Golf gone bad.

-g-- · March 7, 2015

I got bit by the golf bug about 18 months ago (in my late 50's). I go to the range twice, take one lesson and get on the course once every week. I saw pretty steady progress, shooting in the low to mid 90's until about a month ago when I changed my grips, grip and started trying to draw the ball. Since then I've seen my game balloon up to 111 the last two rounds with all kinds of bad shots. My coach says my swing is far better than what my scores show but we've been unable to get onto the course to see where I'm going wrong. Could it be the grips, pushing too hard or is it just a slump I'll get through?

**dkolo** · March 7, 2015

I got bit by the golf bug about 18 months ago (in my late 50's). I go to the range twice, take one lesson and get on the course once every week. I saw pretty steady progress, shooting in the low to mid 90's until about a month ago when I changed my grips, grip and started trying to draw the ball. Since then I've seen my game balloon up to 111 the last two rounds with all kinds of bad shots.

My coach says my swing is far better than what my scores show but we've been unable to get onto the course to see where I'm going wrong.

Could it be the grips, pushing too hard or is it just a slump I'll get through?

It's probably not the grips. When you make a swing change, especially one as significant as going from hitting a fade to a draw, it can take a ton of time for it to take and start paying off. Mine took about 4 months of really heavy practice before I felt comfortable and my scores started dropping. And I was on the range working on it 4+ times a week. Your mileage may obviously vary, but don't feel discouraged because it doesn't come right away. If you're working on what you're meant to be working on, and it sounds like you are, then you need to give it time.

**Shorty** · March 7, 2015

You can't just start trying to draw the ball without sound mechanics.

If you are shooting the scores you have been, you need to get to very basic fundamentals.

Your coach is focusing on the wrong end of the spectrum. Why does he want you to draw the ball?

Drawing the ball should be the last thing on your mind.

You should be thinking about:

1. Correct position at address

2. Good tempo

3. Square contact

It is not grips or a slump, it is basic technique and probably a fair bit of lost confidence which can do a lot of damage to a developing golf game.

-g-- · March 7, 2015

You can't just start trying to draw the ball without sound mechanics.
If you are shooting the scores you have been, you need to get to very basic fundamentals.
Your coach is focusing on the wrong end of the spectrum. Why does he want you to draw the ball?
Drawing the ball should be the last thing on your mind.

You should be thinking about:

1. Correct position at address
2. Good tempo
3. Square contact

It is not grips or a slump, it is basic technique and probably a fair bit of lost confidence which can do a lot of damage to a developing golf game.

Thanks Shorty.

I guess I didn't fully explain but I've had about 25 lessons so far and have addressed all of those points and more. I am struggling with square contact with my full swing when using longer irons, 6 iron and below I usually manage to get square. At the range and on the simulator I can draw pretty much all my irons while hitting out but once I hit the course I pretty much am hitting straight or mishit a fade or sometimes even a slice. My biggest problems seem to be hitting thin or on occasion fat. Except for the last round my hybrids and 3 wood sit untouched as they usually result in topped balls.

The course I play most is an Arnold Palmer design (6085 119 68.8 - 130 73.2 from the tips) with lots of water. This usually means I end up with at least a couple of penalties which I know aren't helping.

Last round I hit 64% FIR, 6% GIR, 12% Recovery. One 4 putt and one 3 putt for a total of 33. I'm definitely having problems from second shot to the green.....

**dkolo** · March 7, 2015

Thanks Shorty.

I guess I didn't fully explain but I've had about 25 lessons so far and have addressed all of those points and more. I am struggling with square contact with my full swing when using longer irons, 6 iron and below I usually manage to get square. At the range and on the simulator I can draw pretty much all my irons while hitting out but once I hit the course I pretty much am hitting straight or mishit a fade or sometimes even a slice. My biggest problems seem to be hitting thin or on occasion fat. Except for the last round my hybrids and 3 wood sit untouched as they usually result in topped balls.

The course I play most is an Arnold Palmer design (6085 119 68.8 - 130 73.2 from the tips) with lots of water. This usually means I end up with at least a couple of penalties which I know aren't helping.

Last round I hit 64% FIR, 6% GIR, 12% Recovery. One 4 putt and one 3 putt for a total of 33. I'm definitely having problems from second shot to the green.....

Make a My Swing thread and post some videos, but it sounds like you could be having an issue with not getting your weight forward enough and consequently flipping. That could lead to the thin shots / fat shots depending on your impact conditions because you're trying to catch up at impact. If that's your issue, getting your weight forward would help with your thin / fat shots and help promote an outward swing path that you need for a draw. It makes sense, given what you're saying, since those issues would make your longer irons / hybrids difficult to hit. This is all spitballing without seeing your swing, but it could be something to think about and check.

**mvmac** · March 7, 2015

I got bit by the golf bug about 18 months ago (in my late 50's). I go to the range twice, take one lesson and get on the course once every week. I saw pretty steady progress, shooting in the low to mid 90's until about a month ago when I changed my grips, grip and started trying to draw the ball. Since then I've seen my game balloon up to 111 the last two rounds with all kinds of bad shots.

If you were told to hit draws by "turning your hands over more", then that could be causing some problems.

-g-- · March 7, 2015

If you were told to hit draws by "turning your hands over more", then that could be causing some problems. [CONTENTEMBED=/t/73354/common-golf-myths-that-may-be-hurting-your-game layout=inline][/CONTENTEMBED]

No, I've been told to feel more rotation in my lead shoulder. I tend to be "handsey".

**boogielicious** · March 8, 2015

Welcome to the forum @-g-- ,

There are a lot of ways to improve. I would not worry about drawing or fading yet as much as making good contact consistently. Your natural ball flight will work itself out. Like most of us when we were starting out, fat and thin shots really contribute to higher scores more than the curve after contact.

If you like your coach, that is fine. But impress to him or her that it is fat and thin shots that are your primary miss and not pushes and fades. Work on this. Below is a great thread with videos that explain the keys to a good golf swing. Getting key 2, weight forward at impact, is critical to eliminating fat and thin shots.

**vangator** · March 8, 2015

Thanks Shorty. I guess I didn't fully explain but I've had about 25 lessons so far and have addressed all of those points and more. I am struggling with square contact with my full swing when using longer irons, 6 iron and below I usually manage to get square. At the range and on the simulator I can draw pretty much all my irons while hitting out but once I hit the course I pretty much am hitting straight or mishit a fade or sometimes even a slice. My biggest problems seem to be hitting thin or on occasion fat. Except for the last round my hybrids and 3 wood sit untouched as they usually result in topped balls. The course I play most is an Arnold Palmer design (6085 119 68.8 - 130 73.2 from the tips) with lots of water. This usually means I end up with at least a couple of penalties which I know aren't helping. Last round I hit 64% FIR, 6% GIR, 12% Recovery. One 4 putt and one 3 putt for a total of 33. I'm definitely having problems from second shot to the green.....

I've never seen anybody post "Thanks Shorty". :-D You're ruining your image! :-D

**Hardballs** · March 8, 2015

I've never seen anybody post "Thanks Shorty". :-D You're ruining your image! :-D

I think he's going soft as he's ageing.

eaglevision · March 8, 2015

[quote name="-g--" url="/t/80607/golf-gone-bad#post_1112813"]I got bit by the golf bug about 18 months ago (in my late 50's). I go to the range twice, take one lesson and get on the course once every week. I saw pretty steady progress, shooting in the low to mid 90's until about a month ago when I changed my grips, grip and started trying to draw the ball. Since then I've seen my game balloon up to 111 the last two rounds with all kinds of bad shots. My coach says my swing is far better than what my scores show but we've been unable to get onto the course to see where I'm going wrong. Could it be the grips, pushing too hard or is it just a slump I'll get through?

Thanks Shorty. I guess I didn't fully explain but I've had about 25 lessons so far and have addressed all of those points and more. I am struggling with square contact with my full swing when using longer irons, 6 iron and below I usually manage to get square. At the range and on the simulator I can draw pretty much all my irons while hitting out but once I hit the course I pretty much am hitting straight or mishit a fade or sometimes even a slice. My biggest problems seem to be hitting thin or on occasion fat. Except for the last round my hybrids and 3 wood sit untouched as they usually result in topped balls. The course I play most is an Arnold Palmer design (6085 119 68.8 - 130 73.2 from the tips) with lots of water. This usually means I end up with at least a couple of penalties which I know aren't helping. Last round I hit 64% FIR, 6% GIR, 12% Recovery. One 4 putt and one 3 putt for a total of 33. I'm definitely having problems from second shot to the green..... [/quote] If the grips are too big it can effect the release and cause an open face at impact. So it could be the grips but I wouldn't just go fishing for an answer get a definitive answer from a pro or someone else with knowledge about the swing or grips.

bmumper · March 9, 2015

Keep banging away. It will come back. Just tell the wife you need to play more to get better and see how that goes for you.

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