Golf Digest’s new Mind Games episode asks golfers to notice when they rush

A bad shot can change more than the next club selection. In Golf Digest’s new Mind Games episode, Sam Weinman asks viewers to notice whether their walk, decisions and swing begin to speed up when a round gets difficult.

Published October 6, the episode brings professional golfers and specialists into a discussion of pace. Its practical theme is recognizing the moments when a player needs a little more time to see the shot and commit to it.

Weinman starts with a familiar contrast: a golfer playing well looks comfortable, while a struggling player can seem eager to get the next shot over with. That hurried feeling can affect the whole sequence before the ball is struck. The episode encourages golfers to pay attention to that change, rather than treating every poor swing as a new technical fault.

One part of the discussion concerns visualization. The golfer needs to examine the lie, distance and intended shot before stepping in. The episode’s explanation is that this picture gives the ensuing movement a clearer task. It also cautions against standing over the ball for so long that the picture becomes less useful.

Another part looks at physical pace between shots. Weinman describes noticing fast walking or hurried breathing as signs that a player may be rushing. The suggested response is a deliberate adjustment before beginning the next routine. The film presents this through its interviews and examples, rather than prescribing a single tempo for every golfer.

The R&A’s Rule 5.6b supplies a concrete boundary for that approach. It recommends making a stroke within 40 seconds after a player is, or should be, able to play without interference or distraction, and encourages quicker play. It also tells golfers to prepare in advance and be ready for their turn. Committee pace policies can set their own limits.

Preparation can happen while others play: get the yardage, select the club and be ready. That puts Weinman’s discussion inside a round that keeps moving. The rule supports thoughtful preparation; it does not give players extra time whenever they feel pressure.

PGA professional Brendon Elliott’s separate coaching guide offers a way to organize that preparation. In his 2021 article, he describes gathering information, choosing a club and picturing the shot from behind the ball, then stepping in to execute. It is older coaching context for the new episode’s point about using time deliberately.

For a home practice session, the episode supplies a useful question to bring to a sequence of shots: does a miss make the next decision feel hurried? A golfer can observe that change alongside the ball-flight result, giving the practice session something to examine beyond the number on the screen.

Weinman’s conclusion is a skill of recognition. Learn when you are rushing, when you are taking too long, and what helps you return to a routine you can follow.