Getting worse (Leftygolfer)

[Leftygolfer]

Over the past 3 years, I have gotten progressively worse.  In 2008 I shot in 70s a couple of times, shot my career low of 75 on a good par 72 course.  Golf was fun.  I was going out, routinely shooting low 80s easily, I guess I was hitting some greens.  Didn't seem to do anything special but kept it in play.  Had a scoring average of 41.3 in my league, shot many in the 30s.  Shot under par a couple of nines as well.  I admittely played to pull the ball.  I'd aim way left, come over the top, pull draw it.  Drove it well doing this.

So I decide I want to get away from pulling it so I can hit it higher and longer, hit more greens, be more consistant.  I work on changing and over the past 2 seasons, have just just gotten wild.  I've added length, but with that my scores have risen and became more inconsistant.

Then last fall I get into a groove.  I'm shooting consistantly 37s or 38s on an easy nine, hitting greens, really driving the ball well.  Winter sets in, clubs away for a couple of months.

Season starts, I'm just bad.  I shoot one good round early by just pure luck and scrambling.  I'm missing both ways off the tee, no idea what I'm doing, hitting no greens.  Any good score is b/c my short game.  Its better than ever.

So I go to the pro at my club, get a video lesson.  I see what is going on.  The change he wants makes since.  I work hard at it.  I practiced more than I ever have in my life.  Scores get worse.  Timing is off.  I can't remember the last pure iron shot I've hit.  Keep working, at the range is fine, then on the course wild, short, bad.

I haven't been this discouraged ever by golf.  It isn't fun right now.  Things in my life are good.  Going back to my old job, son is great, house, family, everything but golf is good.

I know I need another lesson.  I see moments of goodness but the bad shots are so bad.  Makes golf impossible.  My index is going to take a huge jump.

How can I get back.  How can I get back to repeatability.  Just work at it?  Take a break?  I miss enjoying golf.

[pond prowler]

Quite the journey golf leads us on isn't it?  If you've produced good scores before, then you know you can produce great resulsts now and in the future.

I gave up on golf for soccer a number of years ago, but am getting back into it.  I watched my best friend (who stuck with golf) go through the ordeals you're going through all through high school.  He had a consistent "flaw" (straight pull/pull hook) in his swing that he was determined to fix even though he was in the top 10 at every tournament.  Things got worse for him before they got better.  There were times I'd play a casual round with him and it was painful to watch him struggle with his game.  He needed a check up from the neck up.  He even started the Sergio regripping thing...  But things got better; and he was very successful at the college level.  He realized things take time and putting extra pressure on new swing thoughts only compounded errors.  The unintended benefit through the whole process was that his short game and scrambling were better than ever and stuck once he got things figured out.

Golf is meant to be fun.  PERIOD!  Irrational expectations while going through a swing change lead to unwarranted frustration.  Enjoy your time on the course and the company you keep while out there regardless of the final score.  Life's too short to beat yourself up during the game improvement process.  It is a "process" after all.  Put away the score card (forget about the index!) and just focus on your swing thoughts and what you've done correctly.  Those good shots have to be rewarding if you can ignore the bad.

If you truly believe that what you're working on will ultimately lead to better results, stick with it!  Just because you can do it on the range does not mean you will automatically be able to bring it to the course.  Repetition, repetition, repitition...

I think some folks are hard-wired to repeat their swing mechanics which makes changes that much harder.  But once those sought after mechanics are ingrained, those people do REALLY well for an extended period of time.  I'm the opposite, my good reps get skewed even after a few range sessions/rounds without constant monitoring.  New flaws seem to pop up everywhere...

Don't get discouraged if you really think the changes you're making are going to help you in the long run.  Even try a couple of instructors to see what drills/insights agree with you best.  BEST OF LUCK!!!

[Gerald]

Hmm Lefty, it could have been about my thread,

After a 25 yrs lay off I restarted golf last year and went to a 5 index in my "first" season using a mix of S&T elements and my own natural swing, during winter (we had a lot of snow) I played only a few times and our driving range was also closed for about 6 weeks.

As soon as it opened again, I walked the course and had a near perfect round of 76, but as a friend of the arrows had a new set coming in the next week and went from the MP-57 (with PX 6.0) I was playing good and bad with to the Cobra S2 with regular graphite shafts, played with these and also practiced a lot as heavy as never before, bc. I really wanted to go to scratch this year.

I won a lot of distance with the S2's, but the dispersion was less controlable, maybe it was the graphite shafts, maybe it was the regular instead of the stiff I played before, maybe it was the higher swingspeed, maybe it was the design of the club, etc..... till now I just don't know what it was, but when I was lucky I played in the mid 80's.

Time for the next better arrows ...... AP2's fitted with DG S300 ..... much better, but I didn't like the feel (or lack of feel/lack of feedback) in the short irons, and lost some distance compared to the S2's ...... I actually liked the AP2's but, but, but, and you know, if you don't feel comfortable over the irons, something creeps in the mind ...... I tossed the 8, 9 and PW out of the bag and replaced them with my really old first golf life's set of Wilson Staff Tour Blades.

It really made a difference, but the lies are different, the flex is different (25 yrs old Dynamic S), etc......

Then I bumped into the Wilson Staff Ci9 irons, which I have always liked the looks of, didn't hit them at all, just went for them ...... I actually was so unhappy with the AP2 ......., but the Ci9 is also a strange set, the lofts of the mid and short irons are so strong, I was hitting all new distances and as a natural fader off the ball I was hitting occasional hooks with the 5i and 4i...... at the driving range it was like ...... pfew these irons really fit me well, I can even hit draws with them, but in the course on 4i went straight, the next had my natural fade, and then out of the blue hit some 15 yds or worse to the left ....... is it me, is it my swing, is it my new takeaway, is it the clubs, is it the shafts (stock FST 105 steel shafts) ....... anyway I don't know what it is ........ I was hitting a mix of great and poor shots with the Ci9's.

At the moment I am playing my old Wilsons and I could not be happier, it is no easy clubs, and if you don't hit them good, you will feel and see. Actually I can feel in the hands exactly where the clubface met the ball..... I am shooting in the 80's again, but the long irons...... well they are almost the size of the ball .......

So I bought a set of MP-67 (again with PX 6.0) now, and I don't give a $#&% if they suit my handicap or not.

I don't mind to be punished if I have a mishit (I mean good swing, but out of the sweetspot) ..... it will only be shorter, but not off line ...... and I really like to be rewarded for a good shot.

I lost the S&T book, but just ordered a new one and hope to find back my last year's swing and for most my tempo !

As far as I know ..... my biggest fan is tempo ...... it is not the power, the swingspeed, the ball, the arrows, but it is TEMPO (timing).

[mattttt25]

It is a journey as they say.  Twelve years ago, I played decent golf.  Took many years off due to work, kids, and boating.  Recently came back and my game was gone.  Would show glimpses of the past, but never could put it together.  Decided to basically start over, read through my old books and picked up the S&T book.  Trying to keep things simple, only focus on important principles.  Huge swing change for me, but it's paying off.  My driving is better than it has ever been.  And my irons are getting better.  Played a scramble last week and hit some amazing shots that left my partners thinking I actually knew what the hell I was doing.  On three holes, we birdied using all of my shots, so I effectively birdied those three.  It's been a long time since that's happened for me.

It's probably all mental, but I suggest 'starting over' as I described.  Pick a few basics and work on only that.  Good luck, you'll be back in no time.

[Leftygolfer]

This is such a funny stupid game.  I went to the range yesterday.  I don't think I've ever had more control of the ball.  I hit one ground ball when I was thinking too much but besides that, I had control of the ball.  The swing change which flattened my swing (basically what I was doing before was letting my left elbow get away from my body and having the club severely cross the plane and then during the down swing I was recovering, coming over the top, and using my athleticism to get through the ball).  Now I keep my left elbow close to my rib cage wich keeps the club on plane.  I have a pretty flat one plane swing for a pretty tall guy.  I worked hard on ingraining this and now I don't think about it.  It makes it almost impossible for me to hook my driver and I hit a almost straight ball with a little cut.  Very playable.  But I can't take this to the course.  I'm not sure if I revert back or don't have good tempo.  I'm not hitting it as pure as I'd like on the range but well enough to hit greens.  One difference is I KNOW I have good alignment at the range (I use an alignment stick).  I think this is an issue still (I've been working on this forever).  I also take less time.  I think less thought on the course is good for me.  When I play quick, just think club, target, alignment, gone I hit better shots.

I just want to put a round together.  Just two ok nines.  I've had a couple.  I went 48 39 and at times have played very well, making the game really easy.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

How can I get back.  How can I get back to repeatability.  Just work at it?  Take a break?  I miss enjoying golf.

A couple of things to consider. First, there's the "J curve" sequence from performance studies.  Let's say you operate at level 3 on a 10-point scale. If you want to improve, sometimes you slip down to 2 or 1 as you try to integrate new things into your routines. Then, as the new system takes you rise up to 3 then 4 then 5.... etc. If the pro suggested a new way to swing , it will take you some time to change over.

Look what happened to Tiger and Matt Kuchar the last time they tweaked their swings. They went from the leader board to just making the cut until the new ways took over.

A second thing to consider: Paralysis by analysis. You go to address the ball, and you have a beehive of things to do buzzing in your head. Teaching pros recommend - I'm a frequent client - to think about mechanics and new stuff on the range, and then just focus on alignment on the course. Too many swing thoughts build tension and choke off fluid motion.

Sometimes it helps just to take a couple of weeks off, and then come back to practice and play. About once a season I need to do this, and usually get a rebound when I return.

If you take a second lesson and things still don't improve in the following weeks, maybe you just hooked up with the wrong pro. In the last 35 years, I have gone to about 15 different golf pros (I've lived in five different states, and overseas). All of them knew golf, and I picked up something from each, but I only went back to or would go back to 8 of them. The other 7 just didn't connect with me, either due to unusual swing approach or - twice - lack of personality mesh.

I'm in the same place as you are right now. After shooting a couple of good nines in the early spring with my new irons, my swing has just fallen apart. My HDCP will take a big jump too. Wish I had the magic solution for both of us. Anyway, good luck.

[bunkerputt]

When my long game gets off, I go back to working on my short game.  It gets the full swing out of my mind, helps me to focus on feel and rhythm and taking the club back correctly.  Then I bump it up, take my arms back a tad further, widen the stance slightly and work on half-wedges...40-50 yarders.  Then I go for the 100 yarders, stick a few mid-irons in my hands and suddenly I'm back in full swing with a better short game to boot.  And the whole motion has a sort of continuity to it.

[Leftygolfer]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I think to me it is more of a mental thing.  I've been out of work for about a year so all I had was golf (I'm going back on the 27th H%ll yes!!!!!!) so I was working on my game harder than ever.  I was practicing in some capicity everyday.  I take care of my son and pretty poor so I could go to the range and chip and putt.  I felt like I should be getting better and I didn't.  I could and do see improvement on the range and at times on the course but not the consistancy I used to enjoy.  I was never the greatest but I got it around ok and didn't hit squirrels and toe shanks.  I also take a medicine that makes me a little jumpy so I think that has something to do with it.  I want to be a good player and get invited (and competitive not dead money) to the games with my buddies who can really play.

But time should cure this.  I have get back to being a half bogey golfer.  This bogey golfer stuff isn't for me.

[inthecup]

Originally Posted by Gerald

As far as I know ..... my biggest fan is tempo ...... it is not the power, the swingspeed, the ball, the arrows, but it is TEMPO (timing).

I agree.

[arogolf]

Tempo, grip position and pressure, ball position, these are the things that get rusty quick for me and need constant attention.  They dictate how solid I hit the ball.

[saevel25]

They say it takes a pro golfer a year to get use to a swing change. Imagine how long it takes us to get use to one, unless you practice like a pro. I changed my swing at the beginning of last years golf season. I am now finally getting consistant with what i want to do. I lost my shortgame in that time. My game is so close to being good, its agonizing seeing the blowup holes come in. I have more birdies in the past two weeks than i have in the past 6 months before that. But there has been some triples and doubles that just take it down. So its up and down, thats golf, i can see the end though, the goal is there.. Just got to keep at it.

Note, my swing change was from a pull draw, to a pull cut, to now a push and push fade. Thats a big change, thats a change in the swing path and club face orientation. Its taken me about a year and a half. Believe me it got worse before its getting good.

[Leftygolfer]

Originally Posted by saevel25

They say it takes a pro golfer a year to get use to a swing change. Imagine how long it takes us to get use to one, unless you practice like a pro. I changed my swing at the beginning of last years golf season. I am now finally getting consistant with what i want to do. I lost my shortgame in that time. My game is so close to being good, its agonizing seeing the blowup holes come in. I have more birdies in the past two weeks than i have in the past 6 months before that. But there has been some triples and doubles that just take it down. So its up and down, thats golf, i can see the end though, the goal is there.. Just got to keep at it.

Note, my swing change was from a pull draw, to a pull cut, to now a push and push fade. Thats a big change, thats a change in the swing path and club face orientation. Its taken me about a year and a half. Believe me it got worse before its getting good.

that is about the same for me. (In terms of flight). Getting used to aiming differently and training my eyes has been hard. I see it at the range, the ball going just a couple of yards of a push with a 7 iron, maybe 10 yards with the driver with the smallest fade, looks great. But then on the course, bam, I get into old habits and start aiming too far to the left and the swing I'm working on it is impossible to hit it there. I either A) duff it B) hit a huge pull C) hit a good shot but way left. My alignment and swing have to be in harmony. Then I loose my tempo, then try slowing down and end up getting worse. And before I know it i'm on the 7th hole at 12 over.

[saevel25]

Alignment wise,

Whats helped me is pick a spot about three feet infront of the ball. Now imagine a line, actually see a color and it running through the ball through that mark. Line your feet and shoulders parallel to that line. If you like to look up to see the fairway, just turn your head, do not get out of your stance. I tend to not look up out of my stance because it pulls me off my lines. If you don't feel comfortable, pull off and compose your self. I have hit some bad shots were my gut told me, your not set up right dumb ass, then i go ahead and hit it.

[Leftygolfer]

Saevel25,

Thanks for the help.

I've tried that and just hard to get confortable or a shot.  I always just feel off.  The way I approach driving the ball (planning too) is just visualize the range and where I'm aimed.   All I'm trying to see that farthest green and paint a picture in my mind of how I'm aligned there and seeing that great looking shot that flys it with the smallest cut.  Alignement with the shorter clubs is less of an issue.

[Leftygolfer]

Well improvement is slow with me.  I played today before the storm came in, got in 13 holes.  My biggest problem right now is my starts.  They have been dreadful.  Topped my first two tee shots and proceeded to shoot 10 over on the front.  I feel just terrible starting.  My transition just feels awkward, my swing feels weak.  I'm not sure how to start better.  If we had a range I could hit balls, but besides that not sure what to do.  Even my good shots feel awkward.  When I'm at the range, it clicks right away.  On the course, I really can't remember the last time I didn't start with a double.