It seems that when we play well
everything flows without a trace of doubt in our performance. Our body, club and a ball do exactly what we want from them. Golfers such moments describe by adjectives such as: light, flowing, instinctive, decisive, without thinking, effortless,....These terms usually don’t include technical language that would refer to swing mechanics. Having such an experience we can say that we play in the “zone” or a state of flow.
everything flows without a trace of doubt in our performance. Our body, club and a ball do exactly what we want from them. Golfers such moments describe by adjectives such as: light, flowing, instinctive, decisive, without thinking, effortless,....These terms usually don’t include technical language that would refer to swing mechanics. Having such an experience we can say that we play in the “zone” or a state of flow.
Although we already own such an experience from other activities, it seems that they visit us on the golf course very unexpectedly and leave much sooner than we would like. So we are interested in whether it is possible to consciously "enter" in the state of flow and at the same time allow our feelings to change without personal interference and attachment to welfare.
According to the latest research by sports psychologists there are two main conditions that the player has to fulfill in order to enter the state of flow. Two conditions are:
1. A challenge or a task to perform and
2. A feeling that we are able to cope with that challenge and to do the task.
Golf certainly offers us a lot of challenges. The question is if we set realistic goals (or realistic Pars) according to our skills and abilities. If we want to be "visited" by the state of flow, we need to set such goals that are not too difficult and not too easy. American expert for planning the practice Mark Guadagnoli in his bestseller "Practice to Learn, Play to Win" (2011) points out that it is impossible to consciously enter into a state of flow if we haven’t previously learn good basics and skills of the swing mechanics. Author's opinion is that due to poor skills doubt in our performance will be stronger and always prevailing.
Since many players despite a good technical skills fail in maintaining a relaxed game, here are some practical tips how to consciously approach the state of flow (by author Roy Palmer, from the book "Golf Sense", 2010):
- Sense the feeling (pressure) between your feet and the ground,
- Sense the toes in your in socks,
- Sense the contact between the clothes and the body,
- Sense the movement of the chest,
- Sense the touch of the upper and lower lip,
- With keen interest observe the swing and the finish of your playing partners.
We should not expect that by sensing we will immediately relax and play fantastic golf. What counts is that we spend a few seconds on our inner body or a chosen part. Awareness is used in order to redirect our focus and mainly to detach from any negative state of mind. First we need to remain in a neutral position (being OK with whatever is present) so that a shift into a more pleasant state can happen.
The state of flow is easily recognized, because it finds us every time we are enjoying ourselves and very often we know in advance that we will play well. It is important not to strive to maintain such condition or try to extend it, since this kind of action would throw us back in the rigidity and tension.
According to the latest research by sports psychologists there are two main conditions that the player has to fulfill in order to enter the state of flow. Two conditions are:
1. A challenge or a task to perform and
2. A feeling that we are able to cope with that challenge and to do the task.
Golf certainly offers us a lot of challenges. The question is if we set realistic goals (or realistic Pars) according to our skills and abilities. If we want to be "visited" by the state of flow, we need to set such goals that are not too difficult and not too easy. American expert for planning the practice Mark Guadagnoli in his bestseller "Practice to Learn, Play to Win" (2011) points out that it is impossible to consciously enter into a state of flow if we haven’t previously learn good basics and skills of the swing mechanics. Author's opinion is that due to poor skills doubt in our performance will be stronger and always prevailing.
Since many players despite a good technical skills fail in maintaining a relaxed game, here are some practical tips how to consciously approach the state of flow (by author Roy Palmer, from the book "Golf Sense", 2010):
- Sense the feeling (pressure) between your feet and the ground,
- Sense the toes in your in socks,
- Sense the contact between the clothes and the body,
- Sense the movement of the chest,
- Sense the touch of the upper and lower lip,
- With keen interest observe the swing and the finish of your playing partners.
We should not expect that by sensing we will immediately relax and play fantastic golf. What counts is that we spend a few seconds on our inner body or a chosen part. Awareness is used in order to redirect our focus and mainly to detach from any negative state of mind. First we need to remain in a neutral position (being OK with whatever is present) so that a shift into a more pleasant state can happen.
The state of flow is easily recognized, because it finds us every time we are enjoying ourselves and very often we know in advance that we will play well. It is important not to strive to maintain such condition or try to extend it, since this kind of action would throw us back in the rigidity and tension.