The Scratch Golfer's Mindset Podcast - Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching for High-Performers

Somewhere in your life right now, indecision is costing you.
There's a conversation you've been avoiding.
A move in business you've been hesitating to make.
A commitment to your game you keep postponing.
And every single day you delay, it drains your energy, erodes your confidence, and chips away at your self-trust.
In this episode of The Scratch Golfer's Mindset Podcast, I break down why indecision is one of the most destructive habits high performers fall into—and how it silently sabotages your performance on the golf course, in business, and at home.
We unpack the science behind cognitive load, the Zeigarnik effect, and decision fatigue to understand why "thinking about it" is often more exhausting than simply acting. I share powerful reframes, personal examples, and practical tools to help you close open loops, reclaim your mental bandwidth, and build confidence through decisive action.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why indecision creates cognitive overload and drains your mental performance
How open mental loops (the Zeigarnik effect) silently exhaust your energy
Why indecision is often avoidance dressed up as analysis
The difference between gathering information and delaying courage
How decisive action builds identity-level confidence
Why "what if it works?" is the more powerful question
Practical prompts to help you close the loop and act today
If you're serious about becoming a scratch golfer, scaling your business, or becoming the man you know you're capable of being—this is the episode that challenges you to finally make the decision you already know needs to be made.
Get your pencils ready and start listening. 
P.S. Curious to get a taste of high-performance hypnotherapy and the impact it can have on your life? Click here to apply to work with me and I'll be in touch to get this call scheduled
Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course
Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
Download 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:
Indecision is not safe—it is mentally, emotionally, and financially costly.
Your brain hates uncertainty. Open loops drain energy until you close them.
Waiting for certainty kills momentum; decisiveness builds clarity and confidence.
Indecision is often avoidance disguised as "needing more time."
You become someone who trusts himself by acting like someone who trusts himself.
Key Quotes:
"High performers don't collapse because they make bad decisions—they collapse because they don't make decisions at all."
"Indecision is avoidance dressed up as analysis."
"Clarity does not come from waiting. Clarity comes from action."
"Indecision accelerates mental exhaustion because it consumes energy without producing resolution."
"You become someone who trusts himself by acting like someone who trusts himself."
Time Stamps:
00:00: The Cost of Indecision
02:52: Understanding Indecision and Its Impact
09:42: Cognitive Load and Decision Fatigue
16:08: The Emotional Toll of Indecision
22:24: Taking Action and Building Confidence

UPDATE: I have decided to start anew on Instagram. Follow me @thepaulsalter for your daily dose of high-performance wisdom, insights, and actions.
In this episode, I sit down with Scott Fawcett for our third conversation—and this one goes far beyond strategy charts and strokes gained.
We dig into what actually separates golfers who want to play good golf from those who are genuinely committed to winning. Scott shares unfiltered insights from working with elite players, his own experiences chasing professional golf, and the uncomfortable psychological traits that show up at the highest levels of performance.
We explore obsession, selfishness, loving nerves, emotional regulation, meditation, and the hard truth that elite success often requires becoming someone most people are unwilling—or unable—to be. This conversation also weaves into life, parenting, money, identity, and how meditation and awareness prepare you for the inevitable storms both on and off the course.
This is a raw, wide-ranging discussion about excellence, suffering, fulfillment, and what it really costs to pursue greatness.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The real mental difference between wanting to play well and being committed to winning
Why elite golfers fall in love with monotony and repetition
How "loving nerves" becomes a competitive advantage
Why being "too nice" can quietly cap your potential
How meditation builds emotional regulation under pressure
Why reframing thoughts—not eliminating them—is the real work
How defining success incorrectly sabotages long-term fulfillment
Get your pencils ready and start listening. 
P.S. Check out episode 66 and episode 88 for my past conversations with Scott. 
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.
Apply for 1-1 Mindset and Performance Coaching: Click here to apply to work with me.
More About Scott Fawcett
Scott Fawcett created the revolutionary DECADE Golf System, a data-driven course management strategy that has transformed how golfers at all levels approach the game. 
With three degrees in mathematics, a background in professional golf, and a passion for poker, Scott has combined statistical analysis with real-world performance insights to help players make smarter decisions and lower their scores. 
His DECADE system has been used by top PGA Tour pros, including Bryson DeChambeau and Will Zalatoris, as well as collegiate and amateur golfers seeking a strategic edge.
Scott's journey includes playing collegiate golf at Texas A&M, competing professionally on mini-tours, and applying his deep understanding of analytics to optimize shot selection and on-course strategy. 
Learn more about Scott and Decade Golf here.
Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course
Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
Download 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: @thepaulsalter
Key Takeaways:
Elite performers are wired to embrace monotony and obsessive repetition.
Wanting to eliminate nerves is a losing strategy; learning to love them is essential.
Being nice and being kind are not the same—and niceness often limits success.
Winning requires emotional regulation, not emotional suppression.
Thoughts only gain power when you attach to them and rehearse them.
Meditation trains awareness that transfers directly into performance under pressure.
Fulfillment comes from meaningful pursuit, not chasing pleasure or avoiding discomfort.
Key Quotes:
"Elite players don't try to get rid of nerves—they learn to love them."
"You can't force yourself to be ruthless if it's not how you're wired."
"Thoughts are just thoughts until you give them power."
"If you don't meditate, you're probably meditating—just on the wrong things."
"Winning isn't about outcomes; it's about getting one percent better every day."
"Life is messy—and if it's not messy, it's lonely."
"You're not the thinker of your thoughts; you're the observer of them."
Time Stamps:
00:00: The Mental Game of Golf: Commitment vs. Desire
02:58: The Obsession with Monotony and Selfishness in Golf
05:48: Embracing Nerves: The Emotional Landscape of Winning
08:40: The Balance of Kindness and Ruthlessness in Success
11:24: Redefining Winning: Competing with Yourself
14:25: The Pursuit of Meaningful Happiness
17:30: Understanding Regret and Future Decisions
20:15: Navigating Life's Challenges and Growth
22:55: The Importance of Presence and Awareness
26:05: Meditation: A Tool for Clarity and Control
28:48: Thoughts and Their Power: The Nature of Mindfulness
31:35: The Inevitable Messiness of Life
34:26: Self-Awareness and Critical Thinking for Fulfillment
37:22: Integrating Meditation into Daily Life
40:01: The Journey of Learning and Unlearning
43:13: Final Thoughts: The Power of Thoughts

Scott Fawcett flips the script and interviews me—Paul Salter, The Golf Hypnotherapist—to pull back the curtain on what hypnosis actually is (and what it's not), how it compares to meditation, and why so many golfers struggle with their mental game and stay stuck even when they "know what to do."
We dig into the real reason consistency collapses (hint: it's not laziness), what I mean by destructive mindset programs, and how fear of next-level success quietly drives self-sabotage. I also explain memory reconsolidation—why your past isn't "over" just because you've compartmentalized it—and how releasing old emotional charge can free up energy, focus, and execution when it matters most.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The real difference between hypnosis and the "pocket watch" caricature
Why meditation helps—but why it often isn't enough for identity-level change
How fear of success can be the hidden reason you stop doing what works
What "memory reconsolidation" is and how it impacts performance
Why the yips and performance anxiety often have roots outside golf
The difference between surface-level tools vs subconscious rewiring
Why stress is often an "energy leak" from unresolved internal conflict
If you've tried sports psychology, visualization, breathwork, and self-talk… and still feel like there's something deeper running the show, this conversation will connect a lot of dots.
Get your pencils ready and start listening. 
P.S. Curious to get a taste of high-performance hypnotherapy and the impact it can have on your life? Click here to apply to work with me and I'll be in touch to get this call scheduled
Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course
Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
Download 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: @thepaulsalter
Key Takeaways:
Hypnosis isn't mind control—it's a natural brain state you already enter daily. The work is simply learning to access it intentionally for change.
Meditation and hypnosis overlap in brainwaves, but hypnosis adds direction. It's not just relaxing—it's targeted problem-solving and identity work.
Most inconsistency is subconscious protection, not lack of discipline. When success feels unfamiliar, the mind pulls you back toward "safe" and predictable.
Self-sabotage is often sneaky and cumulative. It shows up as small broken promises (sleep, meditation, workouts), not just obvious destructive behaviors.
Next-level performance requires detachment from outcome. "Need to / have to / should" language is a dead giveaway you're gripping the result.
Memory reconsolidation changes your relationship with the past. You don't erase memories—you drain the emotional charge so they stop hijacking the present.
Your golf game carries your whole life onto the course. Unresolved family dynamics, identity pressure, and old emotional pain can create mental interference that looks like "golf problems."
Key Quotes:
"Hypnosis…it's not magic. It's not brainwashing. It's a natural state of mind."
"If you know what to do and you're not doing it…that's a mindset problem."
"Most people are afraid of next level success or being the best version of themselves."
"The sneaky lowercase-s self-sabotage…is breaking the little promises you keep to yourself."
"You can control your process…but not the outcome."
"Memory reconsolidation is like opening a Word document and doing some editing."
"You bring your whole self to the golf course…most of the stressors are completely unrelated to golf."
Time Stamps:
00:00: Introduction to Podcasting and Guest Introduction
03:02: Paul Salter's Journey to Coaching and Hypnotherapy
05:52: The Role of Mindset in Performance
08:48: Hypnosis vs. Meditation: Understanding the Differences
11:45: The Flow State and Its Importance in Performance
14:34: Overcoming Self-Sabotage and Destructive Mindset Programs
17:21: Beliefs and Their Impact on Success
20:40: Memory Reconciliation and Letting Go of the Past
25:46: Understanding Memory Reconsolidation
27:33: The Impact of Traumatic Moments on Performance
29:39: Healthy Detachment and Mental Interference
31:08: The Importance of Process Over Outcome
33:07: The Role of Self-Reflection in Performance
35:03: Quality Over Quantity in Practice
37:03: Advice for Younger Self: Slow Down and Have Fun
38:56: The Value of Memories Over Material Wealth
41:28: Balancing Hard Work with Rest
43:37: The Unique Approach of Hypnosis in Performance Coaching

If you've ever told yourself, "I just need to stay calm," you've been sold a half-truth.
Because elite performers don't win by being calm.
They win by using emotion as data—and refusing to let it drive the steering wheel.
In this masterclass conversation, I sit down with Mindset and Performance Coach Collin Henderson to unpack what actually separates average performers from elite ones: not talent… not even skill… but the ability to reduce internal interference when pressure spikes—on the first tee, on the back nine, or in the biggest moments in business.
We break down Collin's "4 levels of confidence," the #1 performance killer (FOPO: fear of other people's opinions), why your brain is always trying to keep you safe (even when it sabotages you), and how to build unshakable confidence through identity, self-talk, and a repeatable process.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why emotional regulation isn't "staying calm," but staying in control
How to perform confidently without feeling confident
Collin's 4 levels of confidence—and why most people get trapped in levels 2–3
The equation that explains choking under pressure: Talent + Skill – Internal Interference
How to kill FOPO and stop playing golf (and life) like you're being judged by a panel
Why identity is the true ceiling—and how to change it
The simple framework to shift your "don'ts" into "do's" and stop carving failure into your nervous system
Get your pencils ready and start listening. 
P.S. UPDATE: I have decided to start anew on Instagram. Follow me @thepaulsalter for your daily dose of high-performance wisdom, insights, and actions.
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.
Apply for 1-1 Mindset and Performance Coaching: Click here to apply to work with me.
More About Collin
Collin Henderson is the founder and CEO of Master Your Mindset, LLC, and one of today's leading voices in mental conditioning. A former two-sport Division I athlete and top-ranked medical sales professional, he left corporate success to coach elite performers full-time. Acclaimed broadcaster Jim Rome calls him "an authority of what matters most — an elite mindset."
Collin has authored seven books, hosts the Master Your Mindset podcast, and has trained #1 NBA draft picks, Heisman finalists, and top performers across pro sports and Fortune 500 companies. His trainings have been utilized by organizations like Nike, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon, and Novartis. A proud family man and dad of five, Collin also loves Fruity Pebbles, pizza, Ted Lasso, and cute puppy videos on Instagram.
Learn more about Collin by visiting his website.
Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course
Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
Download 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:
Emotions are information, not instructions; use them as data without letting them dictate behavior.
You don't have to feel great to perform great; elite performers execute through uncertainty and discomfort.
Most people operate with conditional confidence, while unshakable confidence commits without needing results or validation.
Talent plus skill minus internal interference determines execution probability, not talent alone.
Fear of other people's opinions (FOPO) quietly sabotages performance, even though others are focused on themselves.
Negative self-labels reinforce a fixed identity and set a ceiling on performance.
Scripted self-talk and repeatable processes prevent the mind from freelancing under pressure.
Key Quotes:
"Words are the language of the brain. Emotions are the language of the body." 
"You don't have to feel great to perform great."
"If you can't control your state, you can't control your performance." 
"If you want to change your psychology, use your physiology." 
"Talent plus skill minus internal interference equals execution probability." 
"You never outperform your self-image." 
Time Stamps:
00:00: Understanding Emotional Regulation
03:01: The Four Levels of Confidence
05:42: Building Unshakable Confidence
08:22: The Impact of Internal Interference
11:04: The Role of Identity in Confidence
13:42: Self-Talk and Performance
16:32: The Importance of Process in Golf
19:15: Cognitive Diffusion and Overcoming Interference
21:08: Reframing Self-Talk for Success
24:05: The Power of Self-Image and Self-Talk
27:52: Creating a Reset Routine for Performance
29:13: Managing Pressure and Mental Interference
32:44: Detaching Self-Worth from Results
36:40: Building a Balanced Identity
39:34: The Importance of Mindset Training
43:07: The Process of Figuring It Out

UPDATE: I have decided to start anew on Instagram. Follow me @thepaulsalter for your daily dose of high-performance wisdom, insights, and actions.
Today's episode is a candid, no-BS monthly check-in on my own golf journey—the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable middle. 
Over the last 30 days, I've made more long putts and birdies than ever… and also racked up a painful number of triple bogeys. It's been frustrating, humbling, and oddly encouraging all at once.
In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what's actually happening beneath the surface—technically, mentally, and emotionally—as I continue the pursuit of scratch. If you've ever felt like you're doing the work but the results aren't showing up fast enough, this one's for you.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why progress often looks like "two steps forward, three steps back" before it clicks
The real reason I'm hemorrhaging strokes off the tee—and how I'm fixing it
How at-home putting became the biggest confidence (and scoring) game-changer
The hidden cost of "playing bogey golf" as an identity and why I'm ditching it
The exact process and weekly variables I'm tracking to stay committed and objective
Get your pencils ready and start listening. 
P.S. Curious to get a taste of high-performance hypnotherapy and the impact it can have on your life? Click here to apply to work with me and I'll be in touch to get this call scheduled
Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course
Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
Download 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:
Progress isn't linear—breakthroughs and breakdowns often coexist in the same season.
Consistency in fundamentals beats chasing new fixes when pressure exposes old patterns.
Putting confidence can save rounds, momentum, and belief—even when ball-striking lags.
Playing "bogey golf" as an identity can quietly cap your potential and reinforce settling.
Real improvement requires patience, repetition, and staying committed when results feel delayed.
Key Quotes:
"I'm making more birdies than ever—and also more triple bogeys. Frustrating, to say the least."
"If it feels comfortable, it's probably wrong—because comfort is usually my old pattern."
"Putting has saved me more strokes than any swing thought ever has."
"I caught myself playing not to screw up instead of playing to execute—and I'm done with that."
"This game isn't just exposing my swing; it's exposing where I'm still settling."
Time Stamps:
00:00: Paul's Golf Journey: A 30-Day Reflection
04:48: Setting Goals and Tracking Progress
10:05: Lessons Learned: Alignment and Technique
17:37: Overcoming Mental Barriers and Course Management
23:51: Commitment to Consistency and Practice
26:38: Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Mindset