From Chill to Kill: The Golfer’s Mindset Shift that Unlocks Elite Level Performance

Kill Mode Engaged

Golf can lull you into a false sense of progress.

A decent round here. A few birdies there. A good stretch of ball-striking and suddenly… you're “feeling good.”

Truth Bomb

“Feeling good” isn’t the same as being great, and comfort is the enemy of growth.

When you’re in chill mode, you’re managing your game. You’re playing not to lose. You’re sticking with what’s safe. You hit the range when it’s convenient, work on what you’re already good at, and wonder why your scores aren’t dropping.

The ones who break through, you know, the ones who make it to that next level, they understand how to flip that internal switch.

They go from chill to kill. Not reckless. Not emotional.

Kill mode is controlled intensity. Purposeful. Precise. Relentless. Intentional.

Here’s how Elite golfers make that shift:

1. Stop Practicing Just to Feel Good. Practice to Get Better at the Game!

Kill mode doesn’t avoid discomfort. It allows us to embrace it.

You don't need another "feel good" range session. You need intentional, deliberate practice:

• Pressure reps – Create games that add pressure. Anyone can pound buckets of balls. The greatest in the world understand how to add pressure, because they LIVE in it. Everyone is your competition. Destroy them!

• Trouble shots – Have you ever found yourself in the thick stuff, only to realize that you haven’t practiced this shot, so your confidence switches to panic mode? The shots we practice, we get better at. Next time you’re practicing, find some trouble spots and put a club on the ball from there. Your game will thank you!

• Weakness work – Look, we all know our weaknesses. The Elite embrace those weaknesses, ask for help, and GET BETTER. Avoiding the weakness only amplifies it. Embrace it and do the work.

  
  

  You don’t rise by refining strengths. You rise by confronting the parts of your game you’d rather avoid. Be Brave! You can do it!

2. Play With Intent

Chill mode hopes. Kill mode plans. Every shot has a purpose.

Every round is a rep for the next level.

Elite golfers don’t just “go play 18.” They compete every time they tee it up. Whether it’s a casual round or a qualifier, you show up with the same intensity.

3. Train the Mind Like You Train the Swing

Elite performance isn't just mechanics, it's a mindset. Elite performers truly understand how to harness the power of their mind to overcome ANY obstacle in the way of achieving their goal. I have seen countless examples of this in Olympians, military members, and professional sports.

Kill mode means:

• Owning your thoughts under pressure

• Resetting after bad breaks

• Staying present, patient, and poised

Mental toughness is a skill. Train it or stay stuck. Too often I will give homework to a client, and they will “forget” to do it. Yet, they wonder why they aren’t improving. You could have an entire Home Depot worth of power tools. If you don’t know how to use them, they are simply tools. With a bit of training and dedication to the craft, you can build virtually anything!

The same principle works for the mind. If you don’t practice, the skills will lay dormant or simply be forgotten. If you want to truly take it to the next level, you must do the work.

4. Create Accountability

Goals without discipline are still goals, but they will never see the light of day.

Golfers who understand their Kill Mode switch track their progress, measure results, and build systems that help them achieve greatness. They don’t wait for motivation, they create consistency.

Accountability partners work for some. However, golfers are wired a bit different. We must do the work ourselves, and rarely will we ask for help. That being said, it is important to understand the relevance and importance of a support system. Having someone who understands where you are going can help you get there much faster.

Think of it like a GPS. The GPS is there, but if you never give it information of where you want to go, it is just a map. Once you give it the information, it will give you turn by turn instructions, AND audibly tell you when and where to turn, as well as when you have arrived.

Those that you choose to be in your Performance Circle should know, understand, and get behind where you are going. This way, they can give you the best possible guidance.

Find your tribe and connect often.

5. Raise the Standard

Good is the soul crushing first step toward failure. Good is mundane and almost uncomfortable. Good is simply getting by. Good is not for you and me. Good is for those who like sitting on the sideline.

Every workout, every putting drill, every decision, it’s either moving you toward or away from your very best self.

Kill mode raises the level of what is acceptable. If you are willing to accept mediocrity, your game will stay mediocre. However, if you are unwilling to accept mediocrity, you are in the right place!

Talent may have gotten you this far, but talent plus intentional effort is what sets the Elite apart! If you're serious about taking your game to the next level, complacency must die. The “chill” golfer settles for mediocrity. The “kill” golfer sharpens their tools and hones their skills.

Your Wake-Up Call:

If you want to go from: range rat to pure assassin under pressure, casual to committed, potential to performance, today is your lucky day. The difference isn’t just in the swing; it’s in the mindset. The mindset to train like a champion. The mindset to turn on Kill Mode when the time is right.

Flip the switch. From chill to kill. Let’s get you there NOW!