Mind Your Game Podcast: What to do when you are leading.On this episode of Mind Your Game, Dr. Mat and Cydney Clanton discuss why mental skills matter not only when athletes struggle but also when they’re leading.
Cydney recounts caddying for a junior golfer in a US Girls qualifier who played calmly and effectively for 17 holes, then spiraled into panic after learning she had a four-shot cushion on the 18th, speeding up, overthinking, and making a double while still winning.
They frame this as a “success threshold” and threat-mode response, using a balance-beam analogy and examples like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. The episode emphasizes narrowing focus through specific step-by-step instructions, body awareness, and progressive muscle relaxation, highlighting the need to train mental skills consistently.
00:00 Welcome and mental skills
00:33 Caddying the qualifier
02:05 18th tee mind trick
03:28 Lead revealed panic hits
06:06 Spiral signs and reset cues
08:48 Club choice under stress
12:06 Threat mode and IZOF
17:57 Balance beam stakes analogy
20:54 What to do when leading
21:50 Cydney likes to know
23:04 Why Thursdays Feel Hard
23:56 Narrow Focus Wins
26:08 Crisis Needs Direction
28:55 Interrupt the Spiral
30:02 Rory Masters Example
32:18 Body Awareness Reset
34:38 Step by Step Self Talk
40:39 Mind Drives Mechanics
42:47 Train Mental Like Muscles
43:53 Recap and Sponsor Thanks
Episode brought to you by: www.eatcaddysnacks.com
