516: Jared Tendler - The Mental Blueprint for Better Golf Every Player Needs — Wicked Smart Golf

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Today's guest is Jared Tendler, one of the world's leading performance coaches and author of The Mental Game of Poker and his newest book, Everyday Golf Psychology. In this conversation, we dive deep into the psychology behind better golf—from controlling emotions and managing anger to building resilience, handling pressure, and learning why your C-game matters more than your A-game. If you've ever struggled to bounce back after mistakes or wondered how elite players consistently perform under pressure, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you will learn:

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Jared's journey from competitive golfer to one of the top mental performance coaches in the world.
Why poker and golf share many of the same mental challenges—and what golfers can learn from professional poker players.
The biggest misconception about emotional control and why you need to recognize problems before they escalate.
How to "inject logic" after mistakes to stop negative emotions from taking over your round.
The power of the A, B, and C Game framework—and why improving your C-game leads to lower scores.
How to mentally prepare before a round by setting clear priorities and realistic expectations.
The best way to review your rounds so mistakes become lessons instead of emotional baggage.
The dos and don'ts of swing thoughts, and why technical thoughts don't belong over the golf ball.
How to overcome embarrassment, recover from poor shots, and become more mentally resilient.

Whether you're trying to break 90, break 80, compete in tournaments, or simply become more mentally consistent, this episode is packed with practical psychology strategies you can use in your very next round.

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