Getting in the 'Zone'

“When you get into that zone, it’s just a supreme confidence that you know it’s going in. It’s not a matter of if… or this that, it’s going in. Things just slow down and you have that supreme confidence, but when that happens you really do not try to focus on what’s going on because you can lose it in a second. Everything becomes one noise, you don’t hear this and that, just one noise…. It’s about staying in the present and try not to let anything break that rhythm. When you get into the zone, you become oblivious to everything else around you.” Kobe Bryant explaining what it’s like being in the zone.

The ‘zone’ is a term used to explain a state of extreme focus experienced by elite athletes. This ‘zone’ allows the performer to achieve and perform at peak performance levels for a sustained period of time, diminishing any doubt, fear of failure or mistakes allowing total focus and immersion into the task in hand, more importantly it allows the performer the be in control of their emotions and behaviours.

In order to access this ‘zone’, the performer must firstly have full trust in their game plan and winning mentality, this requires a lot of mental practise and preparation, this then alleviates some of the barriers commonly experienced by athletes which prevent them from accessing this ‘zone’. For example; fear or failure, low confidence and social approval.

How to get into the zone:

• Use a pre-performance routine, follow it religiously

• Have a clear mind on goals set for the specific round

• Focus on variables you can control (swing, preparation, practise and self-talk)

• Use pre-game nerves as a positive- your body is rising to the demands of the situation, you do the same.

• Trust you swing

• Confidence- walk, talk and act like a champion.

• Don’t force yourself into the zone, let it happen naturally.

Athletes who have experienced being in the ‘zone’, say it’s a magical moment where the limits to your ability and performance seem exponential, they also state that the outcome of the task is never in doubt.

Take this onto the course, practise and hopefully you will experience the ‘zone’.

Thanks for reading