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The Scratch Golfer's Mindset

The Scratch Golfer's Mindset

By: Paul Salter
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 Paul Salter is a triple-digit golfer on a quest to become a scratch golfer. He's also a High-Performance Mindset Coach and Credentialed Hypnotherapist with 15 years of experience helping high performers from all walks of life get unstuck and unlock their full potential. Each week, Paul will share the emotional and mindset shifts you need to make to make mastering the mental game of golf simple, tangible, and relatable so that you can overcome the mental hazards keeping you stuck in the proverbial bunker of poor performance. He'll also routinely keep you updated on his progress toward par while sharing a raw and vulnerable look into his own collection of mental hazards he must overcome. 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 play better golf.2024 Golf Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 126: [Inside the Mind] Matthew Caldaroni: Building Systems for Resilience, Certainty, and Confidence - When You Need Them Most

    126: [Inside the Mind] Matthew Caldaroni: Building Systems for Resilience, Certainty, and Confidence - When You Need Them Most
    Jan 15 2026
    Most golfers (and entrepreneurs) think resilience is willpower—grit, grind, hustle, "just dig deeper." And under pressure, that approach eventually snaps… In this episode, Matt Caldaroni, CEO and Co-Founder of Molliteum, a performance resilience company, explains why resilience isn't a personality trait—it's a system. We break down his three-part resilience framework (excitement, certainty, focus), why certainty beats confidence, how to build a pre-performance routine that actually transfers to the course, and why rest isn't laziness—it's how your nervous system locks in skill. In this episode, you'll learn: Why willpower fails when pressure spikes—and what to rely on insteadMatt's resilience framework: excitement, certainty, and focusThe difference between confidence and certainty (and why it matters)How to build certainty with process visualization + intentional repsWhy "flow state" is preparing to let go—not chasing a magic feelingHow elite performers detach self-worth from results using standardsA simple pre-performance system: breathe, clarify, watch film, visualize Get your pencils ready and start listening. P.P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here. More About Matt Matt Caldaroni is the resilience coach athletes call when their mental game is costing them strokes. He's worked with elite performers across the NHL, NBA, NFL, and pro golf, helping them master pressure, build unshakable confidence, and finally bring their best game into competition. Matt is the CEO and Co-Founder of Molliteum, the performance resilience company trusted by athletes who want systems, not guesswork. He specializes in giving golfers the tools to stay calm, consistent, and locked in on every hole, no matter the stakes. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: Resilience isn't willpower—it's having a system you can fall back on when adversity hits.Flow state is "preparing to let go," and it starts in practice—not on game day.Confidence is the outcome; certainty creates courage, and courage produces results.Excitement is built from identity + vision + purpose—the "core hunger" system.Certainty requires skill mastery and situational mastery (what to do, when, and how).Most "practice-to-performance" gaps are missing specificity or intensity in practice.Rest and recovery aren't optional—they're how learning integrates into your nervous system. Key Quotes: "Resilience is having the ability to adapt.""You need to build systems to respond to pressure.""Visualizing the process to get the outcome—that works.""Focus is a cherry on top.""It goes certainty, courage, and then confidence.""The higher you go, the more mistakes you're going to make—and you've got to accept that.""Become that person." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Myth of Willpower in Resilience02:48: Building Systems for Success06:03: The Role of Excitement, Certainty, and Focus08:49: Understanding Flow State11:47: The Confidence-Courage-Certainty Connection14:37: Commitment and Core Values17:28: Detaching Self-Worth from Results20:26: Navigating Mistakes and Identity Spirals22:19: Building Competence and Focus23:33: Understanding and Managing Pressure25:50: Reconditioning and Behavior Change27:58: The Importance of Rest and Recovery31:41: Developing Resilience and Adaptability35:23: Transferring Skills Under Pressure38:22: Action Steps for High Performance45:41: Becoming That Person
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    53 mins
  • #127: Stop Affirming. Start Asking. The Fastest Way to Goal Achievement

    #127: Stop Affirming. Start Asking. The Fastest Way to Goal Achievement
    Jan 12 2026
    In this episode, I challenge one of the most common personal development habits—affirmations—and introduce a far more powerful alternative. If confidence feels inconsistent… if discipline fades when motivation disappears… and if you know what to do but still struggle to execute, this conversation is for you. We explore why asking better questions—specifically yes-or-no "Will you?" questions—creates faster, more sustainable behavior change than statements, goals, or affirmations ever could. Drawing on decades of behavioral research, identity psychology, and real-world golf and life examples, I break down how questions engage your subconscious, eliminate excuses, and leverage cognitive dissonance to pull you into action—especially when you don't feel like it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why affirmations often fail to create lasting behavior changeHow asking "Will you?" activates confidence and ownershipThe psychology behind cognitive dissonance—and how to use itWhy yes/no questions eliminate excuses and justificationsHow identity-based questions reinforce discipline under pressureThe subtle but critical difference between can I and will IHow to use questions to execute when motivation is gone This is a tactical yet deeply transformational episode designed to help you strengthen discipline, upgrade your self-talk, and accelerate becoming the version of yourself required to achieve your biggest goals—on the course and in life. Get your pencils ready and start listening. P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: Confidence is built through your relationship with yourself—especially your self-talk.Questions engage your brain more powerfully than statements or affirmations."Will you?" implies ownership, commitment, and action—not possibility.Yes/no questions remove the mental loopholes that fuel excuses.Cognitive dissonance pushes behavior to align with identity.Discipline is strengthened when actions answer questions—not feelings.Asking better questions accelerates becoming who you want to be. Key Quotes: "Confidence is intoxicating—and one of its strongest predictors is how you talk to yourself.""Questions engage you; statements let you hide.""When you ask 'Will you?' there's no room for excuses—only action.""Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort that pulls you toward who you want to become.""Discipline is doing what needs to be done when you don't feel like it.""Your actions don't follow motivation—they follow identity.""The answer to who you'll become lies in the question 'Will you?'" Time Stamps: 00:00: The Power of Belief and Self-Talk02:58: Welcome Back: The Journey of Self-Improvement04:34: Upgrading Self-Talk: The Importance of Questions14:17: Cognitive Dissonance: Bridging the Gap to Your Best Self19:27: Taking Action: The Path to Becoming Your Best Self
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    24 mins
  • #126: [Inside the Mind] Derek Belch (CEO of Strivr and Stanford Kicker): Visualization on Steroids, Decision-Making Under Pressure, and the Psychology of High-Stakes Performance

    #126: [Inside the Mind] Derek Belch (CEO of Strivr and Stanford Kicker): Visualization on Steroids, Decision-Making Under Pressure, and the Psychology of High-Stakes Performance
    Jan 8 2026
    Pressure exposes the truth. It reveals who's prepared, who's present, and who's pretending. And whether you're standing over an eight-foot putt to win the Masters or staring down a boardroom full of investors, the mechanisms that make you crumble — or come alive — are the same. In this powerful conversation, Derek Belch—founder & CEO of STRIVR, former Stanford kicker, entrepreneur, and competitive golfer—breaks down the psychology of high-stakes performance. Derek shares what truly separates people who execute under pressure from those who collapse, why the myth of "balance" is misleading, and the mindset that's helped him build a pioneering tech company while simultaneously pursuing his quest to qualify for a PGA Tour event. In this episode, you'll learn: Why pressure is a privilege—and the hidden gift inside nervousnessThe difference between preparation that helps vs. preparation that hurtsHow VR training reveals the brain's decision-making blind spotsWhy perspective is the golfer's most underdeveloped mental skillHow to reframe pressure as opportunity instead of consequenceWhy so many founders burn out—and how to avoid becoming one of themThe real meaning of work-life balance for high achieversDerek's biggest lessons from pursuing scratch golf in his 40s Whether you're a golfer, entrepreneur, or high performer hungry for the next level, this episode will reshape the way you prepare, practice, and perform. Get your pencils ready and start listening. P.P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here. More About Derek Derek Belch is a former Stanford Cardinal kicker turned entrepreneur, best known as the founder and CEO of STRIVR, a pioneering virtual reality company that builds immersive training for NFL teams, Fortune 500 companies, and the U.S. military. A multi-degree Stanford graduate with an MBA from USC, Derek left coaching at Stanford to launch STRIVR out of the university's Virtual Human Interaction Lab and has since been recognized on Sports Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list. Today, he balances leading STRIVR with his own quest to become a scratch golfer and hosts The Golfing CEO Podcast, where he explores the intersection of performance, leadership, and the game of golf. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery CallSubscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys NewsletterDownload my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: Pressure exposes preparation — nerves mean you care.Simulation (or mental reps) accelerates decision-making under stress.Perspective is the most underrated skill in golf and entrepreneurship.Tournament golf is a completely different sport than casual golf.You must know who you are to handle long-term stress effectively.Balance isn't real; clear values and non-negotiables are.Founders and golfers fail when expectations and identity collide. Key Quotes: "Pressure is a privilege — nerves simply mean you care.""If I've put in the work, it's in God's hands after that.""Visualization is VR on steroids — but golf still demands feel.""You can play golf once a week and expect scratch results? Expectations matter.""Burnout isn't about hours; it's about losing alignment with who you are.""Tournament golf is a different sport. Completely.""Perspective is everything. Even par is not the definition of scratch." Time Stamps: 00:00: Pressure Situations in Sports02:52: The Importance of Preparation05:26: VR and Simulation in Training08:20: Golf and Visualization Techniques11:12: Reframing Pressure as Opportunity14:13: The Concept of Balance in Life16:53: Identity and Performance Under Pressure28:00: Navigating Challenges in Business and Golf31:35: The Importance of Self-Reflection and Commitment35:36: Understanding Burnout and Stress Management38:59: Perspective: The Key to Success in Golf and Business48:17: Final Thoughts: Dignity and Playing Fast
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    1 hr and 2 mins
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