Why is the Zone so Fleeting?

Any professional who has played golf, or any other sport for that matter, has probably experienced “The Zone.”  The Zone is that time period where you don’t seem to think and your body just works perfectly.

Professionals also know that the Zone is fleeting.  It’s a mystery as to why and when it will show up, and you never know how long it will last.  To answer these questions you first have to know, what is happening in your mind and body when you’re in the Zone.

Let’s start with the mind first.  Athletes will tell you they don’t think when they’re in the Zone.  Actually they don’t think consciously.  They’re body gets movement instructions from the subconscious and in the Zone this happens without interruption from the conscious.  So mentally, the Zone is the absence of the conscious.

Why does your body move so perfectly in the Zone?   When the body is working perfectly it’s because it is in perfect balance…perfect dynamic balance.  Dynamic balance means, that the muscles of the body are all engaged, and they are working evenly with their opposing muscles.  When it comes to trying to capture what is happening in the body, athletes try to capture a feel.  Here’s the paradox: when the muscles are working evenly they all feel the same.  Since there is no feel that stands out, there is no feel to capture.  So, basically, there is an absence of specific feel in the Zone.

So, how do you find the Zone?  Take away all feel and conscious thought? But how?.. Right?

Just another quick question for you to think about: If the Zone is the absence of conscious thought, can you consciously think your way into the Zone?  I ask this because mental gurus around the world are trying to teach their golfers do it.

Personally, I don’t think, given the parameters of the Zone, that it’s even possible. Getting there is a process, not a way of thinking.

And the question remains: How, if you can’t get there consciously, do you find the Zone?

Comments?

Tags: golf mental game, golf psychology