Need some serious help

[Machine528]

I am new to the forum but honestly have no clue what I can do ?   I used to play pretty decent golf I was around a 2-3 handicap and even managed to break par several times.  In 2011 on a golf trip my swing went to hell.  It was the first round of the year and I was shanking it, pull hooking, hitting massive fades.. nothing I could do was right.   I had to endure this for 7 days of 36 holes a day.  I struggled every single round and played my worst golf ever.   I never recovered from that trip.  I shot in the 70's once since that trip and have been stuck in the upper 80's and low 90's with numerous rounds where things go to crap.    My issue is I have been working on my game.   On the range I rarely miss a shot.  I can knock down the flag all day.  I can hit 7 out of 10 drives right down the pike and long.   I spent 4 days this week on the range.  I finally felt like my ball striking was back to where it once was and today I go out and played horrible.   I honestly need some help getting my range swing onto the course.  I stand over the ball with no confidence and I have not enjoyed a round in a long time.  I am open to any suggestions ? 

[Patch]

Not sure if this will work for you but my nephew who was 4 hndcpr, had basically the same thing happen to him. Out of the blue his entire tee to hole out game went way, way south. 

He went to some local well know pros which didn't help a bit. I took him to my guy who looked at his long, and short swings. He told him to put his clubs a way for at least 30 days. No golf what so ever for 30+ days. He was not watch the game, or even read about the game. 

After 30+ days, he was to start with his putting. When he felt confident with his putting, then move to chips/pitches. Once confident with that part of his game, he was to keep moving farther back, gaining more confidence, until he was at the tee box. 

It took him 6 weeks, and he was back playing to his 4 hndcp. His only contact with the swing guy I introduced him to, was that first meeting. 

Basically what happened was he had a few bad rounds. He screwed himself up even more looking for quick fixes, which finally had him losing total confidence in his entire game. Taking time away from the game, then easing back into it allowed him to find his old game. 

[Machine528]

Thank you Patch,  it has been frustrating! If you watch me on the range I look like a pga player.  I get on the course and have no confidence.   I left the range yesterday so excited for today's round. I didn't expect a course record but maybe low 80's.  The course was brutal but ended up shooting a 102.... Loosing to my friend who just took up the game Two years ago.  I am sitting on my couch fuming at myself and confused about what I need to do to get better again. I had 90 days off over the winter and that didn't help.  I get so tense and stressed out on the course that might have something to do with it.   Everyone else has fun and as of late I find myself so disgusted  im not having any fun and I'm sure it shows 

 

 

 

[Valleygolfer]

1 hour ago, Machine528 said:

I am new to the forum but honestly have no clue what I can do ?   I used to play pretty decent golf I was around a 2-3 handicap and even managed to break par several times.  In 2011 on a golf trip my swing went to hell.  It was the first round of the year and I was shanking it, pull hooking, hitting massive fades.. nothing I could do was right.   I had to endure this for 7 days of 36 holes a day.  I struggled every single round and played my worst golf ever.   I never recovered from that trip.  I shot in the 70's once since that trip and have been stuck in the upper 80's and low 90's with numerous rounds where things go to crap.    My issue is I have been working on my game.   On the range I rarely miss a shot.  I can knock down the flag all day.  I can hit 7 out of 10 drives right down the pike and long.   I spent 4 days this week on the range.  I finally felt like my ball striking was back to where it once was and today I go out and played horrible.   I honestly need some help getting my range swing onto the course.  I stand over the ball with no confidence and I have not enjoyed a round in a long time.  I am open to any suggestions ? 

Was user name CBarkley not available?

Seriously though, if this is true a sports psychologist might be in order or try to play without keeping score for a while. Force yourself to not count your strokes? Take the course pressure off.

[Machine528]

HAH !   Valley,  I would honestly trade places with charles in a heart beat !  He at least can have fun on the course.  I remember what it was like to play decent golf and the current state of my game is no fun at all !   I know when I played decent I went out and worked on the course way more than I do now.   I would go out and seriously just hit shots on the course.  I like the idea of not keeping score !    I may also need a sport psychologist !   Or hypnotherapy !

[sjduffers]

Maybe play a few rounds without tracking your score at all?  Play for birdie, par or even bogey on each hole, but don't write the score down and don't attempt to memorize it, nor run a mental tally.  One hole at a time is enough pressure.  If that's too much still, don't even care for any score, even on a given hole: play one shot at a time and treat the golf course as an ever changing range.  I hope this helps.

Edited June 12, 2016 by sjduffers

[Aflighter]

Look on the bright side.Clearly your issues are mental and not physical.Probably easier to fix the mental part over not having the ability to play good.

[bones75]

I wonder if the 7-iron game/drill may help?  Play an entire round with only ur 7-iron and putter.  I'm thinking you will gain some confidence after hitting the same club over and over like the range.  Just a thought...

I feel for you! I routinely have rounds where my swing/game is just awful.  Like shoot a 100 on a course I was trying to break 80 on. During one round, I jokingly considered to myself to aim far left on a pitch,....  cuz I had hozzled my last 2 pitches that day!  I can only sympathize with your situation, but just remember that you already have the talent, just not the confidence.... I know a million golfers who need a lot more of the former, and a lot less of the latter.

[Machine528]

Thanks everyone ! I like all those ideas! I agree it's all in my mind but hopefully I can work that out !  I started the game shooting in the low 100's when I was 12.... I am 35 now and it's been killing me that I'm back to that stage!  I am open for all suggestions ! 

[tdiii]

No clue my friend.  If you normally hit a draw, maybe hit a fade for an entire round (or vice versa).  Even when the shot doesn't call for it.  It can't hurt!  It may lower expectations -- you wouldn't expect to hit as good a quality of shots doing this, so the consequences of undesirable shots won't be as hard to accept.

Edited June 13, 2016 by tdiii

[Buckeyebowman]

7 hours ago, Patch said:

Not sure if this will work for you but my nephew who was 4 hndcpr, had basically the same thing happen to him. Out of the blue his entire tee to hole out game went way, way south. 

He went to some local well know pros which didn't help a bit. I took him to my guy who looked at his long, and short swings. He told him to put his clubs a way for at least 30 days. No golf what so ever for 30+ days. He was not watch the game, or even read about the game. 

After 30+ days, he was to start with his putting. When he felt confident with his putting, then move to chips/pitches. Once confident with that part of his game, he was to keep moving farther back, gaining more confidence, until he was at the tee box. 

It took him 6 weeks, and he was back playing to his 4 hndcp. His only contact with the swing guy I introduced him to, was that first meeting. 

Basically what happened was he had a few bad rounds. He screwed himself up even more looking for quick fixes, which finally had him losing total confidence in his entire game. Taking time away from the game, then easing back into it allowed him to find his old game. 

Whoever "your guy" is, he sounds like a wise man! Sometimes you just have to get away from it and let your mind relax! Something like this happened to me. I was really "working on my game", trying to get better. I was a regular "Ricky Ranger" but my scoring was suffering. You know what I did? I quit going to the range! When I had a golf date I'd show up about a half hour before, hit a few putts, and just swing the driver to loosen up. Then I'd just go play! My scoring improved! I stopped becoming stiff and bound up by mechanical thoughts.

I forget who it was from the Yankees, I think it was Casey Stengel, who said, "90% of this game is half mental!"

EDIT: It sounds to me like your buddy has started playing "golf swing" instead of golf!

Edited June 13, 2016 by Buckeyebowman

[xcott]

"  He at least can have fun on the course. "

 

Boom, you answered your question. You're not having fun. Live the zen golf life. Enjoy every moment and every stroke, regardless of outcome. Have fun, relax and the game will come to you.

[Lihu]

19 hours ago, Machine528 said:

HAH !   Valley,  I would honestly trade places with charles in a heart beat !  He at least can have fun on the course.  I remember what it was like to play decent golf and the current state of my game is no fun at all !   I know when I played decent I went out and worked on the course way more than I do now.   I would go out and seriously just hit shots on the course.  I like the idea of not keeping score !    I may also need a sport psychologist !   Or hypnotherapy !

You are still expecting to play like a 2-3 handicap, while your current accuracy is bogey. Just tell everyone you're a bogey golfer, then have fun beating them once you get your game back. 

 

8 minutes ago, xcott said:

"  He at least can have fun on the course. "

 

Boom, you answered your question. You're not having fun. Live the zen golf life. Enjoy every moment and every stroke, regardless of outcome. Have fun, relax and the game will come to you.

Agree, he should just have fun.

[Machine528]

Went out this afternoon and had the course to myself. I played 4 balls and kept track of my shots with one of them  and the rest i just hit shots.  I played better than any round this year.  I also stayed calm and with a clear head was able to start picking up where my strokes are comming from.   I have a nasty snap hook that has killed me, my lag putting sucks, and I'm having issues with getting my longer pitch shots close.  I had 5 birdie putts that were within 20 ft and I made none of them.. Not only that my putts were not even close to the hole and I three putted 3 of them