Ever had a total meltdown?

[rudebhoy]

So how do you clear the mind then? Seems its a problem a few of us suffer from

this.

Have been told told by a number of people that I am overthinking shots, and I am sure I am, but how do you stop doing it?

 

[Fish]

Went for a round this afternoon with another forum member. Was fine for the first 4 holes, driving a bit haphazard, but hitting my irons really well, long and straight.

Got to the 5th, first drive OOB, second one pretty reasonable, but next shot was a complete mishit, went low and right. As was the next, and the next. Ended up picking up. Next two holes, exactly the same, every iron shot, from 5 iron to wedge, was a mishit, going low, way right and not very far.

My confidence was totally shot, and I was going to walk off then, but I soldiered on until the 10th thinking it will get better, but it didn't. Apologised to my partner who was playing well despite my antics, and walked off.

I don't think I have ever hit a ball so badly since I first started playing last year. It was awful.

I have no idea what happened. I do tend to think too much about my swing when I am playing, and I did have something in the back of my mind about trying to keep my arms straight and cocking my wrists rather than bending my elbows. I might have overdone that a bit, I honestly don't know.

I went to the range afterwards and hit 50 balls, I gradually started hitting the ball better, but still nowhere near as good as I have been doing.

Has this kind of meltdown ever happened to folk on here, and how did you get through it?

Yep, been there for a couple of weeks since having a lesson and being given major changes to my swing to concentrate and work on, it's a tough time but like everyone say's, it has to get worse to get better to make the changes work and become second nature or at least part of your new routine and game.

My driver is not in the bag currently because of it, I can get my mini-driver and 13* strong 3w off the tee great and my 4w off the deck with the new swing with very few issues for a handicap golfer, the irons are dependent on loft, I can get what you're describing (low right) with my 5 & 4 irons but it creeps in less with the more lofted club, I have no issues with my wedges and they are my saving grace, however, my driver is firmly not going near a course currently, I just can't put the new swing into practice with it.

It's very difficult not to think too much when over the ball when you've been given something to change and work on, especially a major swing mechanic, but it's all for the greater good so stick with it and if anything, like me, change you bag around and identify what's not giving you the most trouble and build up some confidence with what clubs are OK and then slowly introduce the others when you're not having to think too much.

 

[SXRORY]

Golf's supposed to be fun boys. Would never walk in. I can't play as much as I would like too so it would be counterproductive doing that. I'm not going to lie there has been a club that smacked the ground on a very rare occasion but that's as far as it goes. Forget about it move on. Angry and golf is a combo that has never really worked in my opinion

 

[Slab]

How did your PP's round turn out in the end?

We've all had the bad days but unless I'm ill or injured I'm not packing in when I've gone out for a game with a mate

Unless you're packing in the game for good you know you'll have to hit a ball again at some point so why not start on the next hole and start fixing the problem
I'd go nuts sitting at work all week wondering if my next swing of a club was going to be a continuation from where I left off

 

[Doon frae Troon]

On an awayday at St Andrews a few years ago I went onto the range before the round and started topping/chunking every shot. My PP was in stitches watching me. I then went to hit a few chip/bunker shots with the same result. I must have hit 30 balls and each one was a total disaster. I then did some putting which felt like I was using a sledgehammer.
Only time in 45 years of playing golf that had ever happened.

Stepped onto the first tee and hit a beauty down the middle and played my best 18 holes for months.

A friend who was a very good club golf professional [about +3 amateur status] once scored 93 in an Open qualifier

 

[Tashyboy]

Played in a nine holer at Seacroft in the morning and shot 6 points, it was painfully embarrassing, I was slicing everything. only slightly cheered up by another guy getting four points. It was a team comp. I contributed nowt.
In the afternoon an 18 holer I shot about 20 points with a two on a par three which kinda rubbed my nose in it.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Yeah worse I have ever played was at Wolburn this year, couldn't hit a driver, a wood, an iron and a putter in the end. The course just got to me, not sure I even got a par all day over 36 holes,.

By about hole 10 I had given up and just didn't care, must have walked plenty of holes that day, it was embarrassing and was really sorry to my playing partners. but did laugh about it.

 

[Sparky76]

How did your PP's round turn out in the end?

We've all had the bad days but unless I'm ill or injured I'm not packing in when I've gone out for a game with a mate

Unless you're packing in the game for good you know you'll have to hit a ball again at some point so why not start on the next hole and start fixing the problem
I'd go nuts sitting at work all week wondering if my next swing of a club was going to be a continuation from where I left off

I walked off with dave. I was playing ok but I never play that well on my own and dave had got to the point where he just couldn't continue.

It's happened to me where I have lost my game and played on and I've hated the round. I'm never going to be that good so I play for enjoyment, if I can't do that then what's the point.

 

[Slab]

I walked off with dave. I was playing ok but I never play that well on my own and dave had got to the point where he just couldn't continue.

It's happened to me where I have lost my game and played on and I've hated the round. I'm never going to be that good so I play for enjoyment, if I can't do that then what's the point.

Makes it more understandable if you both came in (he might have included that nugget of info ) and decent on your part


Never been faced with it but does make me wonder if I'd have stopped or carried on if my PP was having a mare and decided to quit

 

[thesheriff]

Despite the frequent occasions that I feel like walking off mid round, I always play to the end because:
1. You just never know when things will turn around and they surely will. I'd like to be on the course should a purple patch come along and such is golf that it can be at most unexpected of times.
2. I'm pay as you play at the moment and want to get the most for my money
3. I keep a healthy stash of bruised old balls in the bag for when thing go awry. Happy to watch that odd-shaped 20 year old Dunlop sail into those trees never to be seen again.

 

[LCW]

Got to admit I would have been mighty annoyed if we were a two ball and you have walked off leaving me with the choice to carry on alone or walk in, neither would have been good regardless if I had a good round going or not.

I love playing competitive & social golf but the company of PP's is a main factor I have stuck around this game even when mine has abandoned me & gone to the doldrums. I once scored 8 stable-ford points playing off 22 a good few years ago which included 10 blobs from hole 9 on wards. Still have a great day entertaining my 3 pp's.

The range and practice area are the place to do swing mechanics and thoughts the course is to play actual golf which a lot of people fail to remember sometimes. I have in the past been a victim of playing golf swing thoughts and not actual golf !

I found I played my absolute worst a few years ago after a set of lessons/practice as I carried my practice methods on to the course, I was obsessed with making it work there on the course, plus my pace of play increased slightly

It took me a while to get past that and go out and just play golf (enjoy the time) and hope that the hard work put in takes over which it has now. I only even have at most one thought on my mind if I think its going a bit iffy.

I am enjoying it more than I ever have.

 

[rudebhoy]

I walked off with dave. I was playing ok but I never play that well on my own and dave had got to the point where he just couldn't continue.

It's happened to me where I have lost my game and played on and I've hated the round. I'm never going to be that good so I play for enjoyment, if I can't do that then what's the point.

Cheers Mark, appreciate your understanding. My mind was so fried, there was no way I could have carried on.

The good news is I went up to the practice ground this morning for an hour, and after a few duff ones, was hitting it well again.

Went out for a game this afternoon and played decent, so hopefully yesterday was just a one-off, or at least, it will be a long time till it happens again!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've had rounds where I couldn't string two shots together, the buffer was a distant memory by the turn and I didn't really want to be there. In a competition I'd never walk in and would keep out of the way of my competitors if they are playing well. Keep smiling and encouraging them and worry about my own game later.

As for swing thoughts, I've been inundated with them at times. Now when I play badly, I stick to my routine, pick a target and trust what I've worked on. Doesn't always work but the less going on in my head the better