How does one play golf - in the zone? To many it sounds like some trance like state, a zombie so focused that he sees nothing else. But is this the case? When people say Tiger Woods is in the zone he does not look as if he is on drugs or in a trance. In fact he looks pretty normal but when he steps up to play his shot his immense ability to concentrate results in some phenomenal shots.

So what exactly is the zone?

In his book "The Mental Keys to Improve Your Golf" Michael Anthony states that it is simply the ability to remain focused in the present. There is nothing we can do to change what has happened. A bad shot played is already confined to the history books. We all know that but what he says after that is what I found very interesting and very simple.

How we react to the history is what can damage our next shot. A negative reaction can, and does, adversely affect the rest of our game and in particular the next shot. Just as we have no control over history so, he argues, we have no control over the outcome of the next shot, match, game or opponents play. Now you may want to argue this point but in essence he is quite right.

We only have control of the present. What we do next will determine the outcome. In my previous article "The Power of Negative Thinking" I mentioned that thinking about a bad result (fear of going out of bounds, into water losing a hole etc.) often causes the very thing you fear to materialize. Anthony reinforces this argument in his book.

Michael Anthony says that all our experiences are recorded in our subconscious, which he calls our "tape". Our tapes job is to analyze a situation, find a similar past experience as a reference and then to get us to react according to that past experience. He argues that our tape's job is to keep us in our comfort zone.

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always have what you have always had" this and countless other phrases attest to this truth. To improve in most walks of life you simply have to get out of your comfort zone.

The ability to play golf in the zone does not mean that you cannot enjoy the surroundings and your companions. On the contrary golf is played for that very reason but Michael Anthony provides us with a 4 step process whereby we can get maximum enjoyment from the game whilst being "in the zone". It is a process designed to reprogram your tape.

The four - step routine consists of the following:

1) Feedback response. Every time you hit a golf ball you can learn from the outcome - whether the outcome is good or bad. Objectively examine the feedback, make a mental note of what you did right and store it away for future reference. Note what you could have done better and tell your tape to make the necessary mental or mechanical adjustments for the future.

2) Relax. Whenever you relax negatively to an outcome tell yourself to relax and become more objective so you can learn from the feedback. Talk to your tape between shots. Relax and get into the present. Enjoy your surroundings and your companions. Have fun.

3) Preparation. As you approach your next shot accept any and all challenges. Focus and prepare for your next shot in the present. Being prepared is a big key to success. Practice and develop your mechanical skills to increase your probability of success to match your performance expectations. Learn to master your emotions and develop a great mental game. Optimize your chemistry and increase your probability of success.

4) Instinctive Execution. Once you step up to the ball and are set, go for it! If you find yourself thinking too much at the point of execution, step away and go back to step 20 Relax, and step 3) Preparation. Then go for it and see what happens at step 1) Feedback Response. Have fun. Enjoy learning to improve the process, because the outcome is merely a by-product of this improvement.

It all made a lot of sense to me and I was able to read the book in a couple of hours.

The book comes with a CD, the first part of which you listen to on your way to a game of golf and the second part on completion of the round. Michael Anthony calls this "polishing the wheel" and it is a great way to reinforce the day's intentions and events whilst reprogramming your tape for a an even better performance next time.