The Levels of Cornhole Play

Whether you're playing cornhole in a non-competitive or competitive environment, good mechanics are crucial. It all starts with finding a throw that feels comfortable and travels straight. Once you've mastered this in a non-competitive setting, the next step is to replicate it consistently in competitive play. This progression helps you to gradually build your skill set and confidence. As you continue to improve, the aim is to reach a state where you can "Get In The Zone" without feeling under pressure, and eventually, maintain this state even under pressure.

What is “The Zone”?

The Zone is a mental state where your attention is purely in the present. Your mind processes only the thoughts and images that aid in executing your task successfully, without the mental burden of worry, doubt, or fear about results. To reach this state, it's crucial to understand and overcome the barriers that can get in the way. These barriers can include language, vision, awareness, and the ability to recognize objects in space (visuospatial recognition).

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection

From years of working with people on their mind-body connection and studying the subject extensively, it's clear that our mental/emotional state can significantly alter our physical body. 

Working With, Not Against The Body

While it's possible to manipulate the body for short periods, such methods often work against the body and brain. For instance, wrestlers, bodybuilders, and celebrities often resort to drugs, diets, and unhealthy/obsessive habits to achieve certain physical states. However, these efforts often come with sacrifices and are unsustainable in the long run. Therefore, we have to work with our bodies, not against them, and we cannot ignore the brain when it comes to the body.

Achieving “The Zone”

To consistently get into The Zone, we need to master three things off the courts: our mental state, emotional state, and physical state. This involves being aware of our thoughts, recognizing and accurately labeling our emotions, and maintaining our physical strength, endurance, and energy. Notably, our physical state is not just about our strength or energy; it's about the vehicle we live in that throws the bags.

Importance of Mental, Emotional, and Physical States

Each of these states plays a critical role in our performance. Our mental state keeps us in the present moment, dictates our results, and gives orders to our body. Our emotional state can be our biggest distractor, as it amplifies our thoughts and creates physiological changes in our bodies. Lastly, our physical state provides the stamina required for cornhole and can serve as a distractor if we are worried about it. As the sport grows, those with better physical conditioning will rise to the top.

Final Thoughts

Mastering cornhole requires a balanced approach that considers mental, emotional, and physical aspects. By understanding these elements and learning how to manage them effectively, you can improve your game and consistently get into The Zone.