"In The Zone"
What a great place to be. Every serious golfer has, at one
time or another, played "in the Zone".
For some it was just for a few holes. Others were there
for a number of rounds. And a rare few golfers, like Tiger,
Phil, Ernie, and others seem to play "in the Zone" for weeks at a time.
So what exactly is the "in the Zone"?
Most players describe "the Zone" as a very
special place where the mind and body work in harmony. The
Zone is a moment in time where the player feels
very connected to the swing and the course. The golfers'
focus is narrow, and the ball seems to go precisely where
it is supposed to go. Distance is effortless. Putts roll
true. Confidence is unshakable. For some, playing "in the Zone" is almost a dream-like experience. And everyone
who has been there wants to be there again.
Like relaxation, playing "in the Zone" is learning to become aware. Everyone can increase their
chances for playing "in the Zone" by learning
to become aware of their zone of optimal performance. Energy
levels and performance go hand in hand. When you're too relaxed you don't perform your best, and the same
is true when you're overly anxious. A peak-zone performance
takes place somewhere in between these two states. You can
only enter "the Zone" when confidence is
flowing, the body is "ready willing and able",
and concentration is at its peak.
To find your "Zone" of Optimal Performance;
1. Understand the entire range of your
energy level on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero being a very
relaxed state like when you're just about ready to fall
asleep at night and 10 being when you're extremely hyper
or nervous.
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2. Now imagine your best performance ever.
That special time when you were "in the Zone". It may have been just for a few holes or maybe even for
a few rounds. Relive that experience in your mind. Feel
your swing on that day. See the ball traveling to the exact
spots you envisioned during your pre-shot routine. Feel
the confidence you have in knowing your shots are going
exactly where you want them to go.
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| 3. It is extremely important for one to
hone ones skills of energy awareness. When you are nervous
or anxious, breathe to relax and lower your energy levels.
When you're bored and/or have low energy, move your muscles,
shake your hands, have a snack, or even jump up and down
to increase your energy levels until you reach a state that
is similar to that of when you last, were in your zone.
It is extremely important for one to hone ones skills of
energy awareness. Doing this will enhance your chances for
playing "in the Zone" more often, while
slashing strokes from your score card! |
| 4. Now on the 0 to 10 energy level scale...
where would you label your energy level during your time "in the Zone"? Was it a 4, 5, 6, or 7? Whatever it was, you can now re-enter the zone reaching that
energy level. |
Think
Your Way To A Better Game;
When golfers talk about the times when they played
really well, they'll often describe their mental state as being
"in the Zone," meaning every aspect of their game
just came together flawlessly - and seemingly with almost
no effort on their part.
It's when you're "in the Zone" that you're most likely to
achieve your best performance on the golf course, because
that's when your mental game and your physical game are
perfectly in sync.
The problem for most golfers is that, while they know what
it feels like to be "in the Zone", they don't know how to
get there. So those experiences of achieving peak performance
seem like flukes or strokes of luck … when in fact,
as pro golfers know, there are clear steps you can take
to think your way into playing at your best on a much more
regular basis.
Now,
more than ever, professional athletes in golf and in all
sports, understand the importance of developing strong focus
and concentration skills.
Here, for example, are some of the strategies the winning pros use:
| • Focus
on the shot at hand by leaving everyday problems and all
other "off course emotional junk" where it belongs... OFF COURSE! |
• Focus
on 100% mental involvement and concentration
on the shot at hand! Not the last shot, or
even for that matter, any future shots or holes... only the shot at hand! |
| • Focus
on proper breathing techniques. |
> > PROSHOP < < |
