How do you get through a slump?

[Bullitt5339]

After shooting mid-80's for months, my last 3 rounds have all been over 100.  I just can't seem to judge distance on my wedge shots, and have had waaaaay too many wayward iron shots over the last few rounds.  It's not even the same problem every time.  It's like I've forgot how to hit a golf ball.  The only decent part of my game right now is off the tee, which is typically my worst.  Digging trenches with my irons and wedges all of a sudden.  It wouldn't be so horrible if I could at least identify what I was doing wrong, but everything feels good until the club digs an inch into the ground.

I guess the obvious answer is to have a pro check me out and do a spring tune-up, but is that what most people do when they're in a slump, or do you just try to work it out?

[LeftyTrevor]

Go play a round with some half swing punch type shots. Thats what I do.when.hitting fat like that. Helps me focus in keeping my body more still through the swing.

[Williamevanl]

I have/had almost the same thing going on. The majority of my rounds this year have been in the in the low mid 80's and then out of nowhere I started doing crap I haven't done in years. I've been topping shots off the tee, hitting shots O.B in places I've never been before(where I've never ever considered for that matter) I played on friday and shot a 101, yikes. Every time I hit driver I hit a 200 yard quack hook thing, well up until the last two holes where I hit huge push slices(obvious compensation)

I've also been hitting multiple shots thin, skying etc.. My misses were starting to freak me out, an old miss would have been a shot that drew to much or not enough heck on a par three I hit a knuckle ball fade with a nine iron that never got more than 15 feet off the ground and plugged into the side of a bunker. Pfthh, how do I fix that?! :)

Anyway, I just decided to see a pro. I've never had lessons but I have my first one scheduled tuesday. Apparently hitting hundreds of balls a day for several years in itself has not provided me with a foolproof swing.

[TN94z]

It depends on how long my slump has been happening.  If it's very long, then I will take a little break to reset my mind and get swing thoughts out. But just after 3 rounds, I would just get back to the basics for a round or so.

[GaijinGolfer]

Sometimes a slump can be all mental and taking a little break from golf can be a good thing.  When Im in a slump, I often take a week off.  When I do, I dont pick up a golf club, go shopping for golf stuff or even go on golf forums.  I completely take golf out of my life and put it out of my mind.

It can be good to just totally take a break from golf to let your mind reset.  To me, it sounds like you have the mindset that you cant hit a golf ball anymore and thats not going to do your swing any good.

[westcyderydin]

yeah, i think time off is a good thing if you are in a slump.  After some time off the old feel comes back without all of the thoughts that you used to try to get out of the slump in the first place.  if any thoughts are neccassary i would just look at some of your fundamentals...the simple things that you might normally look past.

[mdl]

Originally Posted by LeftyTrevor

Go play a round with some half swing punch type shots. Thats what I do.when.hitting fat like that. Helps me focus in keeping my body more still through the swing.

I like this rec.  I find the punch out from under the trees shot is perhaps my most consistent ball striking shot.  I don't practice it quite enough to have as good distance control as I do with regular shots, but the half swing punch/knockdown takes some pieces of mechanics out of the swing, and I find it super easy to at least consistently strike the ball this way.  It doesn't work on super protected greens obviously, but next time you hit a good drive and have an 8i approach that you're dreading, try a half swing 5i or 6i punch/knockdown where you don't really even roll your wrists over after contact and just try to roll the ball up on the green.  If you're not a big hitter and already have a 5i approach, maybe just try playing for bogey golf for a round, and just punch that 5i up to 30-40 yards and try to get up and down from there instead of trying to go for the green.

[Mattplusness]

Try taking a week break, hit the range up after it. I'm sure as enough time passes you will be itching to get back out there and soon enough you will be back where you started, hopefully better. Best of luck.

[Bullitt5339]

I've been hitting a few wedge shots/chips in the yard the past couple days, just trying to get some feel back.  Tonight I went and walked 9 holes after work with no preconceived notions on how I was going to hit the ball.  Driver was decent, Fairway Woods sucked, Irons were mediocre, chipping was much improved and my putting was awesome.  Was 9 over after 9 holes, so while it wasn't a spectacular effort, I was doing a lot better.  If I could hit a fairway wood (or stop trying) and improve my irons slightly, I will be back to where I was or even better.

[jaragon126]

I am a bit more aggressive if I get into a slump.  If something in particular is failing me, I go practice that specific thing until it's no longer a weakness.  I would devote maybe a solid week on it to see if I could get through the slump, and if not then I'd go right to a lesson.  My lesson pro is spectacular so I don't go through too much headache to try fixing something myself before going to him.