A few rounds from quitting

[ScienceBoy]

You need to learn how to hit the ball 150 yards straight again.

You can beat any course with just an iron, wedge and a putter playing like that.

It might not be as fun as whalloping a drive 300 yards but if you can find enjoyment in just knocking the ball up the middle 100-150 yards then you can find your game again.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You need to learn how to hit the ball 150 yards straight again.

You can beat any course with just an iron, wedge and a putter playing like that.

It might not be as fun as whalloping a drive 300 yards but if you can find enjoyment in just knocking the ball up the middle 100-150 yards then you can find your game again.

Sorry but that would simply send me to a different past time. You have to be able to master all of the clubs and the different shots

 

[ScienceBoy]

Sorry but that would simply send me to a different past time. You have to be able to master all of the clubs and the different shots

That’s the beauty of golf, many different styles of player.

I love hitting irons off the tee, gives me a buzz playing the hole that way.

It’s a good way to get confidence back too, build up to ripping the driver rather than lash at it and hope.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

You need to learn how to hit the ball 150 yards straight again.

You can beat any course with just an iron, wedge and a putter playing like that.

It might not be as fun as whalloping a drive 300 yards but if you can find enjoyment in just knocking the ball up the middle 100-150 yards then you can find your game again.

I've seen many a fellow senior play golf that way, but with a wood not an iron, but it isn't for me.
Much as I often go " off piste", I like to play golf so that I attempt to hit the best shot which I know I have hit properly before. So if the hole asks for a driver I try to hit the driver etc.
I play for the shot- hit -well satisfaction as much as I do for the score.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I've seen many a fellow senior play golf that way.

They are set to do that forever, at least we can just do it for a couple of weekends then build up to longer clubs.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That’s the beauty of golf, many different styles of player.

I love hitting irons off the tee, gives me a buzz playing the hole that way.

It’s a good way to get confidence back too, build up to ripping the driver rather than lash at it and hope.

Sorry but I disagree. If you have a par 5 or a long par 4 why put yourself at a disadvantage by just hitting an iron and potentially taking the par 5 in regulation out of play and relying on a short game to make par. Learn to hit and control woods and the driver and give yourself the tools to make the best score you can

 

[inc0gnito]

Have had 3 or 4 terrible rounds since this thread started. The last one I walked off after the 12th because I literally couldn’t hit the ball.

However, played yesterday with a couple of friends in the sunshine and had a relatively good round. Shot 97 but I was driving well after a few holes, striking irons really well, putting well, and even hitting the 3 wood off the fairway.

I definitely play better when playing with others than when I play by myself. Hopefully this is me turning a corner. Touch wood.

 

[Orikoru]

Sorry but I disagree. If you have a par 5 or a long par 4 why put yourself at a disadvantage by just hitting an iron and potentially taking the par 5 in regulation out of play and relying on a short game to make par. Learn to hit and control woods and the driver and give yourself the tools to make the best score you can

I think long term, yes it's more fun and beneficial to use the full array of clubs, but if we're talking about the driver being so bad that it kills your score and your enjoyment then by all means leave it at home for a few months until the confidence is back I'd say.

 

[corrupthalo]

I ditched the driver and started using 3 wood off the tee, only giving up some distance but it was easier to control. I got down to a 17 handicap that way. Recently started to hit the driver again and first couple of comps scored well and now down to 15 but that being said, if the driver misbehaves I always have the 3 wood to fall back on.

 

[r0wly86]

I have to agree with ScienceBoy and Orikou

obviously we all want to play all the clubs in the bag and hit them well. But if everything is going tits up then I agree you should start at the very basics. Hit 6 iron and less and get scoring again. Complete the rounds building confidence. Once confident again then start introducing the woods.

If you can hit 6 iron 160, then 3 shots is 480 that's going to get pretty close to par 5 green.

confidence is such a huge part of golf, if you're standing on the tee with driver in your hand and you have no idea where it's going that is gong to affect your confidence and the rest of your game

 

[Grant85]

Not read all of this, but clearly familiar for a lot of players.

Golf is one of those games that you are never completely comfortable and its very difficult to string 2 or 3 decent days together. Especially if like most people, you don't practice all that often.

For what it's worth - here's what I would do to give yourself the best chance.

1. play a course that you like. Goes without saying, but if you just play somewhere cause it's close, or a couple of friends play there - you might lose a fair bit of enjoyment.

2. similar theme - but 'bogey holes'. That hole you dread and are always one swing away from disaster. Basically you have to change your approach. If you stand on the tee and think 'I hate this hole' what are the chances of playing well? You will also be thinking about it one or two holes before hand. Basically work out a way to play it that takes the trouble out of play, or reduces it somewhat - even if it means you will likely make bogey - at least you are taking the big number out of play. And probably go there one quiet evening and play the hole 4 or 5 times in succession to try and get it out of your head.

3. Get lessons. Very obvious and appreciate this is a financial limitation for some. But get technique nailed down for some key shots so that you don't end up in a total mess on the course and you should always have some kind of technique or process that you can go back to try and get round the course on a bad day. Focus the lessons on one or two key aspects. I would be very specific saying 'I want to work on chipping around the green' or 'pitching from 80 to 100 yards'. This will probably help you far more than hitting 30 7 irons in the lesson and trying to make full swing changes - assuming you aren't a complete beginner.

4. Equipment. If you have had good days with your current clubs, then they are probably more than capable of producing more good days. Sure most of us like shiny new things. If it's a case of 'these new clubs will cure my slice' or 'this putter is wrong for me, I need a new putter' then you will likely be sadly disappointed. Don't buy clubs at the expense of lessons if you genuinely want to score lower.

 

[Grant85]

With regards to the whole 'take certain clubs out of play' debate.

No doubt we've all struggled with the driver at times and certainly I have leaned heavily on my 3 wood in the past.

I'd be very much of the view that this is a mental battle lost to just abandon one club completely. Sure if there's a hole that has a carry you will sometimes struggle with, then you have to make a decision on the ground as to whether you take it on or lay up safe. I wouldn't want to be making the same decision every day. Make the decision that is best on the day, if you are feeling confident etc. go for it. If you've got a good round going, take a big number out of play. If you are 2 down in a matchplay, then take it on.

Also have a look at the hole as well. If it is designed specifically to catch out an errant drive, or it tightens up considerably where you are hitting to - then you are bringing trouble into play. Believe it or not, course designers know where people will tend to be landing and the course is set out to make people think.

At my course, the 1st par 5 which is only 478 or so. For me, a good drive and I might be able to button a hybrid up to the front edge. But that bring trees into play on either side where it tightens up considerably close to the green. A wayward hybrid, left or right becomes a struggle to make 6, never mind 5.

Hit a nice solid 6 iron to the widest part of the hole and dunt a wee 80 or 90 yard wedge onto the green. My dispersion with a 6 iron is going to be much less and I'm also playing to a much bigger target. Ok - so takes out that 1 in a 1000 chance I might have of making eagle, but really if I want to be giving myself eagle chances, then I'd have to get better in terms of distance and accuracy.

 

[Jensen]

It can be BOTH a frustrating and rewarding game at times, however it is without doubt the most illogical game that I have played. What you think you should do logically, I find, is the wrong thing to do.
For example, take baseball where you stand up to face the pitcher and swing to hit the ball. With no teaching practically anyone can hit the ball, you merely swing your arms around your body. Now where the same principle applies, but you put the ball on the ground and you have to bend over , now all problems happen, but why should it when all you have done is bend over ? It should be easy to replicate.
I've had and will probably continue to see a Pro, however without doubt is finding the right Pro. That's the hardest thing I found. Not only one who can explain and communicate, but who really understands YOUR swing and method.
The best Pro will work with what you've got as opposed to trying to get you to swing like THEY do.
I also like to watch YouTube and have watched lots of Pros and plenty of videos. For me the best 2 are Chris Ryan and Eric Cogorno. Both explain things in a very methodical way but also at a pace that is easy to absorb. Both also have lots of content on all subjects. Don't be put off by Eric Cogorno because he's from the other side of the pond, he really knows his stuff.
Like you I'm a perfectionist and golf is far from perfect, being a perfectionist certainly makes it harder due to the standards we set ourselves. However to put it into content check out other players scores in competitions and you will see that very few actually play to their handicapp, even low single figures have high scoring rounds.

 

[londonlewis]

This won't solve your long game problems but I'd highly recommend watching this for chipping and pitching.

Just a guess but I wonder if you are controlling your chips using your hands and wrists, which is very difficult to repeat and can lead to duffs, fats, thins, blades etc... as you are relying on your small muscles to all work together and return to the ball in the right sequence. When the sequence works, you'll hit this shots well. But when it doesn't, it will be a nightmare for you.

If watching this youtube video helps you to hit better chips / pitches, I would recommend you then go see a pro. Because what that should teach you is that your technique is wrong and you are working hard in all the wrong areas. Sometimes it just takes being told one thing that can make the shot click.

The Leadbetter video solved my bunker woes. I used to be fine in the bunker, then had 2 really bad rounds (took 2 shots out of 8 bunkers in 2 rounds). I think I was getting away with it before (i.e. my results made me believe I was an ok bunker player, but in reality I was just consistently lucky). Once I knew the correct technique, I was in a much better place.

Just remember that golf is really frustrating. Luke Donald admitted to considering giving up a few years ago. I think injuries and a long period of playing bad golf got too frustrating. But he then realised how lucky he is to play golf for a living and changed his mind.

Good luck with it all, whatever you decide I hope it works out!

 

[stefanovic]

The fact the human body contains so many muscles bones and joints suggests that golf is not a natural game. You cannot lick it, ever. Once you've had your fun with it there's no point in throwing good money after bad. Happened to me.
The other point about sport is that the brain can become too upset at failure. Like this week, only this time with football. My local team made it to a cup final at Wolves Molineux stadium where I went with some excitement. Crowd of nearly 2000. They lost 4 - 1 and I felt terrible. Next day they found the small stand at their ground had been vandalised and the manager/chairman has now probably gone.
That's the problem with sport. Ultimately it's a monster that consumes you, because it becomes too sophisticated. Instead go to the park and have a kick about or watch a game there. Enjoy the simplicity of a putting green or pitch and putt.

Leadbetter is a good case in point. He teaches golf but he can't do it himself. This comment was passed on to me years ago by a professional.

 

[Bit of rough]

I’m wrestling with something similar. I’ve been practising 10+ hours a week for over a year, had something like twenty lessons - but have my scores improved? Not really, no. I can strike the ball better than I used to, can hit some beautiful shots. But I can hit a push slice with the driver over to the far side of an adjacent fairway, reload and hit a pull hook out of bounds - and have no idea what changed between the two swings. Of course, I understand that the slice was because the face was to the right of the path, and vice-versa, but how I got there? No idea.

With hindsight, I should have taken a different approach to lessons. There’s a natural instinct to want to leave the lesson hitting it better than the beginning, and I understand my coach feeling the same way. Trouble is, that leads to a series of quick fixes. The arms and body can instinctively compensate for quite a lot, especially in a relaxed situation on the range, but on the course, forget it.

What I ought to have done, and will probably try, finances permitting, is to go to the coach and begin stripping things back to the core; what the absolute basics are. My swing started decades ago, as a kid who was good at cricket having a go at golf, and it’s been compromised from the start. Probably better to commit to starting again from the ground up.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

I’m wrestling with something similar. I’ve been practising 10+ hours a week for over a year, had something like twenty lessons - but have my scores improved? Not really, no. I can strike the ball better than I used to, can hit some beautiful shots. But I can hit a push slice with the driver over to the far side of an adjacent fairway, reload and hit a pull hook out of bounds - and have no idea what changed between the two swings. Of course, I understand that the slice was because the face was to the right of the path, and vice-versa, but how I got there? No idea.

With hindsight, I should have taken a different approach to lessons. There’s a natural instinct to want to leave the lesson hitting it better than the beginning, and I understand my coach feeling the same way. Trouble is, that leads to a series of quick fixes. The arms and body can instinctively compensate for quite a lot, especially in a relaxed situation on the range, but on the course, forget it.

What I ought to have done, and will probably try, finances permitting, is to go to the coach and begin stripping things back to the core; what the absolute basics are. My swing started decades ago, as a kid who was good at cricket having a go at golf, and it’s been compromised from the start. Probably better to commit to starting again from the ground up.

This is exactly my story at the moment.

Shot 90 yesterday with 5 3 off the tee due to a hooked drive. The other 6 drivers were perfect, could have been 80 or better if it weren't for the big stick.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Shot 90 yesterday with 5 3 off the tee due to a hooked drive. The other 6 drivers were perfect, could have been 80 or better if it weren't for the big stick.

Sounds like your more than capable as a golfer, you just need to reduce the errors.

Replace a few of those drivers with irons off the tee and carefully choose how to play longer par 4s to use your shot. The field isn’t going to par those either so don’t feel pressured to chase a low score. Get up or around the green in two and let your short game gain you the shots.

 

[stefanovic]

I’m wrestling with something similar. I’ve been practising 10+ hours a week for over a year, had something like twenty lessons - but have my scores improved? Not really, no... Probably better to commit to starting again from the ground up.

What you need to do is study the magic move or the x number of magic moves and you'll be fine.
Like here based on the Ben Hogan technique.
http://www.golfswing4you.com/wp-con...rMovesToWinningGolfFinalVersion-4Chapters.pdf

Sorry to sound sarcastic but the chances are it will completely destroy your game. Next time you drive to the course make the one true magic move and go for a walk in the park.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

Sounds like your more than capable as a golfer, you just need to reduce the errors.

Replace a few of those drivers with irons off the tee and carefully choose how to play longer par 4s to use your shot. The field isn’t going to par those either so don’t feel pressured to chase a low score. Get up or around the green in two and let your short game gain you the shots.

Consistency with driver is killing me at the moment. Irons, short game and putting are ok. Most annoying thing is a few months back it was the other way around