The key to better scores is controlling anxiety, which this innovative device can really help golfers get a handle on

Stress is an inherent part of golf. From first-tee jitters to the knee-knocker for par on 18, tension is a much a part of the game as a post-round lunch. The best players understand that and find a way to deal with it rather than bury their head in a bunker.

One of the best ways to control anxiety is to focus on your breathing instead of over analyzing the situation, and while breathing comes naturally when we’re not stressed out, that isn’t the case when the pressure increases. Players must consciously concentrate on inhaling and exhaling to help reduce nervousness.

But just as golfers must practice putting and pitching to improve their short game, they also must practice their ability to reduce anxiety to really be able to use the technique when the heat is on. Problem is, there really isn’t much on the market to help golfers in this area, but there is the emWave2. In just five minutes of use a day, the emWave2 can help you achieve “coherence,” a simultaneous state of relaxation and revitalization when your heart, mind, and nervous system are in sync.

Users hold the pocket-sized device with a thumb on the finger sensor (or using the ear-lobe sensor) while inhaling and exhaling with the rising and falling blue LED lights and focusing on positive thoughts. The emWave2 tracks three levels of coherence with the top LED light changing color from red to blue to green as users move through the different stages.

The goal is to get in “the zone” and increase your  “coherence score” over time, which you track on your PC or Mac with included software, building power to develop coherence on-demand to be better able to handle life’s stresses—both on and off the course. It all sounds a little new-agey, I know, but after testing it for a few months now, I can honestly—and very calmly—say it really works.

$229, heartmath.com