How to get out of a major slump

[ProStuart]

OK guys here goes.....

I've always played golf once a week since starting the game when I was aged 28 (11 years go)
2 years ago my handicap was 7.7
I went through a grip change just over a year ago that totally screwed with my grip/swing but had to be done because of the horrible hook I'd developed (owing to an over-strong grip)
It's taken just over a year to drill-in this new grip/swing.
I have a handicap now of 9.1

I have 2 daughters aged 3 & 7 and a son who's 14 weeks old.

I think I've shot my handicap maybe 4-5 times in the last year.

A normal round seems to be going like this:

bogey
double bogey
bogey
double bogey
straight par for the next 8 holes
double bogey
bogey
birdie
double bogey
bogey
par

I've always typically arrived at the course, got my shoes on and walked straight onto the 1st tee, so last weekend I thought I'd hit a few balls on the practice range beforehand and a few putts on the practice green. My round went almost identical to the above in pattern but with a further 2 shots over handicap. The 5th-12th holes are not particularly easy at my course but my results seem to indicative otherwise.



Has anyone gone through a remotely similar experience? Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Any suggestions/tips/anything welcome :)

Cheers

Stu

[enis750]

yep.....

i go through one EVERY year
heres what i do:

1. take a break and do something completely golf un-related (fish, hockey, football etc..)
2. practice your short game and only your short game for a few days
3. then work your way into a small bucket on the range, start w a wedge and work your way up, only hitting a few w ur driver
4. do 9 holes...then again on a different day
5. do a regular 18

for me...i golf best w ZERO warm up

i still do some jumping jacks or 10-15 swings w my swing fan , bunch of stretching and walk up to the tee
the odd time ill hit a few putts, but usually just show up and rip it

there is a light bro, hang tight

[wrx_junki]

Taking a breather from golf isn't a bad idea. Are you hitting it OB on those double bogeys? I can imagine bogey but double bogey that often is not a good sign so try figure out what's causing them.

[hartwm]

go hit some baseballs... thats what i always do... it works for me and if you havent noticed most pro baseball players are also pretty darn good at golf too

[chef35ca]

Heh...you have young kids. Accept the scores & enjoy the golf for what it is.

I have a 2,4,& 6 year old. I played 5 rounds in 2010. Handicap oddly enough shot right up.

Oh well. Now i play for fun.

[Jaywun]

I'm sure this isn't your first slump. Just knowing that it won't last is probably the best medicine.

[Yukari]

When I get in a slump, I go back to the range and start from the basics: the grip, stance, posture, take away, and follow through. I look at each one at a time. Usually, by the time I am done with a large bucket, I have at least a decent swing to go back out on the course.

Most of my "slump" is due to incorrect posture at address followed by take away--not turning my shoulder but lifting or picking up the club. One of my pet peeves for forgetting such a simple move. Get that left shoulder UNDER the chin.

[mcgriff]

Golf is just weird. I go through spots where my swing just disappears. Then, I will be standing over a tough shot with no confidence, nail it, and the world is right again for a few months. For me, slumps happen when my timing is off.

One thing, make sure you always hit the putting green if only for 5 minutes before your round.

[TN94z]

I agree with taking a little break. Breaks from golf are a good way just to reset your mind more than anything. It does wonders for me.

[tomahawktim]

Don't touch your clubs for 10 days straight.
You must 'quit' for 10 days. That means forget about it. Give it rest.


Two little girls and a brand new son; you must be proud. Your wife must be great.
10 days of family time. Create some lasting memories. Take some family photos.


Ahhh, but in 10 days.......look out!

[thecanadiana]

I just went through a major 3 week slump myself. I went from consistently golfing my best rounds to shooting my worst rounds ever. The cure for me was making a conscience effort to keep my right arm straight during my backswing (I'm a lefty obviously).

[ohiolefty]

You need a slump-buster. Or, if you're married, just some adult media that's outside the mainstream.

[SouthernILGolfer]

I was struggling very badly earlier this summer, having trouble just keeping it in the 50's for 9. I think sometimes its just minor timing problems. I was very frustrated at the time and considered quitting playing altogether. Lately ive been playing much better, pretty much playing bogey golf and Im ok with keeping it in the low to mid 40's for 9 holes. I feel im swinging the same as i was when i was struggling, just making much better contact. My misses still result in bogeys at worst most of the time, usually get a double or triple mixed in to balance out the couple pars I'll usually get and the very rare birdie.

[glbrum]

Take a break! About 2 years ago I got the chance to pay a lot of golf [a lot for me atleast] I was practicing 2-3 times per week and playing consistently every 2 weeks for about 6 months straight. The only thing that happened is that I got progressively worse...I started with a couple rounds of 80, 81, 82 and then it just worse until I was shooting 93 and 95 for a few weeks in a row. I couldn't figure it out so I stopped completely for 3 weeks. I didn't as much as think about golf and then 1 Saturday morning I went back out and shot my first ever score in the 70's, a 78.

I think it took the pressure off. Always playing I assumed and expected that I'd play well all the time and that just wasn't the case. So when i came back after the break I had no expectations except to go out and enjoy a few hours on the course and that's what i did.

[Cas57]

There were a couple of things that I used to do when the slumps hit. The first thing would be to play a 2 ball best ball with yourself. Sometimes the people playing behind you might get their panties in a bunch but if you can play fast enough, it's usually not too much of a big deal.

The other thing would be to change up the way you play a hole. For example, if your first hole is a 350 yard par 4 and you always hit driver 9 iron then play it 5 iron 5 iron.

The next is most people look at their overall score for 18 holes and many times during the round they will get "defeated" after 10 or 11 holes and end up with a worse score. On courses I was very familiar with, I would break the course up into 6 3 hole courses on the scorecard before teeing off. I would write on the scorecard what clubs I would use on each hole and a target score for each hole and I'd stick to that plan. Be lenient with yourself at first even if it's the score of the worst round you've played in a while.

Just a couple of suggestions to take the pressure off yourself in trying to do better.

[gir]

Maybe try getting your swing on video. That helped me get out of a long slump I was in.

[inthebunker]

A break is always a good idea, what helps me is some relaxation cd's, I know it sounds a bit naff but the next time I go out I then look at the game in a more laid back manner and think what the hell, I'll just hit the ball. Before I know it I'm concentrating and getting back into the swing of things so to speak and my game is back on track, average though it is.

[TN94z]

Don't take too long! I just played this past weekend off a 2 month break (due to work) and looked like it was the first time I have ever played. It was just crazy how much I had lost.