Drastic variances in my ability

[Canary_Yellow]

I had been playing pretty regularly (once a week on the course and a couple of range sessions per week) throughout September and up to mid October and at the end of that period I was hitting the ball as well as I ever have been. Really consistent ball striking - my short game was letting me down a little bit on the course, and my plan was to really start working on that now I'm able to have some confidence in my long game and particular live without fear of being 3, or worse off the tee.

However, I was forced by circumstances (very busy week at work, my Mrs' birthday plus a cold and wisdom teeth problems one after the other!) to take a ten day break from picking up the clubs at all. I went to the range on Saturday to get my eye in again, and I was dreadful! I couldn't get any kind of rhythm or consistency going, I wasn't hitting anything out of the middle of the club, my swing felt awkward and completely devoid of any power, I lost all confidence in everything. I was fading the ball with my driver when my problem shot for yonks has been a duck hook, I just could not believe it.

It was a really soul destroying experience! I think I'm going to book myself in for a lesson this week in the hope of getting something resembling an ability to hit the golf ball again ahead of this weekend.

Does this happen to other people too? Any suggestions as to how I can get my ability back? Or failing that, how I can prevent this happening again? A 10 day break shouldn't lead to that level of change in ability, surely!

 

[Imurg]

Look at Jamie Donaldson in the recent Tour event in China.
First round 62
Second round 74

If a Tour Pro can be 12 shots different one day to the next then we have a perfect excuse.

It happens to everyone at some time or another.
Last Autumn I was burning it up - in the Spring I couldn't hit the barn door.

PLay through it, accept that it's a bad day(s) and believe that if you once played well then you can and will do it again.

 

[One Planer]

Welcome to the world of the handicap and even pro' golfer :thup:

 

[CMAC]

John Jacobs refers to it as total swing disintegration! happens to us all.

Best solution is back to basics, stance, grip, alignment, proper turn ('2 turns and a swish', also JJ) and a smooth swing at the range until you start to feel it 'coming back'

 

[Ethan]

Does this happen to other people too?

Oh yeah. Anyone who hasn't had such an experience hasn't been playing for long enough.

I have gone through periods where I felt I couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo, let alone a green in regulation, but you work through it.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Thank goodness for that!

I feel less disheartened knowing it happens to players that are lot better than I am.

I've been reading the Bob Rotella book and am now trying to keep the faith that I'm not a dreadful player and that I CAN do it and that Saturday's range session was a one off.

 

[patricks148]

Thank goodness for that!

I feel less disheartened knowing it happens to players that are lot better than I am.

I've been reading the Bob Rotella book and am now trying to keep the faith that I'm not a dreadful player and that I CAN do it and that Saturday's range session was a one off.

Welcome to golf, never think you have cracked it as it always comes back to bite you on the backside.

I played at Castle Stuart on Saturday and played pretty solid with an Eagle and a couple of Birdies and lots of pars only one bogey.

Played with a mate at Tain yesterday, terrible topped my tee shot off the first. It didn't get much better off the tee topped more balls yesterday than i had the last 3 years.

Thats golf for you.

 

[bluewolf]

10 days? If you play long enough, you'll do that on a 1 day, 36 hole comp. Frustrating game isn't it.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Everyone has their stories. I shot +17 one day and +4 the next! All just down to a few miss-hits, a few missed putts one day and a few lucky shots and a load of holed putts the next... Same swing, same short game but just different ends of the scoring spectrum each day!

 

[Wolfman]

You will get over it, but i too have read the Bob Rotella book and to be honest if i was a Pro golfer it would be believable and valid

I think once the mechanics are behaving there is some sense in thinking more about where you wish to land the ball then thinking about the swing.

Bob assumes as a golfer we need not think any more about the swing only the shot, sadly we havnt got a team of coaches and teachers around to keep the swing as it should

I can confirm the simple truth that when it goes wrong look at the basics again

Grip
Stance
Posture
Plane

It will be in there for sure

 

[Foxholer]

I think the saying is along the lines of:

If you have 1 bad round, forget it;
If the next round is also a bad one, check your fundamentals;
If the next one's also bad, go see your Pro!

It's the nature of this wonderfully fulfilling, f-ing frustrating game to thrill and depress!

Kipling's poem 'If' sums it up - if you change the 'Man' in the last line to 'Golfer'!

It's not drastic changes in ability. Just drastic changes in performance!

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Thanks everyone.

Every time I feel a bit disheartened and come on here for a bit of advice I always get lots of really helpful advice and also always immediately feel motivated again!

 

[Birchy]

It happens to everybody. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a lying little tinker!

Just a little example from me recently. Last Friday went to the range practicing a bit of this n that and working a bit more on my driving and i was hitting it sweet as a nut. Turned up for our comp on Saturday and hit every piece of bark on the damn course with everything from a duff hook to a super slice off the tee!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It happens. I can lose my swing in the space nine holes so a meltdown after a ten day break is nothing

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Good news everyone - I know you've all been panicking about my apparent loss of ability last week, but you can all relax now.

I made it to the range last night and it was a lot better - not perfect, but a huge improvement. Thanks everyone for their helpful advice.