In a Ball Striking Funk - What to Do

[etlreams]

My ball striking the past two weeks has just been horrendous. I’m just in a bad funk! In the past week I've played two Executive 9 courses (par 29) and shot a 38 and a 41! It's that bad.

I'm pulling my iron shots, and when I think about slowing my swing down I end up pushing or slicing.

Off the tee I'm either slicing with the driver, or thinking about flattening my swing plane too much and end up toping it.

I'm not feeling my wedge shots like I usually do. Typically the best part of my game.

I don't think I've ever struggled, in every aspect of my game, this much!

So my question is: do I rest and just not pick up a club for a week and try to "start fresh?" Or do I hit the range and try and figure it all out?

I'm inclined to rest....as when I try to figure out my swing I end up just thinking too much and trying too many different things….I usually just make it worse.

Thanks for letting me rant, everyone!

[rjfan91]

This thread could have been written by me. I took the route of taking a break. Gonna see what this Friday brings and will determine whether I need to see a professional. If it keeps up, it'll be a psychiatrist because this is driving me crazy.

[Meddle]

When I find myself in a ballstriking funk, I hit the range and work on half swings. You know your swing is there somewhere, you just need to get your confidence back and go back to basics. With half swings, you easily find the sweet spot of the club, and doing that builds confidence. Pretty soon you find that half swing becomes a 3/4 swing, etc.

[GaijinGolfer]

Get back to the basics and keep grinding it out until you come out of the funk. Perhaps go for a lesson so that you can learn what youre doing thats causing the problems in your swing.

[blackxpress]

Whenever I get in a prolonged ball striking funk I take a lesson. Since I'm a regular customer I get a pretty good rate ($35). It's worth every penny to get my swing problems fixed and not have to go through the frustration of trial and error on the golf course. BTW: May is free lesson month. Somewhere near you there is a PGA pro that might be able to help you get it fixed for free. Can't beat that.

[out_in_30]

as said by another poster above... just take half shots.. on the course as well as the range.. when im not hiiting the ball well i will even go as far as hitting a 6iron from 130yards.. some of my best shots come from half or quarter swings.. when the driver gets bad i literally swing as slow as I can throughout the whole swing.. the funny thing is.. i lose 5 or 10 yards maximum when i do this.. sometimes I dont lose any yardage at all.. slow and smooth is always the way to go.

[Shanker]

Last weekend I was in the same funk...Everything from Driver to Wedges was getting pulled to my left...Purposely aiming far right and still end up pulling my shots...Called my friend (PGA PRO) for an hr lesson and it shows how bad my alignment and swing plane is when I struggle. To boost confidence you should take a lesson and get your confidence back up...its nice to know a PGA Pro and get free lessons at the range.. :)

[Tomassi]

Take some time off and clear your head. You are trying to guess and what's wrong and have so much stuff going through your head which you don't know for sure is causing your issues.

[etlreams]

Take some time off and clear your head. You are trying to guess and what's wrong and have so much stuff going through your head which you don't know for sure is causing your issues.

I think you are right. I do tend to way over analyize things, and as we all know, thinking "too much" can get you in to trouble in a game that is very much psychological.

I also appreciate the sentiment from multiple people that taking a lesson, if for nothing else, can simply give you a confidence boost. I think my plan is to take 1 full week off... not even pick up a club to swing in the yard.... hit the range once late next week before playing my scheduled round next weekend. If my swing is still in a funk after that, take a lesson. I appreciate everyone's advice very much! Thank you all.

[nuck81]

If you hit the Range tee some up a little, even the Irons, can really boost your confidence.

Arnold Palmer always said any chance you get to get them off the ground, do it.