You play your best golf when you can narrow your focus on one thought, a target or swing cue. The feeling of an automatic and effortless swing is another mental state associated with the zone. Through practice, you develop a strong memory pattern of the swing, which then makes the swing feel effortless. Instead, you can think about the shape of a shot or the flight of the ball. When playing in the zone, golfers feel very much in control of themselves and their performance.
Golf requires a balanced emotional level.
The key is to be excited to play, but not cross the line into anxiety and fear. Excitement helps you play better, but fear and anxiety ruin your game. To find your optimal level of arousal, compare your level of arousal during your best and worst performances. In future articles, I will talk about each of these five areas in depth. Dr. Cohn is a golf psychologist who consults with tour pro and amateurs.