Golf Mental Scorecard 1.0

Dr. Michael Lardon has crafted a series of strategies that have proven beneficial for notable players such as Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, David Duval, and Will Zalatoris. His methods aim to enhance mental clarity, improve decision-making, and effectively manage competitive pressure. Central to his approach is the Mental Scorecard, which he details in his book, Mastering Golf's Mental Game.

The Mental Scorecard is structured around the pre-shot pyramid, comprising three essential steps:

1. Employ the logical mind (left brain) to evaluate key variables such as distance, wind, trajectory, and club selection.
2. Engage the creative mind (right brain) to visualize and "feel" the upcoming shot.
3. Commit to the shot by honing focus, executing with either a singular swing thought or none at all.

The methodology for calculating one's mental score is straightforward. Golfers accumulate one mental point for each shot where they successfully complete the pyramid. The overall mental score for a round is then expressed as a percentage of the total mental score compared to the actual score achieved. Typically, professional golfers can attain mental scores of 90% or higher, whereas skilled amateur golfers may exceed 85%. In contrast, the average amateur often scores below 50%. As players incrementally improve their mental scores over time, they usually observe a corresponding decrease in their actual scores and handicaps.

Dr. Lardon has further streamlined access to the Mental Scorecard through a new application. Available on iPhone and Apple Watch, this tool allows golfers to input both their mental and actual scores during play, obtain their mental score following a round, and monitor their development over time.