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Play Better Golf in the Zone

Think back to the best shot you've ever played. It doesn't matter if it was twenty minutes or twenty years ago, you can probably recall every minor detail with ease. Perhaps it was a hole in one, a miraculous shot out of the bunker or the mother of all putts to take the game at the last hole.

How did it feel? Did you put a lot of effort into that shot? No? It was one of the easiest shots you've ever played, wasn't it? Ask all the golfers you know and they'll describe a similar sensation: it's as if the shot played itself. Everything just flowed as your wish became your command, and your body, club and ball did exactly what you asked them to do.

Was there indecision? Or a long debate on how you were to play the shot? No? Golfers recounting their perfect moment to me have said definitely not. Although they all could recall the situation, conditions and outcome, when they came to describe what it felt like, they used words such as 'instinctive', 'flowing', 'light' and 'easy'. Note the absence of technical terms.

This experience is what athletes refer to as 'The Zone'; artists and writers call it 'The Flow'. You temporarily existed in a different state with a heightened sense of awareness. Everything seemed easier and simpler, and you instinctively knew exactly what you had to do - nothing more, nothing less. With little perceived effort you played a peach of a shot worthy of a story years later for your grandchildren.

The Zone is the holy grail of sport. Athletes who experience it describe it as the ultimate state, a sort of nirvana, a pinnacle of achievement to reach and enjoy. It is often portrayed as a mysterious, altered state where performance is effortless, trouble-free and near to perfection. Many feel they can anticipate events, permitting them to take action before their opponent. The stress and anxiety of performing vanishes leaving them free to function without fear of consequences.

So How Does A Golfer Get Into The Zone?

The short answer is don't try! I have found from experience that anything you do directly will actually stop it happening. I see getting into The Zone as a similar process to falling asleep. If you try to 'do it' it won't happen. To fall asleep all you need are the right conditions - a dark room, a warm, comfortable bed, a clear mind and the rest takes care of itself. If at any stage you become conscious of the process of drifting off, you'll come back to full consciousness and have to start all over again.

In sport the conditions that enable us to get into The Zone are all there. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a professor of psychology and authority on The Zone, believes that if the following are present in any activity, it's possible to enter into it.

• The presence of a challenging activity.
• The perception that your skills match the challenge.
• Clear goals.
• The availability of instant feedback concerning your performance.

All of these are present on the course, you just need to focus and prevent any anxiety about the shot in hand preventing you from clearing your mind. It's a skill like any other that can be learnt once you know the process. Lose yourself in your game, don't get anxious or frustrated and before you know it you'll be getting into The Zone and playing your best golf.

For more tips on how to get into The Zone see Play Better Golf.

About the Author

Roy Palmer is a teacher of The Alexander Technique with over 26 years experience in competitive sport and has spent the last 12 years experimenting with new ways to enhance performance. His latest project is a book called Golf Sense, Practical Tips on How To Play Golf In The Zone. More information about this book and his unique approach to training can be found at Play Better Golf

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