Hey Fellow Golfer - 

Thank you for reading this week’s More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter. If you find it valuable, could you forward this email to a fellow golfer?

Thank you.

You can click here to read the online version of this week’s newsletter. 

And be sure to catch up on this week’s podcast episode:

• #71: The Fastest Way to Change Your Golf Game (Hint: It’s Not Swing Tips) with Josh Nichols

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about how mindset coaching and hypnotherapy can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance on (and off) the course, click here to schedule a coaching discovery call with me. 

There’s a moment before every big tee shot when your body speaks first.

Your heart starts racing…

Your chest tightens…

Your breathing shortens… 

Maybe your hands tremble slightly as you adjust your grip on the club.

And without even thinking about it, your mind steps in with a label.

• “I’m nervous.”

• “I’m scared.”

• “I’m not ready.”

But what if I told you that what you’re feeling isn’t nerves… or fear… or even excitement?

What you’re feeling is readiness.

That’s right. 

Your body isn’t panicking—it’s preparing.

In today’s newsletter, you’ll learn how your current labeling of your body’s response of readiness is costing you.

You’ll learn what’s happening in your body during those high-stakes moments, how to better interpret the physical cues you feel, and why learning to relabel this response is a game-changer for performance and peace of mind.

Let’s tee off!

The Physiology of Performance: What’s Happening In Your Body

Whether you call it anxiety or anticipation, the physiological response is the same.

When you’re about to do something that matters—whether that’s standing over a pressure putt, hitting your first tee shot in a tournament, or closing out a round that could be your personal best—your body activates a system designed to help you.

Known as the sympathetic nervous system, this “fight-or-flight” response is part of your body’s built-in readiness mechanism. 

Read the word “ready” once more…

It triggers a rapid series of changes:

• Your heart rate increases to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles.

• Your breathing quickens to supply that oxygen more efficiently.

• Your muscles tighten (hello, tension) to prepare for action.

• Adrenaline surges through your bloodstream to increase focus and alertness.

• Digestion slows down to conserve energy for what matters most—performance.

This is not dysfunction. 

It’s design.

The problem arises when you misinterpret these sensations as a threat, which only intensifies the sensation you experience.

The same physiological state exists whether you’re about to face danger or step into opportunity.

It’s neutral. 

It’s preparation. 

It’s your body getting into position to perform.

Same Signals, Different Labels

Let’s make this practical.

Take Kyle, one of my clients, who struggled mightily to perform to his potential during tournaments. 

In casual rounds, he was lights out. 

Calm. Confident. Playing to his potential.

But on the morning of a big tournament, everything felt different. 

His hands were sweaty. His stomach churned. His heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

And right there, on the first tee, he made the mistake most golfers make—he labeled what he felt as nerves.

He told himself a story: “This always happens. I can’t perform when it matters.”

• That story affected his swing. 

• His tempo quickened. 

• His mind raced. 

And just like that, the body that was prepared to help him perform became the body that sabotaged his shot.

(Click here to read his story next).

Contrast that with Jim.

Jim had spent years living in the shadows of “good enough.” Always close to breaking 80, but never quite able to close the deal. 

Every time he got close, that same physical sensation showed up—heart racing, breath shortened, muscles buzzing with energy.

In the past, he called it fear.

But through our time working together, he learned to call it what it really was: readiness.

And with that new interpretation came a new experience.

• Instead of tightening up, he relaxed. 

• Instead of rushing, he breathed. 

• Instead of doubting, he trusted.

The result?

More fun, more joy, better play, and lower scores. Read more about Jim’s transformation here.

Pro Tip: Check out my go-to breathing strategies to use on the course to take back control and cultivate calm on demand.

Redefine Your Feelings (and Your Experience)

What you feel before a big shot isn’t something to fear—it’s something to understand.

The quickened breath, the pounding heart, the surge of energy in your body—these are not signs of weakness or instability. 

Again, they’re signals of readiness. 

Your body isn’t panicking; it’s preparing you to perform. 

It’s not dysfunction—it’s design.

• You’re not broken because your hands shake on the tee box.

• You’re not mentally weak because you feel tension before a tournament round.

• You’re human. And your body is doing exactly what it was built to do: rise to the occasion.

The real power lies in how you interpret those sensations.

• You can call it fear—and tighten up.

• You can call it nerves—and shrink.

Or you can choose to call it what it really is—readiness.

• When you do, your grip softens. 

• Your breath deepens. 

• Your trust builds. 

You permit yourself to play freely to perform without resistance.

So the next time you feel that flutter in your chest or that jolt of energy running through you before a shot that matters, don’t resist it. 

Don’t judge it. Don’t mislabel it.

Instead, take a breath.

Smile.

And say to yourself:

“This isn’t fear. This is readiness.”

Then step into the shot—and into your potential.

***

Work with a golf hypnotherapist and mindset coach to unlearn the beliefs, programs, and behaviors that are no longer serving you so that you can play to your potential. 

Click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit. 

Action is the Only Antidote

Here’s something few golfers realize:

That uncomfortable feeling you get before a big shot? It’s not going away by thinking about it.

It doesn’t vanish with more practice swings. And it certainly doesn’t disappear by trying to “calm down.”

The only thing that eases it is action.

Fear thrives in stillness. Anxiety grows in hesitation.

But the moment you take committed, decisive action—everything shifts.

Let me revisit my Kyle client - who, as a plus-two handicap, had all the talent in the world. Smooth swing, sharp course management, and a serious range game. 

But the moment he stepped onto the first tee of a club event, it was like everything vanished.

• The tension would build in his chest. 

• He’d feel his legs get shaky. 

• His mind would spiral with what-ifs.

For a long time, he tried to think his way out of it. 

Can you relate?

But it never worked—because he never truly committed to action.

One day, we reframed everything: What if those feelings weren’t something to manage, but something to move through?

• He stopped trying to feel different.

• He started swinging with intention—even when it didn’t feel perfect.

• He focused on committing to the shot, not calming the nerves.

And what happened? 

The nerves never fully went away—but they lost their grip. Because the moment he stepped into action, the fear lost its power.

That’s the truth for all of us.

• You can’t outthink fear.

• You can’t wait for nerves to disappear before you move.

• You move first—and the fear follows.

So the next time you feel that familiar buzz in your body, don’t freeze. Don’t overanalyze. Don’t avoid.

Act.

Pick your target. Trust your routine. Swing with commitment.

Because action is the bridge between pressure and performance.

And it’s the only way to turn readiness into results.

It’s the stress, fear, doubt, and emotion that live in your mind—whether you’re aware of it or not.

Clear that, and your game (and life) will transform in ways you can’t even imagine yet.

I can help you get there. Let’s talk.

Your Next Step

Every newsletter will conclude with a suggested action step and further resources on the topic we discussed.

After reading today’s newsletter, I challenge you to reflect on how you interpret your body’s sign of readiness and to take action to shift this perspective to a neutral reminder of readiness; a sign that you’re ready to perform at your best.

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram (@thegolfhypnotherapist) or send me an email directly: [email protected]

After reading today’s newsletter, I want you to take the time to complete each step in my goal-setting process. Then, share it with me via email or on social media.

Thank you for reading today’s newsletter.

If you found it valuable, share it with a fellow golfer ready to take their game to the next level.

Until next time,

Paul

P.S. What did you think of today’s newsletter? Reply back / drop a comment below to let me know.

• Birdie

• Par

• Bogey

Thank you for reading.

When you're ready, there are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to The Scratch Golfer’s Mindset Podcast: Whether you’re an occasional amateur, a weekend regular, or a competitor seeking a tournament trophy or your pro card, this podcast will help you overcome the mental hazards of your mind to shoot more pars than bogeys. Start listening.
   

2. Download My “Play Your Best Round” Hypnosis Audio Recording: Let me help you lock in the level of focus, confidence, and clarity you need to create the mindset necessary to make your next round your best round. Download Your Free Hypnosis Audio.
   

3. 1-1 Mindset Coaching and Hypnotherapy for Golfers: I help golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds to shoot lower scores (and have more fun) using hypnosis. Book a free Golf Mental Game Strategy Call Today.