The Best Caddies Keeps Golfers In The Zone

You know The Zone. It’s the place you find yourself when you’re playing your best game–golf, tennis, swimming-the game doesn’t matter, being in The Zone does. Now comes a study from researchers in the UK and Australia that appears to show us what golfers need to stay in The Zone: a good caddie. A University of Lincoln news release reports that caddies influenced golfers’ flow states–the state of being in The Zone– by helping their player select targets, maintain concentration and avoid distractions, and preserve confidence after setbacks such as missed putts. The most helpful caddies also provided positive feedback after shots, reinforced the player’s decision making, and they were able to help the golfers relax under pressure. In one case reported in the study, a golfer described how a caddie helped keep him in The Zone while playing in a major tournament. He remembered sinking a long putt in the middle of the round which gave him the lead, at which point he said to his caddie, ‘Make sure you don’t stop talking to me from now on. Don’t leave me, and don’t talk about golf.’