Burnt out

[Hardspoon]

I've definitely had times where I got discouraged, and thought about not playing as much...or started to think that if I didn't "get better" soon, I'd just give up.  I went an entire season several years ago without playing golf a single time.

I think what's helped a lot this season is that I really separate practice and play, and that I truly enjoy both.  When I'm practicing, I don't think about how I'm working on things that will make my score better the next day (or week).  Instead, I just enjoy the process of trying to do something technical and challenging, which yields concrete results.  Then, when I play, I just enjoy being out on the course and making good shots (when they occur).

I think that separation has let me enjoy both practicing and playing more than I did before, and each in a different way.  There are some mornings when I've planned on playing, but decided to just go to the range instead...not because I felt like I needed to "get to work" or "get better", but just because I was more in the mood for the experience of practicing.

If someone told me right now that I'd literally NEVER start scoring better (which may actually be true - haha), I'd still play golf...and, I'd still work on my swing.

 

[newtogolf]

I'm in the same spot as OP.  I'm slowly dropping my index but not as quickly as I'd hoped and it's getting frustrating when the rounds start to go south.  

I played today and one of my playing partners was driving me crazy with his slow play.  He'd take 3-4 practice swings on every shot and what annoyed me most is his actual swing looks nothing like his practice swing so it just seemed a waste of time.  He also felt the need to read every putt from every angle possible.  He'd walk around the entire green before he'd line up his ball, make 3-4 practice swings and then make a crappy putt.  After every bad shot and missed putt he'd come over to me and explain why he messed up the shot as if I really cared.  

I wasn't playing great so watching him and then having to listen to his self analysis was just making me more and more tense which showed in my golf swing.  

I was scheduled to play on Friday but I removed my name from the tee sheet when I got home.  I'm playing with a different group tomorrow so I'll see how that goes but right now a golf free Friday sounds okay to me.  

[Valleygolfer]

Part of my (mental) fatigue comes from a consistent habit as of late of playing a not so great first nine and busting my hump to score well on the back nine. I was able to do this frequently but the last few times my bail out abilities, bailed out. This frequent front nine struggle took it's toll on me.

Tonight I took a cart and just played, hit extra shots and tried to groove my swing. Had some frustrating moments but since I wasn't keeping score for a round, outcomes didn't matter and I was able to just enjoy the good holes and shots. Hopefully I can carry it over to tomorrow.

[dove694]

I had a stretch like that about a month ago. For a few solid weeks (playing nearly every day), I couldn't break 80 for the life of me. I kept shooting 83, 86, 84... that sort of thing. And I think I was just trying too hard to fix everything all at once.  I started to overthink about mechanics and my confidence was low and I was tense over every shot and every putt and it all just compounded into poor scores and frustration. But then I decided to take a few days off and then followed it up with a few good sessions on the driving range where I focused on swinging smoothly and swinging within myself.  The issues I was dealing with seemed to fix themselves.  I didn't change anything about my swing, I just focused on approaching the game with "ease".  And at the moment I am playing some of the best golf in my life! Everybody goes through their slumps. Maybe just take some time away and when you return remind yourself to slow down and play within yourself. I bet that will help a lot!

[Valleygolfer]

Yesterday I was pretty sour after my round and out right pissed about golf. I sat back and thought about the round and realized I hit a lot of good shots, except with the driver. Every drive was poor or even horrible. Then I realized that my drives have hurt my game severely in all of my latest rounds and are the main reason I am not enjoying playing. The drives have been a mess, leaving me with frequent punch outs(not being able to go for the green) or penalties. This creates quite few poor second shots that I had not been dealing with for in quite a while.

It's not like I haven't been working on my drives but the range work has not been carrying over. As much as I hate to do it, I am putting the driver away for a little while.

[Jeremie Boop]

Personally, the only thing that's beginning to wear on me is having to play solo rounds a majority of the time. It's a two way problem, when playing well it's always nice to have someone there to witness it and/or be able to talk to. On the flip side, when struggling, it's just as nice to have someone there to talk to because it helps me stay calm and not dwell on the bad shots. It has gotten to the point where I'll stay home on days I'd usually go out and play solely due to not having anyone to go with.

[Dave2512]

I've taken most of the summer off. Last Sat was the first time I've been on the course in roughly a month. Can't say I enjoyed it, didn't seem like anyone else did with all the griping about poor shots. I'm close to being done with golf I think. Big reason is being away I noticed the difference on my bank account.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 8/29/2016 at 5:03 PM, Valleygolfer said:

Yesterday I was pretty sour after my round and out right pissed about golf. I sat back and thought about the round and realized I hit a lot of good shots, except with the driver. Every drive was poor or even horrible. Then I realized that my drives have hurt my game severely in all of my latest rounds and are the main reason I am not enjoying playing. The drives have been a mess, leaving me with frequent punch outs(not being able to go for the green) or penalties. This creates quite few poor second shots that I had not been dealing with for in quite a while.

It's not like I haven't been working on my drives but the range work has not been carrying over. As much as I hate to do it, I am putting the driver away for a little while.

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I always hate to hear this. The driver is your best friend. You don't abandon it when the going gets tough. 

[Kalnoky]

  On 8/29/2016 at 5:03 PM, Valleygolfer said:

Then I realized that my drives have hurt my game severely in all of my latest rounds and are the main reason I am not enjoying playing. The drives have been a mess, leaving me with frequent punch outs(not being able to go for the green) or penalties.

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+1. You have to stay in play to give yourself a chance. I think drivers are too hard to hit reliably for most casual golfers. I just got rid of mine and ordered another one w/ higher loft.

I told my new instructor I wanted him to show me how to hit the driver alongside the irons, not after I had mastered the irons (like the last guy I went to). Driver instruction is very poor in my experience, and this is extremely frustrating. If you can't hit your driver fairly consistent your ceiling for this game is very low. 

 

[Hardspoon]

  On 8/29/2016 at 5:20 PM, Jeremie Boop said:

Personally, the only thing that's beginning to wear on me is having to play solo rounds a majority of the time. It's a two way problem, when playing well it's always nice to have someone there to witness it and/or be able to talk to. On the flip side, when struggling, it's just as nice to have someone there to talk to because it helps me stay calm and not dwell on the bad shots. It has gotten to the point where I'll stay home on days I'd usually go out and play solely due to not having anyone to go with.

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Yeah, I can definitely see this. Last year, most of my rounds were solo, and I would definitely hit a point where I would not play for a couple weeks after a rough round.

This year, I started playing with a regular group, and I've found it has made me want to play more and also enjoy my rounds more. Even really crappy rounds (like yesterday) are pleasant, since I can enjoy hanging out and enjoy the "good" parts (like the pleasant admiration of my birdie-par start!)

I don't really have the urge to play alone anymore. I'll just go practice instead.

[Valleygolfer]

  On 8/29/2016 at 5:26 PM, CarlSpackler said:

I always hate to hear this. The driver is your best friend. You don't abandon it when the going gets tough. 

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Which is why it was in the bag forever... I don't know why but the drive swing is not fluid and feels atrocious. I don't feel like I am turning and I block it out right with a persistent fade. I can't help but wonder if it is my wrists bothering me that contributes to this... I hit my fairway woods marvelously though.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 8/29/2016 at 6:05 PM, Valleygolfer said:

Which is why it was in the bag forever... I don't know why but the drive swing is not fluid and feels atrocious. I don't feel like I am turning and I block it out right with a persistent fade. I can't help but wonder if it is my wrists bothering me that contributes to this... I hit my fairway woods marvelously though.

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Do you feel tense when you are hitting your driver? Perhaps tension is holding your clubface open. You might also check your ball position. It could possibly be too far back. ???

There are more qualified swing doctors here that could help, but those are 2 culprits that plague my swing occasionally.

[Valleygolfer]

  On 8/29/2016 at 6:23 PM, CarlSpackler said:

Do you feel tense when you are hitting your driver? Perhaps tension is holding your clubface open. You might also check your ball position. It could possibly be too far back. ???

There are more qualified swing doctors here that could help, but those are 2 culprits that plague my swing occasionally.

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Definitely not too far back and I have had all sorts of swing ailments. Little or no hip turn seems to be the most common. Just really unnatural swing.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 8/29/2016 at 6:27 PM, Valleygolfer said:

Definitely not too far back and I have had all sorts of swing ailments. Little or no hip turn seems to be the most common. Just really unnatural swing.

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I assume at some point you were hitting your driver somewhat decently???

[Valleygolfer]

  On 8/29/2016 at 6:30 PM, CarlSpackler said:

I assume at some point you were hitting your driver somewhat decently???

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Somewhat yes. A few errant a round but not nearly as bad as this has been. This time has been more difficult to eliminate the problematic issues.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 8/29/2016 at 7:14 PM, Valleygolfer said:

Somewhat yes. A few errant a round but not nearly as bad as this has been. This time has been more difficult to eliminate the problematic issues.

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I'm not sure if you need a shrink or a swing doc. Perhaps both. 

[Valleygolfer]

  On 8/29/2016 at 7:18 PM, CarlSpackler said:

I'm not sure if you need a shrink or a swing doc. Perhaps both. 

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I would go with a shrink. I know what I need to do, just been sucking at implementing it. My brain just won't allow me to be a stupid monkey.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 8/29/2016 at 8:08 PM, Valleygolfer said:

I would go with a shrink. I know what I need to do, just been sucking at implementing it. My brain just won't allow me to be a stupid monkey.

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Ditto. I doubt that I ever get the monkey icon on my profile.