Train your brain for golf
Jason Day is a fan of this headband that interprets your brainwaves
Focus Band £550
www.focusband.com “Take it one shot at a time” is a massively overused term in tour player circles. It’s trotted out before the last round of every Major by players who’ve never won one. But for anyone who’s actually tried doing it for real, it’s incredibly difficult. Keeping your mind in the now and not letting it wander to your next shot, or the tough par 3 over water that’s coming up on the back nine, or who’ll you’ll thank in the winner’s speech just doesn’t come naturally to lots of us. Believe it or not four years ago world No.3 Jason Day was in the same boat; he was seriously considering quitting the game because he just couldn’t stay in the now. That was before Focus Band convinced him to give their brain sensing head band a go. For anyone who’s tried “brain training” before, how to measure success or know what you’re doing is right has always been an issue. But the Focus Band measures the brain’s electrical frequencies (like an ECG measures your heart) and shows them on an app so you instantly see its activity. The system aims to get you out of using the critical left side of the brain and focus on the creative right side. It works during a pre-shot routine, while addressing a shot as well as during your swing. Some golfers have even played whole rounds (it’s not competition legal) wearing the band to see how the brain goes into overdrive when faced with difficult holes or shots. The idea is that over time the band and app train you to relax, quieten the brain and allow you to focus just on the shot you’re playing. Day has built what he’s learned into a solid pre-shot routine to clear his mind, quieten his eyes and focus on his target, rather than getting bogged down with swing thoughts and what’s ahead. Focus Band is a serious bit of kit, and likely only to get into the hands of elite players, but it’s interesting to see how much of a role the world’s best are willing to let technology play a role in their games. Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Michelle Wie are all using these bands, too.