Always Almost There... But I can't trust it.

[jaymills13]

I have recently came back to the game after a 3 year hiatus and I have put up some of the best numbers of my life. However, I feel some of the same old problems leaking back into my game. Im looking for any help here be it mental or work ethic.

Let me break down two rounds of golf for you and you may have a better understanding of my game and my mentality.

Round 1 .
Front 9- 4 bogeys, 3 birdies, +1
Back 9- 1 Bogey, 2 birdies -1

When I was on the course I really felt like I was on the verge of losing it the entire time. I always felt like I would start blocking them out or my classic snap hook at any time. However, when I look back at the round I struck the ball extremely well.

Round 2
Front 9- 1 Bogey, 2 Birdies, -1
Back 9- 1 Double, 1 Triple, 3 Birdies +1

This round I really thought my swing was where it needed to be. I came out without any worries and just swung the golf club. I was dead on however After 3 straight birdies on the back 9 my mind slipped and bam here comes the snap hook and the block out which lead to my blown holes.

I suppose I am looking for a little advice here. I always feel like I could lose it at any moment. Is it something that anyone else has experienced? I really could throw up some great numbers. My short game is excellent but i just can't trust my Driver. Any advice would be great thanks.

[kpaulhus]

I completely agree, I think it is just a mental thing we fall into. Granted I just broke 90 and then shot a 99 the next round. I really cant trust my driver all that much either. I was looking over my stats, and EVERY time I get a GIR on a par 5 or par 3 I am par or better. Even on Par 4's my average was a 4.3. But if I dont get a FIR or GIR is probably due to my inaccuracy off the tee.

[quantim0]

My rounds depend on how I drive. Good driving = confidence which in turn means good scores. If I'm driving poorly I lose confidence and don't shoot as well.

There's typically a 8-10 stroke difference between the two. My local course is wide open, so I don't get penalized for hitting bad drives other then being in the rough.

Half the game is 90% mental.

[SKMoss]

Exact same issue Jay. Just came back from 12 years off. First round 4 pars, Birdy and others. Second round. 2 pars, 1 birdy, and uglier others.

Realized today at the range. More of my flexibility is returning and I'm over swinging the clubs. I've always done that and after 12 years the body wouldn't let me. Cut my back swing to "way under swinging", and brought back a lot of the accuracy I had the first week back.

[squaddie]

Do you know what causes you to snap-hook or block in your driver swing once in a while? Perhaps once you know why the problems happen you won't have any apprehension about the swing faults.

Take a video (down the line) of a dozen driver swings, forgetting the camera is there, and try to capture the snap-hook or block when they happen without thinking about them. Then do the same exercise for the view facing your front.

From the videos try to figure out why the issues are happening, or have someone else analyze the videos for you. Once you know the source of the problems perhaps you can adjust your swing sequence so the problems go away.

[brgolf]

I would just get working on your driver to build confidence and a consistent approach.