Inconsistent Play

[cdriver]

After spending the best part of the summer shooting very low 80's down to mid-70's, I suddenly found myself struggling to break 90. I didn't do anything different, but my confidence took a major hit and I was frustrated.

Saturday, several of us went to play the hardest course in the state. I couldn't hit my ass with a boat paddle and a flashlight. I shot 51 on the front and it didn't get any better on the back. After hitting a poor iron off the tee on 12 and taking a double bogey, I just shanked an 8 iron sideways into the woods on the par 3 13th. I lost it. I mean I threw my club, cursed like a sailor and stomped off to the cart. I never got out of the cart again. I drove the cart for my cart mate, but I just couldn't bring myself to get out of the cart. I lost the desire to play I felt betrayed by the game I have given so much devotion to... I know that is not reasonable, but it is how I felt.

I brooded over this all day today and wasn't sure I ever wanted to pick up a club again. Finally, late this afternoon, I decided to take my old driver, only half a set of old clubs (4,6,8,P,S) and a putter and go walk an executive course close to home. I played it in 6 over for the 18, and I really enjoyed hitting the ball. Only having half the normal clubs, I had to hit some shots hard, feather others, use draws and fades to get to the right yardage.

I didn't really think about the score, I just immersed myself in the act of striking the ball. It felt great. I took the pressure off myself to shoot a low score, I just decided to make it fun again. It brought me back to why I got started playing the game in the first place. The sheer joy of swinging the club and watching the ball sail off into the distance.

I made a decision today. I love playing the game and I am going to quit making myself and everyone around me miserable if I don't beat my last round's score. I am going to spend more time appreciating the really good shots I hit and laugh off the bad ones. I am going to enjoy being as good as I am, no matter how good (or bad) that is.

[GreensDruid]

Amen brother. I went out with my son yesterday and couldn't hit a wedge to save my life. Got real mad but saw how well my son was playing and how much he was enjoying it - and the whole game changed for me. From that point on, I enjoyed every skulled wedge minute.

[sPinHigh]

It is a really strange game, this golf we love... :)

Personally I've been pretty consistent this year but my best mate has been struggling all year long. He started at handicap 11 but he has only been close to playing on it in one round this year! Really frustrating, and a bit painful to see him suffer without really knowing what to say. There is some consistency to his misses as he tends to quick-hook or plain hook a lot. But he tried everything and can't seem to find his "old" swing and play.

I just hope he will keep on trying and not lose his interest.

The one round when he was close to his hcp it seemed he sort of relaxed a bit and didn't "try" improving as much. But after that it's been a struggle again.

It is a strange game...

[Thrash13]

I made a decision today. I love playing the game and I am going to quit making myself and everyone around me miserable if I don't beat my last round's score. I am going to spend more time appreciating the really good shots I hit and laugh off the bad ones. I am going to enjoy being as good as I am, no matter how good (or bad) that is.

That's the best thing you can do man. It sounds like it's 110% mental right now for you, so you need to get right mentally. You aren't playing professionally, so just have fun with it.

Friday, I started with a bogey and then made a quad on the second hole. I would have easily fallen apart and shot a 95 or 100 a couple years ago. I just decided to relax and move on, and I went four over on the final seven holes on the front nine to finish with a 45. Then I shot a 41 on the back nine to finish at 86. I could have fallen apart, but I didn't. So just relax and have fun man. You will be back in the mid-70s in no time.

[Rafcin]

..I couldn't hit my ass with a boat paddle and a flashlight...

thanks for the visual

but seriously - high expectations are the best game killer. As hacky it might sound - but w/o "one shot at the time" you can't enjoy the game. It's more visible on our playing level, but even pros have this problem. I think I'm doing much better job at it than in recent years.. weekends like the last one, where I shot 85-74-83 rounds don't bother me that much anymore; next shot and next round - that's the only thing that counts!

[NCGolfer]

When I'm struck with incosistent play I usually go back to square one.

I go to the range and clear my head entirely. Take a square stance and just take the club back and through. A couple times a year I fill my head with swing thoughts and garbage that does nothing for my game. I often have to "take the garbage out" and, normally, my game returns within a couple range sessions.

Your thought on appreciating the game more will probably help more than you think. The ability to recover from a bad shot is as important than the ability to hit a good shot. I've gotten better at this during the current year, but it is a slow process. I wasn't able to enable my short term memory loss as easily as I had hoped.

[cdriver]

Thanks for all the sympathetic words and the advice... At work this morning, I was actually able to laugh at myself and tell a couple of stories about the unbelievably BAD shots I hit during the Saturday bloodletting.... I think I might just get over myself.