[seooptiman]

In my other life, back before I quite golfing for about 10 years, I got to a pretty solid point with my game. Every once in a while I would go to the course feeling normal, nothing out of the ordinary, and find that my game was incredible. It was just for that day or that round, but I couldn't do anything wrong.

Surely some of you have had this. How often and how long did it last? What was it like for you?

I remember the feeling well. It was like I was in someone else's body. I would actually giggle after hitting a shot because I was like where did this come from! I didn't seem to hit it longer, just more accurately. And, it never lasted long, usually just that round. I'm not sure what caused it or how to do it again, but it was cool. Also, I've not had it happen again since I started playing again.

[rxnixoncom]

I haven't yet. I've had rounds where I didn't chunk a chip or miss a fairway or hit a shot 150 yards that was supposed to go 120 yards, but I've yet to put it all together at the same time. My 85 I shot last year I missed some fairways and chunked a few shots but I never got over a shot knowing it was going to be a good shot (although most of the time they were some of the best I've ever hit). I did have one of my best putting days that round, and the confidence was there in that phase of the game, does that count?

[Uzezqelj]

As I've said many times, when I'm in the zone, I wouldn't notice a missile attack.

That's almost 100% true because when I'm in a zone, it's as if there is nothing else of any importance in this world other than what I'm doing at that moment. Getting in the zone doesn't just apply to golf, but to anything that I'm involved in doing that captures my complete and total attention.

I love being in the zone because it's very much like being high (er...not that I'd know anything about that...) and it's as if everything slows down to a point at which I can almost see the ball coming off of the clubface and watch as it begins to rotate. Yes, that's an exaggeration (or just the mescaline talking), but that's what it feels like.

(did I just write that...?)

Anyway...it's also a "point and shoot" feeling too; any type of shot, any shape any distance - I feel as if all I need do is think of it and I'm instantly doing it and when I'm on the green, putting seems to come complete with a line drawn on the green and a gauge to tell me how hard to hit the ball.

Yeah, the zone is definitely a special place. But if there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that the zone has to just happen and it can't be manufactured and it can't be "on demand". The zone comes from having the confidence to know that whatever I need to do, I'll have the ability and the execution to pull it off and the more I believe that, the more often and the more easily the zone appears.


-JP

[seooptiman]

I haven't yet. I've had rounds where I didn't chunk a chip or miss a fairway or hit a shot 150 yards that was supposed to go 120 yards, but I've yet to put it all together at the same time. My 85 I shot last year I missed some fairways and chunked a few shots but I never got over a shot knowing it was going to be a good shot (although most of the time they were some of the best I've ever hit). I did have one of my best putting days that round, and the confidence was there in that phase of the game, does that count?

Possibly! I wonder if it can happen to just certain parts of the game and not all? For me it was a very wierd feeling, I knew something was different.

[seooptiman]

Great post JP. Thats what it was like for me too, everything slowed way down and seemed like watching it on TV.

[Belindanan]

I spoke of this in another thread. It's a level of concentration that is unlike any other thing you can do. I see Tiger Woods get that level of focus at times where he is literally in another place all alone in his mind. When I play in matches that mean something I can usually end up getting in this zone. Nothing phases you and you can literally recover from bad situations with no effort at all it seems. It's a special place to be and the longer you can stay in it the more successful your round will become. I tend to get in this zone when I'm playing with nothing technical on my mind but just playing off pure feel.

[rxnixoncom]

I have been in the zone while playing darts, many times. We usually called it Tunnel Vision. Still hoping for the golf version.

[Fiesialenp]

Usually my zone is getting consective pars, hitting straight drives and making great putts. I'll know I'm in the zone when my friend usually comments on how many pars I am getting. i feel unstoppable. usually confident in every shot I hit as well. Usually it will only last from 5-13 holes.

[seooptiman]

Usually my zone is getting consective pars, hitting straight drives and making great putts. I'll know I'm in the zone when my friend usually comments on how many pars I am getting. i feel unstoppable. usually confident in every shot I hit as well. Usually it will only last from 5-13 holes.

Now that you mention that, I don't remember feeling it so much with my driver like you do, but mostly in my iron's. Everything is next to the pin from almost anywhere.

It got to where it happened to me pretty often... then I quit playing. Now I can't get it back, lol.

[Fiesialenp]

Now that you mention that, I don't remember feeling it so much with my driver like you do, but mostly in my iron's. Everything is next to the pin from almost anywhere.

It got to where it happened to me pretty often... then I quit playing. Now I can't get it back, lol.

It's magical when it happens. I never know where it comes from, there is no extra focus involved. I go into my game with the same mentality every time, and this thing just comes out of nowhere. To have it often like you did would be great!

[assonomaf]

I have experienced this can't miss zone, a lot more often in my younger low handicap days. The time I remember most clearly was in the late 1980's.

I was playing along one day, not very well, and reached the 13th tee at 6 over par. I just wanted to get in and get it over with. Then after an indifferent approach shot, I ran down a 30 footer for birdie, and the next two holes did more or less the same. Then at the 16th I slopped it all the way, and left a 25 footer for par - and canned it!. Another longish birdie fell on #17. When I got to the 18th green after an awful wedge shot, I surveyed my 45 footer for birdie and started laughing out loud, because I KNEW I was going to make it (I did, center cut). I made over 200 feet of putts on the last 6 greens, and with those 5 birdies and one par got it home in 73. Of course, I had no inkling how to bring that feeling back next time I played.

[TolleyBoymn]

my in the zone feelings tend to be around awesome drives that leave me with a short iron or wedge into the green and then a 1 or 2 putt. Usually lasts for half a round but never a full round for all 3 (drives, approach, putt)

[hasasnn2345tv]

In my younger days, I could stay in the zone for maybe 12-14 holes at a time. That is as long as I did not stop at the turn for food, and/or beverages. Now days it is more 6 or 7 holes max, and certainly not during every round I play.

[alicewong]

I guess I find the "zone" about one in every 10 or so rounds... where everything seems to go right, I feel confident over every shot, and the shots happen just as I envision in my pre-swing routine.

A few years back I was playing over 3 days in Utah... I felt like I was in the zone all four rounds there. It was a great experience.

[Uzezqelj]

The trick to getting in and out of the zone is to accept the fact that the zone doesn't last forever.

Sometimes (rarely) it can last for an entire round or even for an entire tournament, but most of the time, it comes and goes. When the zone disappears, it usually happens like a someone flipped a switch and then all of a sudden it's gone. When that happens, I've learned to go back to basics and not try to do things that are too risky or too ballsy and just wait for the zone to return; if you watch the pros closely, you can see that they do this as well.

When a pro is in the zone, it looks as if he's putting on a clinic and can do no wrong, but when it disappears, they suddenly seem to become very conservative. I remember watching one of Tiger's rounds where he was knocking down flagsticks all over the place but when he came to a par 5 that could easily be a 2-shooter for him (as it was for many in the field that day), he tees off with a 5-wood and plays it straight as a 3-shooter - that's because his zone disappeared.

When that happens, going "conservative" and making routine shots and routine swings won't make any highlight reels, but it's usually enough to get a string of pars going and that usually results in a confidence boost which often triggers the next zone.

Lots of people get into the zone, but when it disappears, they try too hard to get it back or simply won't admit that it's gone and that's when they start getting into trouble, because they're trying too hard and not allowing the zone to simply cycle back the way it will if they'd just let it.

I believe that learning to live in the zone takes practice just like learning to hit a half-swing wedge and in either case, you can't force the results but just let the results happen and the rest will take care of itself.


-JP

[draigenia]

I spent about 2 months "in the zone" about 3 years ago. I didn't have a single round higher than 79 and it felt like I knew exactly what the ball was going to do before I ever made the swing. When I tried to drop a shot over a bunker to a tucked pin, it landed over the bunker and stopped by the hole. If I needed a cut to bring the ball in to the pin, it looked painted in the sky. My putts tracked to the hole like the ball was on rails. My handicap plummeted.

Then I came back to reality. I had a mini-zone experience again this year peaking around the city championships, but now I am mortal again.

It will come again, and it will go again. That is golf and life.

[seooptiman]

Another great post JP. I remember being SO disappointed when I lost it and trying extremely hard to "find it" again. I also remember not having to try! After several holes in this mode I would walk up to the shot with so much confidence that I'd just swing away and it would go were I envisioned.

As Smallie said earlier it happens in other sports, possibly other activities besides sports. I have it happen from time to time playing pool. In that mode I can make 3 rail banks and bump shots that have people saying WOW, lol, including me. But, you know you have a chance to get it.

Thanks for the responses guy's, now I know I'm not nuts!

[seooptiman]

I spent about 2 months "in the zone" about 3 years ago. I didn't have a single round higher than 79 and it felt like I knew exactly what the ball was going to do before I ever made the swing. When I tried to drop a shot over a bunker to a tucked pin, it landed over the bunker and stopped by the hole. If I needed a cut to bring the ball in to the pin, it looked painted in the sky. My putts tracked to the hole like the ball was on rails. My handicap plummeted.

Then I came back to reality. I had a mini-zone experience again this year peaking around the city championships, but now I am mortal again.

It will come again, and it will go again. That is golf and life.

Wow C-T 2 months of it. Man I'd settle for a hole at this point. I just can't find it again on the golf course.

[Belindanan]

I had it on Sunday for about 5 holes. I shot a 82 but I played 5 holes 2 under par and honestly should have been 5 under. It's such a good feeling when you just hit awesome shots effortlessly.

[Symnunidanimb]

I think I've been there twice and by twice, I mean for two rounds.