with Michael.

Key Takeaways:

• The mental game's primary goal is to reduce stress, as stress disrupts motor patterns and prevents you from swinging your best on the course.
• A growth mindset is critical for improving in golf; believing that improvement is possible fuels the effort needed to achieve your goals.
• Effective practice involves intention and structure—prioritizing deliberate, focused sessions over marathon practice that leads to burnout.
• Consistency in effort, even with small, incremental steps, is the foundation for long-term progress in golf and life.
• Managing your expectations with data-driven insights (e.g., realistic fairway hit percentages) helps avoid frustration and enhances performance.
• Pre- and post-shot routines, along with slowing down after mistakes, are essential tools for bouncing back from blow-up holes and staying composed.
• The golfer you are on the course is deeply connected to the human being you are off it—prioritizing physical, mental, and emotional well-being will elevate your performance.

Key Quotes:

• "The whole goal of the mental game is stress is coming—it's going to happen. No matter how good you get, you're going to hit bad shots. The key is figuring out how to calm down and get back to your process as fast as you can."
• "You have to have a growth mindset—if you don't think you can improve, you won't. But if you believe someone else did it, then you can too."
• "Do different to get different. If you keep practicing the same way, going through the same motions, and expecting better results, you'll stay stuck. Challenge yourself to do what others aren't willing to do."
• "Your swing is already there. It's not going to change the day before a tournament. Sometimes the best preparation is resting, eating well, and showing up with a clear and focused mind."
• "Consistency beats everything. Even if it's a mediocre practice or an okay workout, you're still showing up. Over time, that builds belief and creates real progress."
• "Having the right expectations is everything. If you think you'll hit every fairway or make every putt, you're setting yourself up for frustration. Focus on playing your best with what you have that day."
• "You can't separate the golfer from the human being. How you care for yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally off the course directly impacts how you perform on the course."

Subscribe to the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter.

This newsletter helps double-digit golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds so that they can shoot more pars than bogeys. 

Each week, I'll provide insights, principles, and strategies to help you deter distractions, find your focus, manage your emotions, and cultivate boundless confidence so that you can play to your potential.

Subscribe now.

Use Hypnosis to Shoot Lower Scores: Are you curious to learn how hypnosis can help you shoot lower scores? Snag my free hypnosis audio recording today to help you play your best round tomorrow.

Download it here.

Schedule a 1-1 mindset coaching discovery and strategy call with me - click here.

For feedback, questions, or to take me out for a round of golf, shoot me an email or connect with me on social media:

• Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist 
• Twitter: @parsoverbogeys

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Morning Routines and Productivity
• 12:10: The Importance of Deliberate Practice
• 24:03: Mindset and Identity in Golf
• 30:05: Mental Game and Overcoming Mistakes
• 32:28: Managing Emotions on the Golf Course
• 34:15: The Importance of Expectations in Golf
• 35:54: Breath Control and Its Impact on Performance
• 37:55: The Role of Sleep in Golf Performance
• 38:52: Bouncing Back from Blow Up Holes
• 42:10: Learning from Every Round
• 46:48: The Power of Reflection After Rounds
• 47:39: The 'Less is More' Philosophy in Practice
• 49:44: Goals and Excitement for the Future
• 51:30: Dream Guests and Podcast Highlights
• 54:05: Introducing the New Book: Blueprint to Breaking 80