25 Handicap and struggling all of a sudden

[Gordon 18]

I've been playing for two years..took some lessons and have progressed steadily...last few weeks I have been scalding the ground terribly.cant seem to do anything right....any suggestions...very frustrated...Thanks

[Papa Steve 55]

I could be rude and say a 25 is struggling all the time but I wont.

Anyway, tough to answer w/o seeing your swing, there is a thread for posting swing videos and some great folks on here more than willing to tell you what your doing wrong.

Me, I always shorten up my takeaway when things go wrong, don't know why but it helps me get my rhythm and tempo back.

Welcome aboard and good luck!

[dennyjones]

Welcome @Gordon 18.  We're glad you've found us.   As @Papa Steve 55 said, we have experts that will without judgement, help with your swing.  I'm not one of those but offer some quick advice.   Go back to the basics.   Look at grip, stance, alignment, posture, tempo......Do you have a video of your lessons?  If so, review them,  if not, find another instructor that will share video of your lesson with you.   

Again, welcome to TST.    Read the "How To" section, post a swing video and enjoy.

[b101]

Everyone will have their one main thing that they go back to when things get ropey. Mine always tends to be tempo or head movement - I get too quick when I'm playing badly which usually means I drop my head more and make poor contact. You'll find your go-to fix to just get around the course, even when you aren't playing well.

[JonMA1]

18 hours ago, Gordon 18 said:

I've been playing for two years..took some lessons and have progressed steadily...last few weeks I have been scalding the ground terribly.cant seem to do anything right....any suggestions...very frustrated...Thanks

I don't have any specific suggestions. But as fellow high handicapper, I will go through periods of better and worse play than I think is normal. One or two bad rounds won't worry me, but more than that and I might start looking at causes.

If the poor ball striking is consistent - "scalding the ground", hitting fat or thin - then there might be a single fault that is causing it. As others have suggested, taking and reviewing video may reveal that one thing.

At 2 years into the game, you may not have developed this yet, but I like what @Papa Steve 55 and @b101 have suggested. Start to work on a basic swing that will always produce good contact even if it's produces less distance. It might be a slowed-down or shortened swing, but it'll be one that can get you back on track with good contact while going through what you've described. Easier said than done, I know. 

Good luck and please keep us up to date.

[Gordon 18]

I appreciate everyone input...will look at things and keep you updated....

[MarvChamp]

14 hours ago, dennyjones said:

Go back to the basics.   Look at grip, stance, alignment, posture, tempo......Do you have a video of your lessons?  If so, review them,  if not, find another instructor that will share video of your lesson with you.   

Gordon, I'm late to reply, but dennyjones gives good advice. Over many years, including when my HI and scores were much lower, I have found these times of "I've lost my swing!" and of "I've found my swing!" come and go. When I'm lost, I try to approach the ball the same every time, grip the club the same, place my feet and shoulders the same...Everything the same in the setup. I also simply hit a club I KNOW I can hit for awhile, say a 7I, even if it is shorter than the distance. If I can groove that club, then the others fall in line. Finally, FOR ME (not for everyone), playing the ball forward for all shots with chin right looking down behind the ball, ala Nicklaus and Harmon, helps me (again, just me). Anyway, golf is hard and self-belief is important. Congratulate yourself that you can hit the ball and score as well as you do; many, many cannot. Be confident! -Marv (Sorry to sound "preachy".)

[David in FL]

It might help to realize that every 25 handicap struggles.  That's why they're 25 handicaps!  

Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you.  As you improve, the level of frustration you have with the game doesn't get any better.  Your expectations change to meet your current ability, whatever that happens to be, and the frustration that comes from not meeting or surpassing them regularly will continue to drive you nuts.  It's the same for everyone.  It's a maddening game!

[Gordon 18]

Thanks David....very insightful explanation.. Just down on myself ...will keep in mind your suggestions on tues wed and Friday of next week...really appreciate your help.....Thanks

49 minutes ago, MarvChamp said:

Gordon, I'm late to reply, but dennyjones gives good advice. Over many years, including when my HI and scores were much lower, I have found these times of "I've lost my swing!" and of "I've found my swing!" come and go. When I'm lost, I try to approach the ball the same every time, grip the club the same, place my feet and shoulders the same...Everything the same in the setup. I also simply hit a club I KNOW I can hit for awhile, say a 7I, even if it is shorter than the distance. If I can groove that club, then the others fall in line. Finally, FOR ME (not for everyone), playing the ball forward for all shots with chin right looking down behind the ball, ala Nicklaus and Harmon, helps me (again, just me). Anyway, golf is hard and self-belief is important. Congratulate yourself that you can hit the ball and score as well as you do; many, many cannot. Be confident! -Marv (Sorry to sound "preachy".)

 

Hi Marv..Thanks for your input...just had a bad day....I won't give up and will try to use your suggestions....Going out to driving range later to work on things...will keep you posted..lThanks Again Gordon

[uitar9]

For me basics are all I got. One thing that helps me in the set up is the practice swing. I might hit great on the range, but it's a prefect lie, every time. On the course its never a perfect lie.I take a practice swing or two to see where the club bottoms out then I hit, making sure I set up so the club hits the ball first. Otherwise I tend to chunk it. I hate chunking hit.

[Vinsk]

12 minutes ago, uitar9 said:

On the course its never a perfect lie

Well..unfortunately that's not true. I've hit golden boy shots for an hour or so and had my confidence high ready to go break 80...hell even shoot one of my best rounds! Yet there I am...middle of the fairway, perfect lie, shank into the water. Nevermind I literally just came from hitting the same shot over 20 times wonderfully. Chunking it? Psssh....one stroke, no lost ball...move along. Shank? Ya done.

[mcanadiens]

23 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Well..unfortunately that's not true. I've hit golden boy shots for an hour or so and had my confidence high ready to go break 80...hell even shoot one of my best rounds! Yet there I am...middle of the fairway, perfect lie, shank into the water. Nevermind I literally just came from hitting the same shot over 20 times wonderfully. Chunking it? Psssh....one stroke, no lost ball...move along. Shank? Ya done.

If you will allow me to join the pitty party.

Had a pretty decent round going through 11 holes. Hit a good drive on 12. Pounded a 5W to 80 yards on a par 5. Then shank, splash, duff, blade and a quad. Triple, triple followed. Then I settled down. I estimate 10 strokes on a three-hole spasm.

 

[uitar9]

12 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Well..unfortunately that's not true. I've hit golden boy shots for an hour or so and had my confidence high ready to go break 80...hell even shoot one of my best rounds! Yet there I am...middle of the fairway, perfect lie, shank into the water. Nevermind I literally just came from hitting the same shot over 20 times wonderfully. Chunking it? Psssh....one stroke, no lost ball...move along. Shank? Ya done.

I'm jealous. Perfect lies on a golf course. I play munis. A large step above goat tracks but I never see a horizontal surface for an hour. and I'm a hacker and my ball does not end up on the perfect lies the often