Why High Expectations Are Ruining Your Golf | Jared Tendler Psychoanalyses a Near-Scratch Golfer (Part 2)

Why High Expectations Are Ruining Your Golf | Jared Tendler Psychoanalyses a Near-Scratch Golfer (Part 2)

"When you say high standard, I think expectation. And expectations are hidden guarantees." — Jared Tendler Last week, Jared Tendler psychoanalysed Dave's golf game and uncovered some uncomfortable truths about confidence, insecurity, self-worth and performance. This week, it's Chris's turn. On paper, Chris is the golfer most amateurs aspire to become. A low handicap player capable of shooting under par and pushing towards scratch golf. But Jared quickly uncovers a different challenge entirely: Perfectionism. High expectations. And a mindset that's quietly making improvement harder, not easier. Why do so many good golfers struggle to enjoy the game? Why do high standards sometimes hurt performance instead of helping it? And how can ambitious golfers pursue improvement without becoming trapped by unrealistic expectations? This conversation explores golf psychology, perfectionism, confidence, expectations, resilience, mental toughness and the hidden mental mistakes that often hold good golfers back. Whether you're trying to break 100, break 90, reach single figures or chase scratch golf, the lessons in this episode apply far beyond elite golf. In This Episode: ✅ High expectations vs healthy standards ✅ Why perfectionism hurts performance ✅ Building confidence the right way ✅ How to stop throwing rounds away ✅ Resilience and grit on the golf course ✅ The psychology of scratch golf ✅ The "anchor in the mountain" concept ✅A Game, B Game, C Game - why a better C game can lead to lasting improvement. Want to go deeper? Check out Jared Tendler’s excellent golf psychology resources: 🌐 Website: https://jaredtendler.com/ [https://jaredtendler.com/] 📚 Books: https://jaredtendler.com/books/ [https://jaredtendler.com/books/] 🏌️ Everyday Golf Psychology: https://jaredtendler.com/books/everyday-golf-psychology/ [https://jaredtendler.com/books/everyday-golf-psychology/] Jared’s work provides practical frameworks for building confidence, handling pressure, overcoming fear of failure and performing more consistently on the golf course. 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW How Low Can You Go explores how amateur golfers can improve their game, lower their scores, and actually understand what moves the needle — without wasting time on the wrong things. 🎧 Listen now and start turning bad rounds into better golf. 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast] 💌 Contact  howlowcanyougopodcast@gmail.com

Golf Exposed My Biggest Insecurity | Jared Tendler Psychoanalyses My Mental Game (Part 1)

“You’re hitting that golf shot looking to feel competent. If you don’t, you get to go into this hellscape of not really knowing who you are or what matters.” — Jared Tendler What happens when one of the world’s leading mental game coaches starts analysing your golf game in real time? In this special two-part conversation, renowned golf mental game coach Jared Tendler joins How Low Can You Go? and quickly takes the discussion somewhere neither of us expected. Rather than talking about confidence, pressure and performance in the abstract, Jared turns his attention to Dave’s golf game and uncovers the hidden beliefs, fears and insecurities that may be driving his struggles on the course. Why can someone who feels confident in most areas of life still feel embarrassment, frustration and even despair on the golf course? This episode covers golf psychology, confidence, performance anxiety, fear of failure, self-worth, improvement mindset and the mental game. Part Two, coming next week: Jared turns his attention to Chris and uncovers a very different challenge—perfectionism, high expectations and the hidden cost of chasing scratch golf. Want to go deeper? Check out Jared Tendler’s excellent golf psychology resources: 🌐 Website: https://jaredtendler.com/ [https://jaredtendler.com/] 📚 Books: https://jaredtendler.com/books/ [https://jaredtendler.com/books/] 🏌️ Everyday Golf Psychology: https://jaredtendler.com/books/everyday-golf-psychology/ [https://jaredtendler.com/books/everyday-golf-psychology/] Jared’s work provides practical frameworks for building confidence, handling pressure, overcoming fear of failure and performing more consistently on the golf course. 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW How Low Can You Go explores how amateur golfers can improve their game, lower their scores, and actually understand what moves the needle — without wasting time on the wrong things. 🎧 Listen now and start turning bad rounds into better golf. 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast] 💌 Contact  howlowcanyougopodcast@gmail.com

The New Golf Season Is Here… Can We Finally Go Low?

The new golf season is finally here. After months of conversations with some of the smartest minds in golf improvement, it's time to stop talking and start applying what we've learned on the golf course. In this episode, Dave and Chris check in on their current handicaps, revisit the biggest lessons from recent guests, and share exactly what they're focusing on as they chase their goals of single figures and scratch golf this season. 🎯 We Discuss: ✅ Why our handicaps are finally moving in the right direction ✅ The five key components of golf improvement ✅ Scott Fawcett's advice to "own a shape with driver" ✅ Jon Sherman's lessons on process, resilience and not giving up on your round ✅ Karl Morris on mindset, pressure and the "I'll be happy when..." trap ✅ Chase Cooper's swing changes that are already transforming our games ✅ Alex Huang's simple formula for lowering your handicap ✅ The biggest areas we're focusing on this season Whether you're trying to break 100, break 90, break 80, or get to scratch golf, this episode is packed with practical golf improvement ideas, strategy, mindset lessons, and real-world experiences from two golfers trying to get better. 🗺️ The Golf Improvement Roadmap If you're serious about lowering your handicap this season, this is the roadmap episode. ⛳ Follow the journey as we put these lessons to the test and find out whether they actually work when the scorecard is in hand. 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW How Low Can You Go explores how amateur golfers can improve their game, lower their scores, and actually understand what moves the needle — without wasting time on the wrong things. 🎧 Listen now and start turning bad rounds into better golf. 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast] 💌 Contact  howlowcanyougopodcast@gmail.com 🏨 Big shout out to The Leddie on Scotland’s Golf Coast.

Why Your Worst Rounds Might Build Your Best Golf | Jon Sherman Part 2

“Your future best golf is probably being built inside your worst rounds.” In Part 2 with Jon Sherman from the 🎧  The Sweet Spot Podcast and author of The Four Foundations of Golf, we dive deep into the psychology of golf improvement. Jon explains why golfers give up too early during rounds, how resilience is built on your worst days, and why “getting your hands dirty” might be the key to shooting lower scores. We also discuss: * how Jon works with PGA Tour winner Mackenzie Hughes * handling pressure and expectations on the golf course * why golf is “an infinite game” * mental game mistakes amateur golfers make * simple stat tracking that actually helps * why chasing lower handicaps doesn’t always lead to happiness * process vs results in golf improvement If you’ve ever struggled mentally during a bad round, lost confidence on the course, or wondered how better players stay composed under pressure — this episode is for you. Featuring:  Jon Sherman — author of The Four Foundations of Golf, co-host of The Sweet Spot podcast, and coach to PGA Tour players including Mackenzie Hughes. ⛳ FOLLOW JON SHERMAN 📘 Practical Golf  https://practical-golf.com/ [https://practical-golf.com/] 📚 The Four Foundations of Golf  https://practical-golf.com/book/ [https://practical-golf.com/book/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@jonshermangolf [https://www.youtube.com/@jonshermangolf] 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/practical.golf [https://www.instagram.com/practical.golf] 🎧 The Sweet Spot Podcast  https://sweetspotgolfpodcast.com/ 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW How Low Can You Go explores how amateur golfers can improve their game, lower their scores, and actually understand what moves the needle — without wasting time on the wrong things. 🎧 Listen now and start turning bad rounds into better golf. 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast] 💌 Contact  howlowcanyougopodcast@gmail.com 🏨 Big shout out to The Leddie on Scotland’s Golf Coast. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a quick review really helps us grow — and helps more golfers shoot lower scores. ⛳

Jon Sherman: Why Golf Feels Harder Than It Should | Expectations, Pressure & Better Scores

“Most golfers don’t actually understand what good golf looks like for their skill level.” Today we’re joined by Jon Sherman — author of The Four Foundations of Golf, founder of Practical Golf, and co-host of The Sweet Spot Podcast. This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet about the mental side of golf. ⛳ IN THIS EPISODE * Why golfers put so much pressure on themselves *  Fear of choking and protecting good rounds *  Why expectations destroy enjoyment *  What “good golf” actually looks like *  Why elite golf is mostly avoiding disasters *  Why mid-handicap golfers might be the most tortured golfers on earth Jon also explains why most golfers fundamentally misunderstand scoring, consistency and improvement — and how changing your expectations can completely transform both your golf and your enjoyment of the game. 🎯 IF YOU’VE EVER... * Cared too much about your score * Let one bad hole ruin your round * Panicked trying to break 80, 90 or 100 * Wondered why golf feels mentally exhausting... …this episode is for you. 🎙️ Part 2 coming next week. ⛳ FOLLOW JON SHERMAN 📘 Practical Golf  https://practical-golf.com/ [https://practical-golf.com/] 📚 The Four Foundations of Golf  https://practical-golf.com/book/ [https://practical-golf.com/book/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@jonshermangolf [https://www.youtube.com/@jonshermangolf] 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/practical.golf [https://www.instagram.com/practical.golf] 🎧 The Sweet Spot Podcast  https://sweetspotgolfpodcast.com/ 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW How Low Can You Go explores how amateur golfers can improve their game, lower their scores, and actually understand what moves the needle — without wasting time on the wrong things. 🎧 Listen now and start turning bad rounds into better golf. 📸 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/howlowcanyougopodcast/] 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowLowCanYouGoPodcast] 💌 Contact  howlowcanyougopodcast@gmail.com 🏨 Big shout out to The Leddie on Scotland’s Golf Coast. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a quick review really helps us grow — and helps more golfers shoot lower scores. ⛳