Bhrett McCabe
The Importance of Your Inner Voice
Most people spend more time working on their swing, their shot, their mechanics than they do on the one thing they carry into every moment: their voice.
Not the one other people hear. The one inside your head. The one that narrates your thoughts, shapes your reactions, and either builds trust or tears it down.
When I work with players going through pressure, setbacks, or slumps, one thing shows up almost every time: their inner voice is working against them. And they don’t even realize it.
What You Say to Yourself Is the Environment You Compete In
We talk a lot about composure and mindset, but your inner voice is what sets the tone. When that voice gets impatient, critical, panicked, or perfectionistic, you start operating from fear. And that fear drives your decisions.
It’s subtle, but it’s loud. You start hesitating. Overcorrecting. Distrusting. You shift from attacking to avoiding, not because you’re soft or unprepared, but because you’re reacting to a voice inside that’s constantly second-guessing you.
The best players I work with aren’t the ones who never doubt themselves. They’re the ones who learn to recognize when their voice is drifting and shift it back.
You Can Train Your Inner Voice
This isn’t some self-help trick. It’s a skill, just like swing changes, footwork, or strategy. And it takes reps. Start here:
1. Pay attention to what you say when things aren’t going well.
What do you hear in those moments? Is it helpful? Would you say it to a teammate?
2. Stop trying to be positive. Start trying to be useful.
“Don’t mess this up” isn’t a plan. “See the target. Commit to it.” is. Clarity matters more than positivity.
3. Rehearse it before you need it.
If you only notice your inner voice when the pressure hits, it’s too late.
Start now. During training. Recovery. The quiet parts of your day. Make your default voice one you’d actually want to compete with.
Something to Think About
You spend more time with your own thoughts than anyone else ever will. So make sure those thoughts are helping, not hurting.
The best competitors I know don’t just train their body. They train the voice they rely on most, especially when things go sideways. And the good news? That voice is yours. Which means you can change it.