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Finding the “Zone”
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I’m sure you’ve experienced that feeling where everything comes together and you’re playing on auto pilot. Most tour
players have the ability to find and slip into that state for peak performance.
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I know when I’m in a clear and focused state of mind I’m capable of playing my best golf. We’d all love to bottle that experience and
use some of it when our concentration starts slipping.
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So exactly what is this psychological state?
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I think it’s your ability to stay focused on the task at hand while maintaining concentration in the present,
without distraction. You “lose yourself” in whatever you happen to be doing.
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I think it’s safe to say that you reach the zone when you become completely absorbed in a shot. You’re not thinking about results, or shots that you missed in the past. You’re simply focused on the swing, and
feeling what needs to occur to make it happen.
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Total concentration has several components...
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Training your attention on the task at hand
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The absence of distractions, or stray thoughts
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Getting quickly back to your original focus when your attention does wander
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Only being aware of the present moment
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When you reach this state of mind any activity you’re engaged in becomes more fun and enjoyable. There is
just complete attention to what you’re doing... at that moment.
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You can learn to achieve this state of mind on demand, much as touring pros do in the heat of competition. The
way to reach it is not mysterious, but does require some practice.
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Discovering the process that leads to the “zone”...
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Since focus is so important for performing at your highest level, what are the steps you can take to achieve this state more often?
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You can start by following these basic keys for developing better concentration:
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Determine what elements are necessary for the shot at hand: club selection,
target, wind direction, etc. These are the only things you should train your attention on. Forget
the Stock Market, your Visio presentation, and anything else that has nothing to do with hitting
the shot you’re getting ready to play.
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Get absorbed in the elements you identified for this shot. You’ll need to develop
a pre shot routine to establish a “cue” for getting focused. We’ve all read about pre shot routines
for years now, but it’s amazing how few players actually use one.
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Watch tour players, and you’ll see that they all use a pre shot routine to slip into a
focused state. A good pre shot routine helps you get immersed in the shot, and blocks out distractions.
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Know when your attention begins to stray. Get to know your own personal cues to
let you know what triggers the breakdown in your focus. Is it doubt, poor decision making, or visual
distractions that erode concentration?
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Learning to quickly refocus is the key...
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It’s easy to talk about refocusing when you’re distracted. Realizing that we all have some difficulty keeping focused, try
these pointers to improve your concentration:
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Know that you got off focus.
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Quickly get it back together; stop, and place your attention back on the shot.
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Refocus and move your attention to the elements you identified for the shot at hand.
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The takeaway message?
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Most of us have the ability to concentrate. Ultimately, it’s how well you keep out distraction
and what you decide to focus on that determines whether or not you get in “the zone”.
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We’ve all experienced that state many times; what you want to do now is to make it happen consciously,
and turn it on when you need that focus to hit the best possible shot.
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