Ive REALLY lost my swing this time and am worried!!

[kleraudio]

So, Ive done myself in this time. Not sure what happened between this week and a couple weeks ago. I was playing outstanding golf a couple weeks ago and had my eyes on single digits and now Im playing like Im a 36 handicap!

Im shanking, slicing, pull slicing, hooking, fat, thin...

I played 9 today (practice, thank goodness) and shot like a 60 or something. Lost like 10 balls as well.

Yesterday at the range, I was shanking and slicing and fatting everything...

My drives were only going like 240 today so Ive lost yardage as well..

Has this happened to anyone before? I mean have you really lost your swing? And what did you do about it?

Im pretty frustrated right now.

Jim

[pherg]

There are a thousand things you could do. My 3 favourites when this happens are:

1: Take a week off, don't think about golf at all.

2: Grab a lesson.

3: Go back to basics.
- Grip.
- Alignment.
- Setup.
Then I start small with chips, pitches, and slowly build up to the longer stuff.

[Tiger Spuds]

You could also set up a mirror behind you and take a few swings, checking out the positions you're getting into.Recently started doing this and found it eye opening.What you think you're doing and what you're actually doing can vary massively.

[zenchili]

So, Ive done myself in this time. Not sure what happened between this week and a couple weeks ago. I was playing outstanding golf a couple weeks ago and had my eyes on single digits and now Im playing like Im a 36 handicap!

Another thing you could do is just start hitting something solid, usually chips and pitches help with that. Over the course of an hour practicing you can increase the length of your swing. Each solid chip/pitch will build confidence. That can get you back on track.

You can also try the 6 finger drill I wrote about. You hold the club with just your thumb, index and middle finger of each hand and take a few swings. What you'll find is that it is much more difficult to mess with the path and the swing suddenly finds its rhythm again. Give it a shot, let me know if it works for you.

[kpaulhus]

Jim.....Im in the same boat right now. I shot 84 then 88 one weekend, then this past weekend...97 and 103 I was sick to my stomach after that round. It just felt all wrong. Today I went out and played the white tees with just a 7 iron and my 56 and putter. Shot 43....felt pretty good hitting the 3 clubs in my bag that I still have trust in. Im going to brave the course with my whole bag on Saturday if it isnt raining so we will see if I "fixed" it

[Shanks A Million]

You are fine.

Everyone goes through these patches. If you'd have asked me on Dec 1st, 2009, I'd have told you I'd never break 100 again. It came back, no problem. Just keep practicing, don't think about it. Just grab a club and a ball and keep swinging. The only thing that can really destroy you is to just give up, and I don't think you're going to give up.

Golf and sex are two things you don't have to be good at to enjoy, but unlike sex, golf is not better when you're frustrated.

[lcfd42]

Git a gun, run through the woods hollerin' a bit! Then shoot a few times. Drag it home, skin it and hang it back on your wall. That's how to get your game back.
Serously though, you haven't lost it. It just went into hiding. Your mind makes your body do really strange things when stressed. Even by something simple as a missed 3 foot putt. Be patient and keep practicing your fundamentals. Within a couple of rounds you will be right back where you were.

Good Luck!

[kleraudio]

Thanks a ton for the words of encouragement guys, I dont feel so worried anymore

Just gonna keep at it and hopefully it will come back, next month Im gonna take a 5 pack of lessons from a local instructor and hopefully by summer be a lot more consistent!

KPaul- Your playing Saturday? 70% chance of rain man!

[lcfd42]

Thanks a ton for the words of encouragement guys, I dont feel so worried anymore

I'll add to my earlier quote, In Oct, for no reason, I had one of "those" rounds. It was hideous to say the least. I usually shoot low 80's. That day I broke 80 on the 12th hole and quit counting at 100. Everything I hat was duffing and my swing was terrible; nothing about my swing felt right. The next day I had stressed my hands and forarms so much trying to grip down on the club that day, I had actually torn some tissue inside my hands, and developed a bad case of tendonitis. After a couple weeks of anit-inflamatory drugs and pain meds., staying with the basics I did get my game back. I did have the ability to video a couple of swings recorded that day. To look at them now is all but hilarious. Seriously, work on SOUND FUNDAMNTAL PRACTICE, make sure your positions are correct and swing extra slowly maintaining those positions. Then start speeding up and hitting your longer clubs. You really don't need a bunch of expensive lessons to overcome this.(Mirrors are a good tool too.) Just a video camera, and a couple of hours a day.

[kpaulhus]

Thanks a ton for the words of encouragement guys, I dont feel so worried anymore

We will see. I know its supposed to rain here in Jax....Ill be down sometime next month so Ill have to let you know in advance and we can get in a round somewhere.