Help me with confidence!

**clg82** · September 20, 2010

Well to make a long story short. I have had about four lessons and have been working pretty hard on my "new" swing. I have lost a lot of yardage from not swinging as hard as I used to because I'm trying to "control" my swing. And concentrate on the swing path. My question is how long will it take to get confidence to crush the ball again.

**tws1098** · September 20, 2010

Well to make a long story short. I have had about four lessons and have been working pretty hard on my "new" swing. I have lost a lot of yardage from not swinging as hard as I used to because I'm trying to "control" my swing. And concentrate on the swing path. My question is how long will it take to get confidence to crush the ball again.

Keep track of yardage at each hole, if the new swing is bringing consistency then it is technically longer than the old swing. Hitting it OB or 15 yards really kills your average distance with a club (and your score). As your contact improves you will see more distance without all the effort. I went through some swing changes based on things I have learned here. This translated to a 10 yard loss initially, but I now hit my 8i 150-155 vs 130-135 with the old swing. And probably the biggest difference was my driver going from 210-220

average to 260-270 average . I hope that this gives you some hope.

**clg82** · September 20, 2010

Keep track of yardage at each hole, if the new swing is bringing consistency then it is technically longer than the old swing. Hitting it OB or 15 yards really kills your average distance with a club (and your score). As your contact improves you will see more distance without all the effort. I went through some swing changes based on things I have learned here. This translated to a 10 yard loss initially, but I now hit my 8i 150-155 vs 130-135 with the old swing. And probably the biggest difference was my driver going from 210-220

Thanks man it sure does, how long did it take you to adjust to the new swing....I am definetly contacting the ball more consistantly when I don't rush my swing or over think everything....

**tws1098** · September 20, 2010

Thanks man it sure does, how long did it take you to adjust to the new swing....I am definetly contacting the ball more consistantly when I don't rush my swing or over think everything....

Well I went overboard with my practice at first and burnt out. I made good strides but ultimately slowed down my practice and am playing well now. I would say I worked on swing related things for about 3 weeks straight. It has been about 3-4 months total. Had I taken a better approach at practice it probably would have been 2.5-3 months to get to where I am now.

It only took about 2 weeks, however, to see a lot of promise. Good luck.

**saevel25** · September 20, 2010

Here is a tip, clear your mind on the golf course. Limit your self to one feeling in your swing that you want. Range is for practicing, but on the course just let it fly. If you try to improve on the course you will get discouraged, don't worry, just go out and see were your muscle memory is at with the new swing.

Sometimes i just go out on the first tee and shorten my pre-shot routine. I like to go out there pick a spot and rip it. I don't care about practice swing or trying to get a feel for the shot, i am just trying to get myself in a groove and loosen up. I find that if i play the first hole fast i can get get in the groove. I use my routine later in the round when i need to maintain focus.

**clg82** · September 20, 2010

I do the same thing, it usually takes me a couple of holes to get "in the groove" because I am just so nervous on the first couple....thanks for the input guys....anyone else with some suggestions?

**mdbuschsr** · September 20, 2010

I guess it depends on what area of your game you need to gain confidence... I have recently found that with my woods (driver especially) that if I choke down a little I have much more control over the club head at impact. There is nothing like a 250 yard drive that goes dead straight to boost yourself. If it's your mid to long irons that are bringing you down, club up and swing easy. I didn't say swing slow... Swing easy! I've never seen a pro on TV take a 100MPH practice swing. It never fails, when I try to tear the cover off the ball, I have no idea where it's going. Swing 80-85% and let the ball get in the way. For short irons & wedges spend some time in your own yard just chipping around. Pick targets, and hit to them. It doesn't cost anything, and as you work on it and see improvement, your short game confidence will go up dramatically. Concentrate on crisp contact (ball then ground). Your distances will surely be long at first when you start getting it, but that's relatively easy to dial back. Putting? Your guess is as good as mine. I STINK OUT LOUD!!!

Lastly (or maybe FIRSTLY), see if you can find the book, or audio book, Golf is not a game of perfect. Completely changed my mindset on the course. I listen to it every couple months just as a reminder. In fact I'm due for a refresher. Confidence is all in the mind. Find the one "good" shot from the day and remember it, celebrate it!

**JWL1957** · September 20, 2010

Well to make a long story short. I have had about four lessons and have been working pretty hard on my "new" swing. I have lost a lot of yardage from not swinging as hard as I used to because I'm trying to "control" my swing. And concentrate on the swing path. My question is how long will it take to get confidence to crush the ball again.

Why not settle for a "mental thought" of hitting it crisp instead of crushing it? Your swing speed will more than likely return once you have the new swing grooved. Just throwing it out there.

**clg82** · September 20, 2010

I guess it depends on what area of your game you need to gain confidence... I have recently found that with my woods (driver especially) that if I choke down a little I have much more control over the club head at impact. There is nothing like a 250 yard drive that goes dead straight to boost yourself. If it's your mid to long irons that are bringing you down, club up and swing easy. I didn't say swing slow... Swing easy! I've never seen a pro on TV take a 100MPH practice swing. It never fails, when I try to tear the cover off the ball, I have no idea where it's going. Swing 80-85% and let the ball get in the way. For short irons & wedges spend some time in your own yard just chipping around. Pick targets, and hit to them. It doesn't cost anything, and as you work on it and see improvement, your short game confidence will go up dramatically. Concentrate on crisp contact (ball then ground). Your distances will surely be long at first when you start getting it, but that's relatively easy to dial back. Putting? Your guess is as good as mine. I STINK OUT LOUD!!!

Thanks man all good ideas there! I am mainly concerned about getting my swing path down....not necisarily the long irons, or driver etc.....just the swing itself....I'll look for that book as well appreciate it!

**TourSpoon** · September 21, 2010

Lastly (or maybe FIRSTLY), see if you can find the book, or audio book, Golf is not a game of perfect. Completely changed my mindset on the course. I listen to it every couple months just as a reminder. In fact I'm due for a refresher. Confidence is all in the mind. Find the one "good" shot from the day and remember it, celebrate it!

I just reread this book...it is a must for building confidence. I have been in the midst of a 16 week swing change that is starting to pay off (with 8 lessons). It is a matter of building your swing on the range and then trusting it on the course. I am able to trust my swing more and more and can feel it coming. The hardest to trust is the driver but it is starting to turn around as well. I am down from an 8.5 to a 6.4 and I am really enjoying playing. Keep the faith!

**etlreams** · September 21, 2010

Play alone at a really easy course when it is not busy. I like to do this when my confidence is down. I play an exec 9 that I play really well at because I am just so comfotable there and know it like the back of my hand. I go out in the middle of the day and play a round by myself. I "work things out" in whatever area of the game I'm struggling with. If it's off the tee, I'll just plan to play a few balls off the box. If it's the short game, I'll just drop a few balls and work on that on a particular hole. If it's putting, I'll just play my tee shot, approach shot, and then putt multiple balls from different spots on the green Again, it's when the course isn't busy. I just take my time - take multiple shots - try different things. By the end of the round, I start to "fix" whatever problem I was having and feel better about my game. Ready to take on my buddies again!

**clg82** · September 21, 2010

Thanks guys for all of the suggestions keep them coming, the book you speak of is in audio form on apple itunes so i'll listen to that and see how i absorb it! I am thinking about dropping the driver out of my bag all together until I can find a groove with the new swing.....

**Tomboys** · September 22, 2010

Well to make a long story short. I have had about four lessons and have been working pretty hard on my "new" swing. I have lost a lot of yardage from not swinging as hard as I used to because I'm trying to "control" my swing. And concentrate on the swing path. My question is how long will it take to get confidence to crush the ball again.

Hit a few "control" shots, then hit one full speed. Repeat. I did the same thing earlier this year when I addressed my flipping issue where my instructor had me hit knock-down shots to ingrain that shaft forward swing. I will do this at the range (hit a few control shots then hit one at full speed) and I will pick a random shot here and there on the course during my round to hit a knock-down shot just to remind myself to keep that shaft pointing forward.

Once you see that you're able to hit full shots with your "new" swing, you'll start to trust it more and the confidence will follow. Good luck.

**mdbuschsr** · September 22, 2010

Hit a few "control" shots, then hit one full speed. Repeat. I did the same thing earlier this year when I addressed my flipping issue where my instructor had me hit knock-down shots to ingrain that shaft forward swing. I will do this at the range (hit a few control shots then hit one at full speed) and I will pick a random shot here and there on the course during my round to hit a knock-down shot just to remind myself to keep that shaft pointing forward.

That's a good thought. I seem to make better contact for a few shots after I have to punch out of the crud!

**saevel25** · September 22, 2010

If the first tee is an easy hole with nothing in trouble with in your driving landing area, just skip the preshot routine, find your target line and let it rip. Just try to get the groove quick. I find if i try to feel out the swing rather than trying to thinking about the shot i want to do, hit my stock shot, i play a better round. When i go up there visualizing to much, thinking of to much i get caught out of the moment of the swing.

As for confidence, accept that hitting the green on any iron shot is an amazing feat. Learn how to two putt from everywere, and accept that you will hit that tree if you dare try to make a miraculous shot, so just punch out.

Basically, accept the shot thats given to you, don't try to do to much, understand your weaknesses, know your strengths, don't think about the swing during a round, just let the game come to you. You will find yourself more into the game, less about the swing, enjoy the round more, and find you can really play this game decently well. once that happens you are good to go, this game is easy ;b

**ohiolefty** · September 22, 2010

Antidepressants help.

**etlreams** · September 22, 2010

If the first tee is an easy hole with nothing in trouble with in your driving landing area, just skip the preshot routine, find your target line and let it rip. Just try to get the groove quick. I find if i try to feel out the swing rather than trying to thinking about the shot i want to do, hit my stock shot, i play a better round. When i go up there visualizing to much, thinking of to much i get caught out of the moment of the swing.

I agree 100% with Saevel's post. Except for that very last part about it being an "easy" game. Haha. I know he/she was kidding. But I digress.... there is alot of wisdom in the points made here. Sometimes when I am lacking confidence, I think too much. Overthinking, for most, I would go out on a limb stating, will always do more harm than good. Let your muscle memory do the work. Don't confuse your own brain by thinking too much and then end up overcompensating.

Also...I like the point about being realistic with yourself. I don't mean to say lower your expectations....but accept the weaknesses in your game (work those out at the range) and play to your stengths. Do this and your scores will be lower and your confidence will follow.

**clg82** · September 22, 2010

Thank you very much everyone for the boost of confidence, and stuff to work on during and before my shot. I will be playing friday after work and I will try some half swings during my pre shot routine, and not thing too much during the round about my swing either. But i must warn all of you that if I do have a good round while not thinking about my swing, after the round that is all I will be thinking about..like what I did good, what I did bad, and if I actually think I knew what I was doing during my swing.......and that drives me crazy

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