Try and focus on the good shots and dont dwell on the bad ones and like I said you may have to step away from the game for a while,clear your head and start afresh...
Fallen out of love with the game!
- Thread starter colinq
- Start date
Ethan
Money List Winner
Anyone who hasn't wanted to give up golf and throw their clubs in the pond just hasn't been playing for long enough. It happens to everybody sooner or later.
Try to change tack, work on something you don't normally work on, change your approach to the game - if you are a conservative Luke Donald type player, try playing like Bubba Watson, and vice versa. Something to refresh your interest, and give it a bit of time for the dark period to pass.
Try to change tack, work on something you don't normally work on, change your approach to the game - if you are a conservative Luke Donald type player, try playing like Bubba Watson, and vice versa. Something to refresh your interest, and give it a bit of time for the dark period to pass.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
I've fallen out of love with the game... many times... it's a hard game and sometimes you FEEL like you don't get back what you put in.... but what exactly ARE YOU PUTTING IN?
I've been on the practice ground for hours at a time and then play equally as bad the following day... it's a process of learning and it's not easy. If your h/cap is 20 and you spend 2 solid weeks on the practice ground I reckon your h/cap is now 19.9 so you won't really see a result, you'll still hit all the bad shots you were hitting 2 weeks ago... spend 20 weeks and you might play off 19 but you'll STILL have those rounds of 25, 26, 27 over par but, if you're lucky, sprinkled with some that are better... and so the process continues. You'll hardly feel like you're getting any better even if you are!!!
But why put yourself though it? You have to want to.. or at least you need to find a level that satisfies your lust for the sport. It's a HUUUUUGE series of mind games... can I hit this 250yds? Don't slice it! I can get this 3-iron to the green... don't leave this putt short... watch out for the water, can I carry the tree? and you have to deal with those mind games... normally we play crap because we TRY TOO HARD. Hit a BAD shot and then whilst we are floggging ourselves for being such a crap golfer we then follow it with another bad decision resulting in another bad shot.
Understanding why the ball goes where it does, and what I've done to cause that, is paramount (to me) in learning the game... if you just want to step up and hit it, and expect it to hit your target, if (for example) you weren't even aiming in the right direction! then you shouldn't complain when it doesn't. To coin a phrase I just listened to on that 'instinctive golf' website.... "Golf is the most under-learned sport", but I also believe that we can all master it up to the level of our individual physical capabilities if we learn properly... but who wants to do that??!!
I've been on the practice ground for hours at a time and then play equally as bad the following day... it's a process of learning and it's not easy. If your h/cap is 20 and you spend 2 solid weeks on the practice ground I reckon your h/cap is now 19.9 so you won't really see a result, you'll still hit all the bad shots you were hitting 2 weeks ago... spend 20 weeks and you might play off 19 but you'll STILL have those rounds of 25, 26, 27 over par but, if you're lucky, sprinkled with some that are better... and so the process continues. You'll hardly feel like you're getting any better even if you are!!!
But why put yourself though it? You have to want to.. or at least you need to find a level that satisfies your lust for the sport. It's a HUUUUUGE series of mind games... can I hit this 250yds? Don't slice it! I can get this 3-iron to the green... don't leave this putt short... watch out for the water, can I carry the tree? and you have to deal with those mind games... normally we play crap because we TRY TOO HARD. Hit a BAD shot and then whilst we are floggging ourselves for being such a crap golfer we then follow it with another bad decision resulting in another bad shot.
Understanding why the ball goes where it does, and what I've done to cause that, is paramount (to me) in learning the game... if you just want to step up and hit it, and expect it to hit your target, if (for example) you weren't even aiming in the right direction! then you shouldn't complain when it doesn't. To coin a phrase I just listened to on that 'instinctive golf' website.... "Golf is the most under-learned sport", but I also believe that we can all master it up to the level of our individual physical capabilities if we learn properly... but who wants to do that??!!
griffgolf
Head Pro
Glad I seen this thread as I have every sympathy for you.
I have walked away from the game for 12 months now as I was beating myself up badly after comps even if I net parred the course I was still mad at myself at the shots I had left out there and that I had once again thrown away a great chance of winning the comp then spent the rest of the day in a mood and this is the point where things have to change as it is supposed to be fun and a hobby.
I would also go and play once during the week and practice mostly on my own as the course was desserted as many people where at work and I can only play at a certain time on a certain day because of my work but found myself getting cheesed off after only 6 or 7 holes so I cancelled my club membership for last year.
But a funny thing has happened today, I got the urge to get the clubs out and give them a clean, air the umbrella and generally check my kit out.
I feel good and positive and maybe just maybe this is the start of my come back to the game
I have walked away from the game for 12 months now as I was beating myself up badly after comps even if I net parred the course I was still mad at myself at the shots I had left out there and that I had once again thrown away a great chance of winning the comp then spent the rest of the day in a mood and this is the point where things have to change as it is supposed to be fun and a hobby.
I would also go and play once during the week and practice mostly on my own as the course was desserted as many people where at work and I can only play at a certain time on a certain day because of my work but found myself getting cheesed off after only 6 or 7 holes so I cancelled my club membership for last year.
But a funny thing has happened today, I got the urge to get the clubs out and give them a clean, air the umbrella and generally check my kit out.
I feel good and positive and maybe just maybe this is the start of my come back to the game
Hendo007
Challenge Tour Pro
Feel like I've walked into a GA meeting
Seriously, its all in the head, Fix the head and the game will follow.
Good luck in finding the cure though.
Seriously, its all in the head, Fix the head and the game will follow.
Good luck in finding the cure though.
colinq
Newbie
Thanks to everyone who has responded with lots of good sound advice. Interestingly I haven't had a response from anyone who has been through such a prolonged slump and come through it. I do think it is a mind game as I hit the ball well in practice.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Eh? I think most of the replies are from people who've been through it.... I've been going through it for years now
In fact this [below] is where I feel I am most of the time....... right now come to think of it......
but I'm not going to quit..........(again)....... just yet.... :thup:
I took a 7yr absence and in the 3yrs that I've been back playing I've thought about quitting 1000's of times... it's a tough and often lonely game when the only person you have to beat is yourself!
Try and limit your practice so you only get a quick fix (less more often if necessary) and get more games going with your buddies... have a little banter (eg 50p for going in bunkers) and try and take the pressure off your game. Meeting up with guys from the forum is a proper laugh, kept me playing in fact.... might aswell blame someone!
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bobmac
Major Champion
Hi Colin, Sorry to hear you're not enjoying your golf any more.
Just had a look at your stats and one thing jumped out at me.
On average....
you're missing 12 greens per round AND having 38 putts.
Now, if you think about getting up and down half of those thats 6 one putts.
By my arithmetic, you're not getting any up and down.
Now, not only does that spoil the score card, it will have a huge affect on your momentum and general mood on the course.
You hit the fairway, you get close to the green, you chip and miss the putt or even 3 putt.
That's got to affect your next drive and how you approach the next green.
Can I ask how you rate your chipping and putting and how often do you practice it ?
Just had a look at your stats and one thing jumped out at me.
On average....
you're missing 12 greens per round AND having 38 putts.
Now, if you think about getting up and down half of those thats 6 one putts.
By my arithmetic, you're not getting any up and down.
Now, not only does that spoil the score card, it will have a huge affect on your momentum and general mood on the course.
You hit the fairway, you get close to the green, you chip and miss the putt or even 3 putt.
That's got to affect your next drive and how you approach the next green.
Can I ask how you rate your chipping and putting and how often do you practice it ?
colinq
Newbie
Hi Bob, Until I became disillusioned I was practising my short game twice a week and hitting roughly 3 times as many short game shots as long irons. For the putting I decided on 2 Bob Rotella drills, firstly the "compass" ( 7 balls placed around the hole, trying to hole each one from 2 feet, then 3 ft, 4ft and 5 ft. Maximum score 28/28. My target is 25 the best I've had is 24 and I average 20. Then a very difficult putting execrise. Place a club 4" behind the hole, hit 10 putts from 20 feet. if it rolls over the shaft of the club, its too hard and counts as +1, if it is short of the hole that's worse and counts as +2, anything holed scores you minus 1. My target is -4, the best I've achieved -1 and I average 2.8. I then do a chipping drill using 7 iron, 9 iron and wedge from the fringe trying to hit 10 balls to 5 different holes on the green, within 3 feet. I then repeat from the rough using 9, PW and LW. My target is 8/10 which I've done once and my average is 6.9. My putting in practice or in comp has not improved (in fact I achieved the same score putting with my eyes closed!). My chipping has improved significantly in practice (very few duff chips) but it has not improved in comps, on the 9 holes where I am wiithin 10 yards from the green (inc bunkers) it takes me an average34 shots
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Bythesea
Medal Winner
As I was once told " there are lots of people who would love to be out here on top of the grass rather than under it." stop beating yourself up, be grateful to wake up each day, then go out and enjoy!!
