#47: [Inside the Mind] Melvin Beard: Get A (Better) Grip, Man Theory, and Becoming a Confident Golfer

Meet Melvin Beard a 30-year Golf Professional, Certified Level II Science in Motion Instructor, Certified Adaptive Golf Coach, and Certified Golf Mental Coach.

Oh, he’s also a four-handicap with eight hole in ones.

Evenmore, he also happens to be that guy who gave me unsolicited swing advice one Friday morning, spent 30 minutes working with me (because he’s that type of guy), and the same Coach Melvin I ended up hiring a few weeks later to help me achieve my goal of becoming a scratch golfer. 

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• What Man Theory is - and why it’s ruining your performance.
• The power, importance, and need to prioritize the correct grip of the golf club. 
• How to augment your practice to produce confidence and better results.
• How to use your entire body to facilitate more power and distance in your swing.
• Why the mental game matters when it comes to finding focus, flow, and attention to detail in each aspect of the game.
• What to focus on to be a significantly better putter
• And much more.

Get your pencils ready and start listening. 

More About Melvin

Melvin C.Beard lll is the CEO and Owner of A-Swing Golf Academy. He’s been a Golf Professional for over 30 years and holds numerous certifications and credentials, including Certified Level II Science in Motion Instructor, Certified Adaptive Golf Coach, and Certified Golf Mental Coach. He’s also a First Tee Youth Program Lead Coach.

Key Takeaways:

• Golf is predominantly a mental game, comprising 98% mental and 2% physical.
• Grip and equipment play a significant role in a golfer's success.
• 'Man theory' can hinder a golfer's performance and should be avoided.
• Golfers should focus on their own game rather than comparing themselves to others. There is no single solution to improving your golf game.
• Many golfers mimic what they see on TV without understanding the process.
• Having a short memory is vital for maintaining confidence in golf.
• Taking notes during lessons can significantly enhance learning and retention.
• Finding a coach who emphasizes mental and physical aspects of the game is important.

Key Quotes:

• "This game is 98% mental."
• “You gotta build from success that you have each single time for them to be able to kind of check it because soon as they're mental, as soon as it comes out their mouth, your ears are recording basically of I stink. I this - this happened.”
• "Pressure busts pipes, but pressure also makes diamonds."
• “If you can aim at something small, you can hit something small. I think that was the Little Red Book. And in that small tee going in the ground, you push it all the way down into the ground. So it's like you're hitting the ball off the ground, but you actually now you have a little target.”
• “As long as you can feel that target, you have to listen to your hands and understand your hands are the only thing that's grip that's a vice on the actual golf club. So if your grip is wrong your swing is wrong. It's that simple.”

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