Welcome to Wicked Smart Golf - hosted by Michael Leonard. This golf podcast will help you shoot lower scores and play your best WITHOUT changing your swing.
Michael is a full-time golf writer who has written over 3,500,000 words about the sport since 2017 and been playing golf for more than 20 years. In high school, he dropped 50 shots in four years (124-74), played college golf in Southern California, and now plays competitively in Arizona through the USGA, Arizona Golf Association, and Outlaw Tour. He even went to Q-school in 2019 as an amateur golfer.
His goal is simple - help golfers shoot lower scores and drop their handicap without all the technical swing changes. Because let's face it, no matter how good you get, your swing will never be perfect and a work in progress. The good news is that you don't need a "perfect" swing to break 80 or become a scratch golfer.
In this podcast, he will teach you how to play more consistent golf by mastering your mindset, playing wicked smart golf on the course, learn to practice like a pro, and simplify the short game for lower scores. Enjoy weekly solo episodes and plenty of interviews with golf coaches, elite players, best-selling authors, and other inspiring golf stories.
Check out the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon and Audible for even more helpful strategies to play your best golf ever.
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If you're like most players, you probably think to break 80 and shoot in the 70s you need to hit a lot of great shots. But in this episode, I'm going to debunk this common myth so you can start shooting lower scores - fast! Ben Hogan said he normally only hits 5 or 6 "great" shots per round. Yet, he was one of the best ballstrikers of all time. Needless to say, you don't need to hit every shot perfect to play better golf. The sooner you remember there are no pictures on the scorecard, the sooner...
If you're like most golfers you probably wonder why you can't take your range game to the course? There's nothing more frustrating than being a "range player" and having your game disappear when you tee it up. But the main reason this happens isn't because your lack of ability, it's because golf isn't like other sports. Golf is the one sport where you DON'T practice where you play. So you need to learn how to improve your practice sessions and make it feel like you're on the golf course. Then, w...
Your self-talk has a huge impact on your overall score and how much fun you have on a given round. Yet, so many golfers say the worst things possible to themselves, thinking that being a harsh critic of their game will somehow make them a better player. Heck, I've done it too and it's easy to do... but it's not helping your game. In fact, it's hurting your game and holding you back from playing your best golf. In this episode, learn why self-talk is so important and three easy to implement strat...
AimPoint Golf - is this the best way to read greens and make more putts? Or, is it total BS hype? In this episode, I break down my thoughts of AimPoint Golf (also known as AimPoint Express) as it's becoming more and more popular on the PGA Tour. But for the casual golfer, seeing a player straddle a golf ball and hold up a few fingers while looking at the hole is kind of confusing. I'll simplify this process and let you know how to get started if you need help reading greens. You will also learn ...
Your pre-shot routine is one of the most important parts of your golf game! Yet, most people don't even have a pre-shot routine and wonder why they can't take their range game to the golf course. If you watch elite golfers, it's one of the few things they have in common. It's not just them either, it's other professional sports like NBA players at the free throw line and NFL players kicking field goals. A pre-shot routine will help you calm your nerves on the golf course, build confidence, and m...
Do you want to play better golf without changing your swing? If so, this episode is for you! After playing 6 days straight (including a 4-day tournament - the AGA Championship), I want to share some of the best ways to play better without swing changes. These golf tips will help you shoot lower every single round - even if your swing is off or the weather is challenging. Remember, you don't need a perfect swing to shoot low scores! Going low and becoming a consistent player is all about a strong...
Did you know that 35-50% of all shots in an average round of golf happen on the putting green? Needless to say, you need to build your confidence on the greens so you can drain more putts every single round. If you're like most golfers, you probably think you have to spend hours on the putting green to get better. Thinking that the guy who spends the most time on the putting green becomes the best putter. When in reality, this couldn't be more true. Sadly, I know from experience. I used to spend...
First tee jitters = nerves, fear, anxiety, and terror for so many golfers. But what if the first shot of the day didn't scare you? What if you were excited about it instead? How much better would you play? In this episode, I'll share with you 11 ways to overcome first jitters on the golf course. I'll take you through my worst first tee shot ever and learn how I overcame it. Because if I can overcome this experience, I'm confident you can learn to as well. You'll learn more about ways to reduce t...
Practice makes perfect... right? Wrong, but practice does make permanent though. The problem is that most golfers practice the wrong way and unintentionally ingrain tons of bad habits that make your golf swing hard to fix. Which leads to high scores on the golf course and tons of frustration that makes it nearly impossible to play well. In this episode, I'll help you avoid the five biggest practice mistakes that most players make so that you can get the most from each session. Hopefully, you'll ...
If you're like most golfers you expect a ton from your game. You want to always hit it long, straight, make every putt, and score well. Even if you have a full-time job and don't practice much (or at all). In reality, our expectations set us up to fail. Once you learn these 7 PGA Tour stats from the 2021 season, you will have a new perspective on how to play better golf. Learn the average driving distance, greens in regulation, bunker saves, and more in this eye-opening episode. Remember these f...
If you're tired of 3-putting and letting your putter drag you down... you will love this episode! After getting some coaching from Cameron Strachan and using his "Look and Shoot Putting System" I dropped nearly 5 strokes on putting from 2021 to 2022. This revolutionary system lets you get "in the zone" on the greens and tap into the power of your subconscious mind. It's the most remarkable method I've learned in more than two decades playing golf. Listen to learn why it works so well and why it ...
If you're like most golfers, I'm sure you've wanted to play in a PGA Tour event -- well, at least try to make it. Listen to this episode to learn about my experience with the Waste Management Qualifier in order to make it a PGA Tour event. You'll learn about the competition, costs, how I played, and what it really takes to compete at the highest levels of golf. Plus, I'll take you through the right golf mindset you need in competition and how to stay positive... even after a terrible starting ho...
All it takes is one round of golf to change your life... literally. After getting back into golf and booking a trip to Pebble Beach for my birthday, the golf bug bit me hard! Once I got home, I knew I had to pursue golf at a high level and the only way to make it happen was quitting my 6-figure job. Listen to my full experience of these bucket list golf courses. I'll also break down the costs of Pebble Beach golf course, Spyglass Hills, and how to plan an epic trip. WICKED SMART GOLF RESOURCES W...
The mission of Wicked Smart Golf is to help you play better WITHOUT changing your swing. After playing golf for 25 years and writing about golf for 5 years (and over 1M words written about the sport), I'm sharing what it actually takes to shoot lower scores. This golf podcast is NOT one about technical swing changes. Because no matter how good you get, your swing is always changing and evolving. The good news is that you don't need a perfect swing to go low. In this podcast, you'll learn about h...
