If I had to sum up the experience of being “in the zone” in one word, I would go with “numbness.” The sensation and rare experience of being “in the zone” is truly unique. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience the feeling, so if you have then you are truly fortunate.
Trying to express this phenomenal experience is not an easy task, but I can try: time seems to slow way down and everything around seems to be barely moving, similar to those slow motion scenes in movies. Feeling this way is like being on another level of consciousness.
When you’re “in the zone” during a game, you do not consciously make decisions and playing the game becomes truly instinctive. You are aware of your surroundings, but you feel that nothing around you matters.
There is a feeling you get that nothing can go wrong, which feels rather good. We all have heard the phrase “failure is not an option” … well this seems extra true when your in the zone. You are so concentrated on the game that it feels like you are not even concentrating; sounds weird right?
For those that are saying to yourself, “Have I ever been in the zone?” Nope. You haven’t, simple as that. The experience feels “out of body”, and you would know if you’ve felt it.
An adrenaline rush is not the same thing either. Adrenaline definitely plays a part in the experience, but there is no “fight or flight” when you’re in the zone; only “flight.” Unlike a fight or flight adrenaline rush, there is no fear or stress.
If you are struggling getting a grasp on this concept, maybe some videos will help. Here, watch Tracy McGrady single-handedly beat the San Antonio Spurs and Reggie Miller defeat the Knicks. Both are good examples of a player’s being “in the zone.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jbtt6OGLms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtPaMgyz4ec
Watching these videos will not allow you to fully understand the sensation, but at least you can get an idea. This phenomenal feeling is one of the beauties of sports. You can’t get this feeling by sitting at your desk or playing video games.
If you have been in the zone before and you think I left anything thing out then let’s hear it in the Smack Talk forum.
Written by Hollen O’Kelley
Edited by Andrea Herman
Image Source: otrsportsonline.com
Not that I play video games or even a video game advocate, but I strongly disagree with you not being able to get into the zone unless you are playing a sport. Artists, such as muscians and painters are well documentated and acknowledged to get into a “flow” or zone state. I would imagine and have heard of gamers reaching the same state. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi is famous for his work on the flow state with spiritual experiences and zone states with people multi tasking in an office setting.
As an athlete and professional trainer, my experience is more similar to yours.
You make a good point Nick, but I feel there is a definite difference between the “zone state” between sports and say video games. I totally agree that video games can produce a “flow” state, but I believe there is a major difference with sports. While video games can produce a mindset change, they do not involve the physical realm. As a personal trainer, I’m sure that you know of the powers that “being in motion” can produce. There is just something unique that can occur when your blood is pumping and your whole body is taking part in the experience. No doubt though that other realms, like office workers or painters, can achieve a zone state, but I do not believe that these states are at the same heightened level as a sport’s zone. So, I guess the difference would be that sport’s can induce “being in THE zone” versus other realms inducing “being in A zone”.