Grinding

This year up until a few weeks ago I had been playing great. Driving long and straight, hitting greens and making putts or getting up and down. Handicap was plummeting and I was shooting 77-81 type scores.

The last few weeks though my swing got a little loose and I lost a little confidence and drives were going everywhere and approach shots were poorly struck. However, I have still managed to shoot 2 rounds of 80 exactly. Mainly this is due to my putting and chipping staying fairly sharp but also due to what I believe is referred to as "grinding" (not to be mistaken with my famous dance move). Recovery shots from the trees or the rough, hooks or draws around obstacles I got behind, bunker shots both fairway and green side etc, etc.

I feel like this is a major step in my game in that I can play poorly but still score pretty well. Its not as much fun but I must say it has been more satisfying.

Just curious how others fare when the swing takes a vacation for a round or maybe even a week or two and how well you can grind it out.

I can relate.  Whenever my swing isn't top notch and "loose" as you described, I try to sharpen up my mental game even more during the round.  I know that if I play smarter and just take what my shot gives me, i'll still be able to put up a decent score.  This includes not going for "sucker pins", not putting myself in 3-putt situations, taking my time with chips and/or pitches, not forcing my ball to shape a way it hasn't all round, etc.