Staying in the Moment

Darell Mckissick

If you watch any golf on TV, you have surely seen the interview with the Saturday leader about what he plans to do the next day to win the golf tournament.

Almost without fail, these great golf stars tell you they will hit one shot at a time. They will play their own game and see what happens. They will stay in the moment.

If there is one thing the average golfer can do to improve their golf, it is understanding this concept and applying it to their game.

What does it mean to stay in the moment. Does it meant to think about nothing but exactly where you are and what you are doing on the golf course?

While some would say Ben Hogan did just that, it really isn't necessary. What would be the fun in that anyway. Golf should be about having fun and you can do that while playing your best golf.

How many times have you shot a great front nine, only to lose it on the back and shoot your normal score? This happens because you become concerned with your score and began to focus on making a number instead of a golf swing.

The pros all seem to be able to go in an out of their "zones". When it is time to swing the club, they are 100% focused on what they have to do. Us mere mortals are subject to having anything creep into their mind.

Everybodies mind work a little different, so you will have to find whatever it is your mind needs get into that zone. Maybe find a starting point, an action that you can do on every shot.

It could be a hat adjustment or something similar. Just let that action become the doorway to your zone. In fact, you probably already have such an action in your preshot routine.

Your mind needs to be 100% focused on the shot before you ever address the ball. Once you have selected your club, you should stand directly behind the ball until you are totally commited to the shot you are about to hit.

You should have a good idea of how the swing will feel before you make it. And that is all that should be on your mind. Nothing else. Not the bunker on the left or the score you will shoot if you par in.

Staying in the moment just means having a mind clearly focused on the shot at hand, with no outside thoughts entering the mind. This doesn't just happen naturally.

You must devote some practice time to getting into and out of your zone. You can improve this area of the mental game and shoot better scores as a result.