In the zone!

[Golfmmad]

I was talking to a golfer today who plays off 8 and he's in his early 60's. He was saying when in his 40's he played off 4 handicap, and to play to that, had to be "In the zone" throughout the 18 holes and would feel mentally exhausted after. Now, he just can't maintain that level of concentration, nor would he want to.

So, a question for you single figure guys, how do you get in "The zone", and maintain that necessary concentration.
Not that I've any aspirations of getting to single figures, just some tips on this part of the game, I'm sure would be beneficial.

Thanks,

Golfmmad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know from my own experiences that if I get too focussed or "in the zone" actually start to play worse. Is he referring to thinking all the way round or only when he us playing the shot.

I use to be a deep thinker all the way round and it really is a highway to hell. I try as best I can to rely on my pre-shot routine and focus on the shot once I get to the ball. I still can't always turn off the voice, especially on the back nine of a competition (worse if I'm doing well) that starts to say (ar this, you can take a five here etc

Most pros will tell you that you can't think all the time. Once I've got to my ball and assessed the lie, distance etc and make my club selection I let my pre-shot routine and in particular putting my glove on start my concentration process on the shot in hand. Similarly once the shot has been played, the taking the glove off is my cue to forget about whats happened and go find it again

 

[Golfmmad]

I know from my own experiences that if I get too focussed or "in the zone" actually start to play worse. Is he referring to thinking all the way round or only when he us playing the shot.

I don't know, it wasn't an in depth conversation, just general chat. But thanks for your thoughts anyway.

Golfmmad.

 

[Doh]

Its a very interesting question and here are my thoughts.

I think that there is a difference in being foccused and being in the Zone,however with me in order to get into the Zone i have to start out by being foccused.

Now that may sound daft but being foccused to me means that you are making a conscious effort to play well as Homer says you go through your routines Etc, You Think.And as a result of that (and this is personal) i go into the zone where I DO and FEEL without the conscious thinking.

However i will say that this happens very rarely and not every time i focus.

 

[USER1999]

I would go with Doh on this one. Some days I just have focus. I don't know how I get it, but it is there. May be this is where the mind gurus come in (to get you focused more often). I can chat and laugh etc between shots, but in the back of my head, I know it is there.

In the zone? No. I would guess if I was in the zone this would mean perfect ball striking combined with focus and confidence. This happens rarely if ever.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Hmm, 'in the zone' - I'm no expert on this but having read Faldo's autobiography he refers to being 'in the zone' only once so I'm not too sure how that guy could get 'in the zone' every round. Maybe he's confusing 'in the zone' with concentration..

 

[Parmo]

I thought being in the zone was a feeling of full concentration throughout the body rather than a forced action in the mind?

 

[Smiffy]

I either play well, or play badly.
So I guess I'm either "in the zone" or "in the shite"

 

[Golfmmad]

I might of known,lol, trust you Rob to see the funny side

Golfmmad.

 

[Pants]

So, a question for you single figure guys, how do you get in "The zone", and maintain that necessary concentration.

I'd also love to hear from some single figure players with serious answers on this one.

Maybe they actually know the answer but don't want to share the info.

 

[bobmac]

So, a question for you single figure guys, how do you get in "The zone", and maintain that necessary concentration.

I'd also love to hear from some single figure players with serious answers on this one.

Maybe they actually know the answer but don't want to share the info.

I find when I play well, it's not just the mental side that is strong, the whole package is good.
The body feels relaxed, free from injury and flexible.
No hangover or stiffness and the swing just feels easy.
I guess it's down to confidence in your swing to do what you want it to do.
So for me it's good concentration with high confidence, a swing that feels easy and just enjoy it.

 

[birdieman]

Without sounding conceited it may actually be the opposite, i.e. high handicappers are concentrating too hard, getting tense and out of kilter over needless shots wasted.
Low handicappers may be more relaxed. Its a bit catch 22 - the more you play well and hit the ball well, the more you relax and automatically switch off, conversely the more you play poorly the more wound up, angry and tense you get. You then start thinking 'what am I doing wrong' and 'how can I change my set-up to correct things' - not good during a round. High handicappers by nature play more poor shots than low handicappers. That is where realism is important - if you play off 22, don't expect to par everything and accept the odd 6 or 7 no questions asked.
The 'zone' you're referring to should be brief, just as you assess then execute the shot. Switch the concentration off between shots, take in the scenery, watch others taking their shots etc.
If you hit a poor shot it's how quickly you get over it and move on that helps you stay relaxed and we all know relaxed muscles make for better golf swings.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

bobmac and birdieman have hit the nail on the head. Its exactly what i was going to say just stay relaxed and trust your swing and get over bad shots quickly.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Further to birdiemans point, Tiger has a ten step rule, if he hits a bad shot he can swear, spit, slam his club down as much as he likes but after he's taken ten paces from that location it must be forgotten. It's just about letting the bad shots go and not allowing them to make another!
Homer talks about the putting on and taking off of his glove as concentration boundaries, between the two he's focused and i guess trying to get 'in the zone'.

Sound simple huh.....why can't i do it then???...doh!

 

[freddielong]

To me I am in the zone when I keep out of my way, I just think about where I wont it to go, rather than how I am going to do it.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

That makes sense Freddie....a lot of mind gurus use that exact phrase, Bob Rotella talks of "keeping out of my own way" in one of his books (can't remember which one) when he's recounting his work with a tour pro, i think it was Chip Beck going over a 59 he shot in a tournament?

 

[dangermouse]

bobmac and birdieman have hit the nail on the head. Its exactly what i was going to say just stay relaxed and trust your swing and get over bad shots quickly.

I usually play better with a hangover for this reason - I'm concentrating on standing still and not being sick rather than the nuts and bolts of the swing, and it produces much better results due to less tension and tinkering.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

God to see decent players like birdieman and our resident pro Bob offering some pretty sensible advice. I also like the keeping out of my way line too which I guess I can relate to with the voice telling me what I need to do etc when I'm playing well.

I'm not sure who it was but it was in one of the Rotella books, that a pro (Hagen I think) knew he would hit seven bad shots a round and so if he hit into the rough or found a bunker from the fairway he just counted it as one of the seven.

The thoughts on here about higher handicappers having false expecations is valid too whereby they expect to be parring or bogeying the majority of the holes everytime. When I was off eighteen and above I played the par 5 rule and treated every hole as a five (making par 90 - 18 handicap net 72 and competitive most weekends). What I'd lose by taking 6 or 7 on a par 5 I'd make up with a par 3 or a par 4 on the shorter holes. It takes all the pressure off of trying to play to the par on the course.

I do think there are days where you just step onto the tee and everything just clicks. I think being confident about your game will help this (no-one plays well with loads of swing thoughts or negativity) but somehow it just slots into place. No thought required really and I guess its almost auto-pilot. It certainly felt that way when I shot my 77 (net 65) a few months back. Didn't feel I was hitting it great but was clearly getting it round and my chipping and putting also fell into place.

We all have days where we can drive but miss greens, hit greens but can't chip or putt etc but once in a while all facets come together. If that is in the zone then I don't think it can be produced at will. I do think however that a set routine will at least get you thinking clearly about each shot. It helps me anyway

 

[Screwback]

As previously mentioned bobmac and birdiemand have hit the nail on the head.

however, for me if i am playing well it is all about rhythym in my game and just relaxing and enjoying the game.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Playing off 1 you must certainly find your "zone" or space pretty regularly. Do you have your clubs organised in some sort of Feng Shui manner in the golf bag . I do agree that rhythm is important especially for better golfers and is one of the things all top amateurs and pros share.