How can this happen?

[Finn07]

I just dont understand it. Ive been working all summer on trying to strike down on the ball because I hit alot of thin shots. Go to the range for about a week and was pounding down on the ball hitting great shots. Go to the course and play well, shoot 79 and then 82 the following day. What I had done was to create a lot more resistance in my upper body when I take the club back and it was working great. Go to the range yesterday and hit the ball like crap. Go to the course today and shoot a 50 on the front nine. I can honestly not remember the last time I have done this. Thank god it started to pour on us and we had to leave. This is unbelievable, I truly forgot everything and just couldnt hit the ball today, I have never had a golf club feel so terrible in my hands, it was pathetic. I just dont know what to do now to solve this, go to the range or put the sticks down for a few days.

[allin]

Although I have been working on something different, the same thing happened to me last night. Worst I have played since the snow was off the ground. Next time I am not going to try and figure out whats wrong. I am just going try and clear my mind, take some extra practice swings feeling a good shot, maybe visualizing a time when my swing was in sync. I think I just got in my own way. Still after making changes and hitting a lot of practice balls this summer very frustrating.

[Finn07]

I wouldn't even be so upset if I hit a few bad shots but I couldnt hit one good shot today, besides the chips that were off the green, but as far as a shot from 50 yards out or further I just couldnt do it. Im gonna hit the range and deal with it there, thats the only way to do it.

[cdriver]

My game comes and goes, too. I normally play in low 80's to mid 70's, but have shot a 93 and 95 this summer. Most frustrating was to have 93 in AM followed by 80 in afternoon.... Aaaaarrrrggggg!!! I just chalk it up to golf and figure it is a learning experience. I have finally gotten to where I almost never have an awful 18, usually a bad 9 with a correction on the back to keep the scores below 90. Maybe if you look at it that way.

[Finn07]

Its weird, the long clubs feel way better in my hand then the short ones do. I thought I came up with a swing feel that is easy to repeat. Today I took two practice swings and they felt real nice, then I stand over the ball and all of a sudden I cant repeat that motion, my right elbow felt like it was breaking down so early and I just couldnt hit a shot. I played with guys that dont even have a handicap, if they did it would be 36 and we all played pretty even, it was scary.

[MaRx]

I can totally relate to this.. I had a HUGE tournament that I was preparing for all year and was really getting frustrated for a good week or two prior to the tournament I couldnt shoot into the 30s and was really getting nervous. I was hitting my irons thin/fat, driving the ball left/right. I sat myself down one day and really had to think what the hell was going on.. I knew I wasnt playing up to my potential, nor my average. I elimanated pretty much everything but my mental game. Seriously think about all your shots and challenge yourself. Maybe you are just getting ahead of yourself. Really think about what you are doing, take a day or two break and go out with a new attitude. I've discovered that if you can get yourself to conquer the mental game, you are farther ahead than you can imagine!

[oct411]

Go get a set of Ping Eye 2, they will make you hit better. lol!

I think you are having swing problems, try going to the range and work on your swing to get it consistent again. That would help you.

[Lumpy_22]

Hey; I understand your plight.... I've been really frustrated the last few weeks, but I stayed the course, kept trying, took a day off, kept trying, took another day off, got hungry again and fired 78, 75, and 74 this weekend, my best three consecutive rounds in three weeks.

Sometimes the harder we try, the worse it gets....

When I really stuggle, I go back to the basics...grip, posture, stance, ball position, and swing from 9 to 9 only... helps to get in a groove... the 78 I only had 3/4 swings all day, just had to take an extra club everywhere...Give it a shot..maybe it will work for you...

Best of luck..

[Finn07]

Yeah ive taken a few days off, mainly due to the rain. Im hitting the range today and Ill try the 9 to 9 approach. Ive been swinging a ton in my living room and the funny thing is the swing feels great when there is no ball in front of me. When that little white thing gets in front of me my swing feels awful, although its only on the shorter clubs for some reason 8, 9, PW, GW, SW, LW. Possibly im not getting my hands in front of the ball at impact I believe. Plus my right wrist is breaking down real early in the swing, that may have something to do with the awkward feeling. We'll see. Thanks.

[J.P.]

When that little white thing gets in front of me my swing feels awful

Had a teacher tell me this is "ball anxiety". Whatever. Try to up your focus on the target, and glance at the ball. Most of us focus on the ball and glance at the target. Also, one can hit decent long shots with weight not getting fully forward. That's not really the case with the short clubs - must get to the left side! Just a couple of things that I work on. Good Luck!

[Finn07]

Had a teacher tell me this is "ball anxiety". Whatever. Try to up your focus on the target, and glance at the ball. Most of us focus on the ball and glance at the target.

I do find myself looking at the ball for much longer now, even at the range. Im thinking do this and do that. Believe me, I know its not good but as some of you know it just has to work its way out of me cause right now its not stopping on its own. Im gonna try that, stare more at the target and glance at the ball. Thanks.