Bye Bye Ball

This could have been written by me, I'm desperate to break 80, am prone to slicing the ball and we're off the same handicap. After I'd hit a few of my iron shots today, I had a look at the divots I'd taken and they were all aiming way to the left, yet my ball-flight always swings right. Got a major problem with an out to in down swing methinks.

Had one of the strangest rounds I've ever had today. Started birdie-birdie and should have birdied the 3rd, then proceeded to play like I'd never picked up a club before with 2 doubles and 2 triple bogeys, both on par 3s. Another birdie on 10 and a few pars later I ended up with 87. How I can go from birdies to triple bogeys in the space of 2 holes is slightly worrying, shows a real lack of concentration.

I'll generally play in anything save for driving rain. Not much fun when you can't grip your clubs and your glove is sodden.

Title says it all really. Another round today where I was closing in on a 79, 8 over par through 15 holes then just fell to pieces and ended up blobbing 17 and picking up my 2nd shot on 18 just through frustration. I realise people will point out I should count myself lucky I'm shooting low 80's but it just seems that every single time I get close and seem on course to break the 80 I hit a bad shot or get a bad break. I'm getting more and more frustrated with it because I first shot an 80 well over a year ago now, and despite playing a lot over the summer, still haven't been able to get over that line. How long did it take you guys to break 80 (those that have)?

I have this problem with one of the par 3's on my course. I usually take a 5/6 iron, (anything more and I'll overshoot the green) and I can't remember the last time I didn't slice or completely mishit the ball off the tee. I've done it so many times I've got so used to making par from getting up and down.

I think you're probably right, I do tend to strangle my clubs a bit. Had 9 holes today however and besides the first 5 which were a continuation of the rubbish I've played recently, I played the last 4 at +1. I did 2 things (that I know of): 1) Stood a little further away from the ball leading to me coming around the ball a lot more and 2) Shortened my back swing which I figured lessened the chance of me making a mistake during the swing process. Really want to get back out there now, after those last 4 holes I feel like I might have turned a corner!

I find the harder I try to hit my drives and woods the more likely they are to fade but it's not a big problem with those clubs, just my irons. I just cannot not hit a fade with these clubs, it's so frustrating because I know whats coming and I cant do anything about it.

Hey all, After spending 2 months travelling and thus being away from the game I've played 4 times since I've been back and getting progressively worse with each round. I knew I had a problem with my irons 5-8 in that every time I hit the ball I hit a fade. There's nothing wrong with my ball striking, the connection is good and I get great height with my shots but whatever I try, however much I try to come round the ball on follow through I cannot get rid of this fade. I was on one of the par 5's earlier today, had hit a fairly nice drive down the left, took out my 6 iron and before I'd even addressed the ball I knew where it was going. Made a really nice connection but sure enough as the ball reached the top of its flight it fades down to the right and ended up in the trees. Anyone else have this problem with their mid to long irons and anyone know how to get rid of it?

I used to be terrible for club throwing and allowing one bad shot to ruin my mood and subsequently, my round. One of my favourites was if I'd missed an easy putt or had a bad end to the hole I'd throw my ball away, just chuck or kick it into the nearest bush/hedge and leave it there. Lately I've got a lot better, I've had a few injuries that have kept me from playing the game that I love so I've kind of come to realise that it's a privilege to be able to play. I still sometimes get mad and I'll drop my club in despair if I hit a bad shot (usually a drive) but I'm much better. Saying that I did lose it recently at a course I was visiting, I was playing fairly well but landed in a greenside bunker to find my ball was sat right down in someone's footprint. After thinning my bunker shot I turned and threw my lob wedge 10feet in the other direction to turn around and see people on 2 of the surrounding tees watching me. That was slightly embarrassing.

Thanks so much for that comment, that's so helpful. Unfortunately you seem to have misunderstood the nature of an internet forum; where people impart their advice, which may come from past experience, to those raising issues and asking questions, otherwise what's the point of having them? Oh wait, 'dsc123' doesn't agree with the fundamental principle of a forum, let's no-one talk about golf, share stories or anecdotes and shut it down. If you'd read my post I said I had already sought medical help and been diagnosed, my question was merely to people who may have experienced or be experiencing similar problems to me. I say you're an idiot. Thank you to those who haven't, unlike dsc123, been utterly useless in their replies!

Cheers for the replies guys. The pain occurs during both walking and hitting. I struggle sometimes up and down hills and through sheer distance I'll be in pain. Luckily it's my right knee not left, so that's one saving grace however every so often when bringing my right foot up in my follow through my big toe will just catch which sends a horrible jarring pain up into the inside of my knee. Coming out of bunkers and heavy rough causes pain as well. I've played a bit over the last 2 weeks and I'm going to try to get 18 holes in tomorrow. I've bought a good knee support which seems to be helping somewhat as well. I'm 90% certain I'll play the foursomes game, if it was a first round tie I'd definitely think twice but since it's a QF I'm just going to go out and hope it doesn't hurt too much.

Anyone got any advice at all? I think I might play it anyway, it's unlikely it will last the full 18 holes either way.

What annoys me at my course is the amount of people I see (and the majority I have to say are seniors) 'repairing' their pitchmarks by tapping the crater smooth with their putters. This pales in comparison to the divot and bunker etiquette, or lack of. There's little worse than hitting a cracking drive up the fairway to see your ball has dropped into a massive divot that some oaf couldn't be bothered to repair. Ditto for when your ball finds a bunker and you've got to play out from someone's deep footprint, as if bunker shots weren't hard enough!!

Hi guys, I've recently been experiencing some pretty horrible pain in the inside of my right knee. I went to a physio for a consultation and she diagnosed me with a cartilage tear. I've got to go for an MRI scan to discern the extent of the tear but she said the there's a strong likelihood of surgery. Meanwhile this summer me and my dad have been progressing nicely in our clubs foursomes competition, having reached the quarter-finals, we have a real shot at winning the thing which I know would mean so much to my dad and me. I haven't played since the diagnosis just under a week ago and our match will probably be organised for the coming weeks. My question is, do you guys think its worth trying to get around the golf course for the competition? Anyone else had a cartilage tear and tried to play golf?

While personally I love the game but am very put off by the stuffy and pretentious nature of some of the rules and mores, I completely agree. I'm not entirely sure how the players cope knowing nano-seconds after they strike the ball they'll be met with a deluge of inane screaming. It must be extremely off putting.