Has this ever happened to you? What should I do?

[Moxley]

Took me a while to adjust to my new equipment when I last changed iron set. Also prone to the nightmare day where everything is off like everybody else. Just one of those things ,a bit of practice and a better day and you'll be fine. 

15 minutes ago, Darth_Fader said:

 Drove from one end of Ireland to the other

Very impressive 👍

[GolfMakesMeCry]

UPDATE: I hit the range yesterday morning and managed to be productive!  It was a rough go for the first 5 balls, but after that, pretty standard. 35% of my drives went straight and 240-250. The rest not so much. Loving these new irons.  My mishits still get up in the air and go much better than my old cavity backs. 

I'm a journey to lowering my handicap but I think I'm going to actually dial down how much time I spend on the range in pursuit of this goal. I'll spend a bit more time chipping, pitching, and putting.  More play on the golf course as well because taking things from the range to the course is a challenge for me. Thanks to everyone for their input, advice, and stories! Great community here. 

[Darth_Fader]

@Moxley Amen, 1st day with new gear you shoot like a pro, then the real bedding-in begins 🙄 Sold my Taylormade + Irons (shovels) after going from 19-11 h-cap in like 5months, thought something blade-ier was the natural step. Got TM CB irons, the bedding-in process has lasted since oh, 2015? Still same h-cap 🤪 And thanks, as 6 hour drives go, it flew...good company and scenery makes a huge difference!

5 minutes ago, GolfMakesMeCry said:

I think I'm going to actually dial down how much time I spend on the range in pursuit of this goal. I'll spend a bit more time chipping, pitching, and putting.  More play on the golf course as well because taking things from the range to the course is a challenge for me.

Never a truer word spoken. Google Conor Deegan, a +5 amateur over her in Ireland who absolutely swear by what you described. Great podcast he contributes too also, Golf Weekly (maybe monthly) on Newstalk 👌

[dbuck]

Saturday was a good day for me ballstriking wise--most everything was going where I was looking. 

Once in a while I will have a day when the clubs feel strange in my hands, like I have never played before.

That's golf. It makes us all cry once in a while.  But I still love it after well over 40 years of playing.

I highly recommend getting Lowest Score Wins if you haven't already. One section talks about small successes. One takeaway from that is when you hit a patch like you talked about, practice some shorter swings, basically long chips and gradually work back into your full swing, doing the correct things in the correct order.

A quote from "Golf in the Kingdom", is to "wait 'em out". When going through a dull period, continue to do the right things and the good results will return.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 7/17/2018 at 5:41 AM, Darth_Fader said:

@Buckeyebowman  You're 100% right there, and not even strictly age related, tho clearly it helps. Drove from one end of Ireland to the other last year to watch the Irish Open with lil brother. Upon checking in after a near 6 hour drive, we decided to make the hour drive to Ballyliffen GC (this years Irish Open venue, breath-taking). Suffice to say between the driving, the travel-related aggro (and wind!), I seemed to simply forget how to swing a club,as in, fully forgot. Not only was I physically up in arms, my putting was very wild, something I attributed to being generally frazzled. Still, the scenery was amazing, great watching a 15 year old unleash 350-yd (downwind :P) drives and the fact we were told we'd spent enough on petrol helped add to the enjoyment. Would feel much happier playing a rugby game after a bad nights sleep and a long-a*s drive, than a round of golf, too many minor things that need be working, pysically and mentally. Makes me realise how tough those latter stage of match-play days are with 2 (sometimes 18+ hole) rounds to get through, with all the associated stress pro golf brings too...Hardy..

@Darth_Fader , you are speaking my language! Golf is different! As iacas says, "Golf is hard!"

I used to walk and carry, do 36 a day, all that stuff. A couple of years ago a friend and I went to a course that I hadn't played in a coon's age. Which is American for a really long time! It's in SE Ohio, which basically means West Virginia, and it's like playing golf in the Himalayas!

As we went around the course, in carts, I kept saying to myself, "I used to walk this place?!" I must have been part mountain goat back then.

Sometimes I think we lose perspective on just how strong we were back in the day. A long stressful day of travel and other annoyances can mimic that, and cause you to perform like someone 20 years your senior. When your energy is gone, it's gone!

[Darth_Fader]

@Buckeyebowman A coon's age 😂 Just picturing Carrie Coon saying 'I'm not that old'! But that's it, golf's such a funny sport in that some evenings I finish work, exhausted after a long week, can't wait to get to the course, if only for a 90 mins practice ahead of weekend's comps. Come Saturday morning, I roll out of bed, thinking is it poor form to call in sick to my partners, which of course it is, so I don't. There's so many aspects to enjoying golf, mental, physical, social, even weather implications. I really don't think there's something else where so many things need to be a certain way for it to 'work'. But then a lot of my best rounds have been after deciding at the last minute 'Ya, might as well play today', and a Rory-esque dash to the course (no escort sadly!). But on your last point, I no longer beat myself up about when things go funky at the end of a session. If I was playing a field sport I'd simply be subbed off, there's no hiding on a golf course!

 

 

What's the name of that course by the way, would like a nose online 🕵️‍♂️ The course I work at was actually redesigned by a certain Mr Augusta national, Muskerry GC, well worth a snoop.

[zipazoid]

All I can say is...sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. It's a humbling game.

[308 Ragin Cajun]

On 7/13/2018 at 9:22 AM, GolfMakesMeCry said:

Hello all,

I am brand new here and I guess my screen handle sums up the mood I was in on creating my account. That said, I've been taking lessons recently. Then, began hitting it better. I have even begun hitting driver somewhat consistently after having not been able to drive the ball for over a decade (wish I took a lesson sooner).  I made the first two birdies of my life... Yes!!  I went out and got a new set of irons I love because I got tired of playing with game improvement shovels. I got fitted for them. Hit many many many balls during the two part fitting process. Trajectory was great. Dispersion was good - considering continual work on my swing would narrow that range... Overall, it felt real good.

Came home with new clubs yesterday - excited! It rained so I couldn't hit the range immediately after completely my purchase.  Went out this morning and the only club I was able to hit was the AW (didn't try any other wedges or short irons).  My driving was beyond horrible. I went from finally hitting 250 and straight to topping the ball 10 and 15 yards.  These weird low 60 yard slices... 7 iron (the same club I fell in love with during fitting) was equally bad and the best shot I could manage was a 110 yard slice...

Has anyone else every experienced taking lessons, getting much better, then regressing to the point where you can't advance the ball without a putter?  I got so angry and frustrated while embarrassing the holy crap out of myself at my CC that tears literally welled up in my eyes.  Smh. Can anyone relate? Thanks for listening.

I have  done that. especially with new clubs. You have great expectations of your new sticks, and you may be tensing up and trying too hard. Just relax, make smooth swings and let the clubs do the work.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 7/20/2018 at 6:14 AM, Darth_Fader said:

 

 

 

What's the name of that course by the way, would like a nose online 🕵️‍♂️ The course I work at was actually redesigned by a certain Mr Augusta national, Muskerry GC, well worth a snoop.

The name of the course is Turkana Golf Course. It actually used to be a thoroughbred horse farm! The interior of the clubhouse is designed to look like horse stalls.

It's about time to be getting down there to play, since the entire perimeter of the course is bordered by wild red and black raspberry bushes! All you have to do is hit it off line to get a delightful snack!

[308 Ragin Cajun]

On 7/14/2018 at 6:08 AM, Bucki1968 said:

Keep your head up! Last week i shot 72 on Saturday and followed it with an 84 on Sunday. Could not hit the driver into the ocean on Sunday. It happens to all of us in one way or another. Doesn’t matter what your handicap is or how well you hit it on the range. All you can do is play the game. It’s part of the game that makes it so great and so aggravating.

That can tend to happen when you shoot a good score and think you've got the game all figured out.  The golf gods don't like it when we get too cocky!🤩

Edited August 2, 2018 by 308 Ragin Cajun
Correct mispells

[graham57]

On 7/13/2018 at 8:48 PM, Vinsk said:

I can relate 100%. I’ve had the shanks since about 1990-91. I’ve had periods where I’ll play Sat-Sun and shoot 75 Saturday then 90 on Sunday. I’ve hit 2 large buckets where my shots look like I’m a scratch golfer only to go try to enjoy 9 holes and hit nothing but shanks. Golf is the greatest and most fulfilling disaster of my life. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

Golf is the greatest and most fulfilling disaster of my life. In need to get that framed!

[uitar9]

On 7/20/2018 at 1:21 PM, zipazoid said:

All I can say is...sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. It's a humbling game.

Excellent. 

I'm a 20'ish, down from a 24'ish. Gotta constantly keep the expectations under control and enjoy the walk

[Divotmaker77]

Unless you are just naturally gifted or have a ton of time to practice and play becoming a really good golfer is like trying to find the fountain of youth.  It just a really hard game to learn and maintain skills at.  The pros you see on Tour do not just play and then take 2 weeks off like many of us do.  They hit thousands of balls a well and play at least 3-4+ times a week. 

Point being, keep your expectations in check. Your scorecard usually reflects the time you put into the game.

[deadon500]

Don't feel to bad --- good days and bad days happen all the time to all.  last month I shot a 33 and last week same 9 holes shoot a 40  oh well ----

[ScottyT]

I feel your pain.  I've experienced a couple bouts where I went from playing well, to playing horribly.  The first time, I found I for some reason had developed a "reverse weight shift" also known as "fire and fall back."  I couldn't hit any club in my bag...shanks, fat, thin, topping., you name it, I was doing it.  Finally fixed it by raising my right heel on the backswing and forcing it back down during the swing to force my weight forward, a tip I found in a golf magazine.  Fixed the problem and it's never come back.  Second time, it was improper release and constant, really ugly shanks.  I almost quit the game !!  After watching me ht shank after shank, the pro gave me a drill to try....stand stationary, don't take a full swing but just hit the ball using wrist action.   II went through several buckets of balls over several days doing this drill and this drill only....no full swings.  Like magic...it worked. and I was playing well again.  Obviously, finding the cause is the first step;i have somebody watch you swing or read through publications to find the symptoms/cause.  Then take corrective action. May take a little time to adjust and fix the problem, especially if it's become ingrained,  so don't necessarily expect instant results.  Just stick with it; you WILL get better.    Good Luck.

[easyjay39402]

On 7/13/2018 at 4:29 PM, Carl3 said:

I don't know how old you are or what kind of shape you are in, but I found that if I play too much my game can regress. I think that I wear myself out as well as loose concentration. I am 53 yo and in fairly decent shape, but every other day is good for me or two on with one or two off. I wish I could play every day. Hang in there, it will get better. 

Spot on! You never know what shape your body is when you wake up in the morning until you hit the links. Consider weight-lifting - how many days in a row can you bench your max? I was a power lifter as a young man and periodization was a key factor leading up to a meet. You might approach golf in a similar fashion to get your best performance on the day it matters. You cannot be at your peak physically every day.

Notice how pro scores vary over a four day event. Tiger’s dedication to managing his body towards Majors is legendary. (Read Haney’s accounts of how Tiger prepared his body for Majors).

But, most likely, as others have noted, you just reverted to your old bad habits. Review your lesson notes, go to the range and sort things out. You’ll be back on track with those sweet new clubs in no time 😎

[rehmwa]

you are not alone - I shot a 72 on Sunday.  Yesterday I got up to a simple par 3 and it took 7........

Sometimes the crap lasts a couple shots, sometimes it's a round, sometimes it's a period of time to get it together

things go south.  Good news is they turn around.  Those good rounds (shots, seasons, whatever) make it worth while

Edited August 22, 2018 by rehmwa

[mcanadiens]

11 minutes ago, rehmwa said:

things go south.  Good news is they turn around.  Those good rounds (shots, seasons, whatever) make it worth while

Golf is a fickle, fickle thing.

Had a shank storm on Saturday. Smooth sailing with the irons on Sunday. 

What was the difference? 

24 hours.