Pin-seeker
Well-known member
It's your hobbie,it's suppose to be something you enjoy. If a bad round affected me like it does some,I'd definitely take up something else.
First time I've considered quiting
- Thread starter socky
- Start date
Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
Take a break or just enjoy it. Don't take a score card out and just play.
I've only been playing seriously for about 3 years and my handicap is still around 26. I have some shocking games but still manage to score fairly well. My mate has some real stinkers but carries on, practices, probably does too much reading but is still up for a game as soon as he can get out - like someone said its our hobby its precious time away from family so enjoy it.
Played tonight straight from work, quick change and straight out, everything rushed but hit some good shots, some duffers, some shanks and have got my draw back on my driver (aaarrgghh) but still managed to score points on all but 1 hole. Totalled up at the end and realised I'd shot 99. Althought I didn't hit great shaped shots or long drives down the fairway I still managed to scramble on holes. Stick with it, you'll get the joy back and start enjoying the game again.
I've only been playing seriously for about 3 years and my handicap is still around 26. I have some shocking games but still manage to score fairly well. My mate has some real stinkers but carries on, practices, probably does too much reading but is still up for a game as soon as he can get out - like someone said its our hobby its precious time away from family so enjoy it.
Played tonight straight from work, quick change and straight out, everything rushed but hit some good shots, some duffers, some shanks and have got my draw back on my driver (aaarrgghh) but still managed to score points on all but 1 hole. Totalled up at the end and realised I'd shot 99. Althought I didn't hit great shaped shots or long drives down the fairway I still managed to scramble on holes. Stick with it, you'll get the joy back and start enjoying the game again.
RotherhamDale
Hacker
Have a week off if you're not enjoying it. I had a horrendous 9 holes today after playing twice already this week, so a mini money saving break is on the cards!
It's probably just down to over-thinking about your swing, and what you want the ball to do. When you return, hopefully you'll relax and play how you know you can (without thinking about it too!).
It's probably just down to over-thinking about your swing, and what you want the ball to do. When you return, hopefully you'll relax and play how you know you can (without thinking about it too!).
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
You play off 17.... you ARE consistently average!! (you just want to be better than that!)
I play off 6.5 and don't enjoy it as much as you might think someone should at that level.... we're NEVER satisfied!
socky
Head Pro
So here's what happened.... I went to the lesson last night, hit a couple of warm up shots while the pro was finishing off with somebody else and to be honest I hit the ball pretty well. Pro came over and we chatted, I explained how bad it had become both on the course and at the range. He seemed suprised and said how well I had been hitting it when he last saw me.
So he gives me my 6-iron and I proceed to flush about 15 shots, he says he cant see a problem. I say that the mats probably hide a lot of sins, so we go on to the grass, he videos me hitting a few shots.... BAM BAM BAM all lovely shots (for me). Hit a couple of drivers, first one is a big slice, the rest are pretty decent.
We talk about the hosel rockets and he says why he thinks I could hit them, we put some impact tape on the a few clubs and everything is out the middle(ish).
We sit down and have a chat and he shows me the video and I'm doing all the things he wanted me to change, its obviously not perfect but he's happy with the swing progression and I'm happy with the result.
We talk a bit about the pressure of playing in comps and how maybe thats been the issue, he gives me a roll of impact tape, another basket of balls and says we won't count this as a lesson and next time we'll go out on the course together. So I got free one on one time, some impact tape, video anaylsis and 30mins of his time for free. I'm very impressed by that, top man.
A mate of mine calls me and is heading to our course for 9 holes, so I agree to meet him. On the way over I was thinking about how it could be so different one day to the next and I realised that when the pro was watching, I kind of hand over all responsibility for fixing problems etc to him. I just swing the club. On the course or range I'm constantly trying to gauge how things are going, how to correct things, are my shoulders doing this, are my hips doing that etc etc etc. A couple of you had said about just trusting my swing and not thinking about things too much, so I went out to play 9 without ANY swing thoughts.
I shot 10 shots better than the last time I played (front 9 only) and I had such a good time. If I hit a bad shot and there were 2 stinkers, I didn't try to work out why, I just went and hit the next shot exactly the same and just trusted it would be ok. I've haven't enjoyed 9 holes so much in ages. My swing felt so easy and loose.
Im sure there will be bad sessions at the range and bad days on the course but I hope that if I just get out of my own way that I'll play better and enjoy it more.
Sorry for the long rambling post !
So he gives me my 6-iron and I proceed to flush about 15 shots, he says he cant see a problem. I say that the mats probably hide a lot of sins, so we go on to the grass, he videos me hitting a few shots.... BAM BAM BAM all lovely shots (for me). Hit a couple of drivers, first one is a big slice, the rest are pretty decent.
We talk about the hosel rockets and he says why he thinks I could hit them, we put some impact tape on the a few clubs and everything is out the middle(ish).
We sit down and have a chat and he shows me the video and I'm doing all the things he wanted me to change, its obviously not perfect but he's happy with the swing progression and I'm happy with the result.
We talk a bit about the pressure of playing in comps and how maybe thats been the issue, he gives me a roll of impact tape, another basket of balls and says we won't count this as a lesson and next time we'll go out on the course together. So I got free one on one time, some impact tape, video anaylsis and 30mins of his time for free. I'm very impressed by that, top man.
A mate of mine calls me and is heading to our course for 9 holes, so I agree to meet him. On the way over I was thinking about how it could be so different one day to the next and I realised that when the pro was watching, I kind of hand over all responsibility for fixing problems etc to him. I just swing the club. On the course or range I'm constantly trying to gauge how things are going, how to correct things, are my shoulders doing this, are my hips doing that etc etc etc. A couple of you had said about just trusting my swing and not thinking about things too much, so I went out to play 9 without ANY swing thoughts.
I shot 10 shots better than the last time I played (front 9 only) and I had such a good time. If I hit a bad shot and there were 2 stinkers, I didn't try to work out why, I just went and hit the next shot exactly the same and just trusted it would be ok. I've haven't enjoyed 9 holes so much in ages. My swing felt so easy and loose.
Im sure there will be bad sessions at the range and bad days on the course but I hope that if I just get out of my own way that I'll play better and enjoy it more.
Sorry for the long rambling post !
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SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
A perfect example of trusting and believing. Your pro said you have the right bits to have a decent swing and ball strike and you know the picture. In your mind you handed over the 'doing' of the swing to the pro and let your body and sub-conscious mind get on with it. Hey presto.
You had the physical condition to be able to hit the ball; you had the mental aspects sorted as you'd learned the bits; and you got belief by 'handing yourself' over to your pro - which actually meant allowing yourself to do what you needed to do. And such it is in life. Well done Sir. A lesson for us all methinks.
ger147
Tour Winner
That's EXACTLY what you have to try and do on the course. Easier said than done of course when things aren't going well, but just hit it. And no matter what happens, when you get to your ball again, hit it again etc. etc.
Leave everything else at home and just swing, swing, swing.
GeneralStore
Challenge Tour Pro
I like what Ethan said, if you havent thought about giving up, you haven't been playing long enough. Same for horse riding, they say you only know how to ride a horse after you have fallen off 7 times....don't now, I have only fallen off once Anyway, I digress.
Guys who have take lessons regularly, I am one of those, have an over reliance on their pro, but its not the same as you found out.
3 things you need to do:
1) Practise off grass, matts are the spawn of the devil
2) Play more, I would recommend a 50/50 play to practice ratio for someone who has frequent lessons
3) Its ok to take the game seriously, but accept that you are going to hit bad shots, many many many more bad shots. You are going to hit shanks and you are going to top the ball in front of a big crowd. So what. It hurts, it stings, but everytime you do it you become more immune to it and then surprise surprise it happens less
Best of luck
Ps: Who are you kidding, you aren't going to quite...tease! haha
Guys who have take lessons regularly, I am one of those, have an over reliance on their pro, but its not the same as you found out.
3 things you need to do:
1) Practise off grass, matts are the spawn of the devil
2) Play more, I would recommend a 50/50 play to practice ratio for someone who has frequent lessons
3) Its ok to take the game seriously, but accept that you are going to hit bad shots, many many many more bad shots. You are going to hit shanks and you are going to top the ball in front of a big crowd. So what. It hurts, it stings, but everytime you do it you become more immune to it and then surprise surprise it happens less
Best of luck
Ps: Who are you kidding, you aren't going to quite...tease! haha
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
I have been playing on and off for 18 years. I joined a club 7 years ago an got a handicap of 21. I now play off 13, but am working very hard on a new swing.
And a couple of weeks ago I shot 110 on a course in Mexico. 110!!!
I just acept that it's golf. That happens. And I remember to smile a lot (which also stops me swearing).
However good you get, you'll always have bad days. However good you get, you'll want to get better.
And a couple of weeks ago I shot 110 on a course in Mexico. 110!!!
I just acept that it's golf. That happens. And I remember to smile a lot (which also stops me swearing).
However good you get, you'll always have bad days. However good you get, you'll want to get better.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
..and once you have learned to ride a bike you never forget. You may be as bit wobbly first time you try going hands-free having not done it for a while - but your mind and body soon sort it out.
srixon 1
Journeyman Pro
Stick at it mate, what else are you gunna do if you don't play golf? I've lost count of the times I was going to give up after a bad round but after 25 years I'm still here trying to improve.
white_feather
Club Champion
My advice would be to play more.
The range is fine for working on technique, but out the course this is really where it is at.
Take a card out, mark it like you would in a comp.
The more you get use to this sceanrio the easier it will become.
The range is fine for working on technique, but out the course this is really where it is at.
Take a card out, mark it like you would in a comp.
The more you get use to this sceanrio the easier it will become.
S
Snelly
Guest
I would pack the game in for a bit if I was you. Give golf a rest and do something else.
Then when you feel like playing again, off you go.
I have done this several times. Once for about 4 years.
It works a treat.
Then when you feel like playing again, off you go.
I have done this several times. Once for about 4 years.
It works a treat.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
My advice would be to accept that you will never be that good at it. Some people are naturally good at golf and have the hand eye coordination needed, and some are not. And once you have done that you can then enjoy the good days and not worry too much about the bad ones. Worked for me.
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socky
Head Pro
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Harsh but true. Practice & lessons will make you better at the game but unless you've got the natural ability you'll only get so far. Snelly seems to have a very relaxed attitude to the game & plays off 3,some live a breath golf & play off double figures.
Just enjoy it mate :thup:
S
Snelly
Guest
I wasn't very relaxed last Sunday when I lost 7 balls. Albeit one of them was a baseball style smack with a putter that satisfactorily sent a Titleist 100 yards into a big lake after I had just scraped a 7. On a par 3.
Still, tomorrow is another day with 36 holes of foursomes at The West Sussex for Men's Invitation Day. Things can only get better....and there are not many nicer places to try and improve at...
Socky - I still think you should pack in for a bit and stop your gnashing teeth. After 6 weeks, you will probably be itching to play and a break will do you the power of good. If not, sell your clubs and do something else.
good, don't:thup:
we've all been there.......your post about playing 9 with a mate without swing thoughts sums it up for me.....your head is full of spaghetti swing thoughts.......you need to get back to basics. The amount of people I know with very low h/caps, non technical swings, dont get lessons (apart from the odd 1 years ago) is huge.........the difference is they play a lot, with playing and your natural human ability to work things out you adapt to what works for your build and swing.....
I fell apart years ago (similar to you and was quite embarrassed by my play) and went to instinctivegolf.com who put it all in the simplest form and the way that humans learn anything, the 'fix' was instantaneous and the fun returned.
Theres no magic wand though socky but give yourself a head start by clearing your head.
If you take an axe to a tree do you think....
where your feet will be?
how much flex in my knees?
I must drive through with my hips?
I must keep the axe on plane to get a decent strike?
I doubt it! you stand up, grip it and instinctively know how to deliver a solid blow. Take some of that and some basic set up info for golf.........and go out and have fun....the solid strikes will appear.....as if by magic!
P.S I was posting 1 sentence then got carried away.....apologies.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I think it is better to accept that golf is a very hard game and one of the reasons it is so hard is that your play can be so variable in standard. Ask Rory how he feels about his golf today. In his eyes he has gone from sublime to ridiculous in less than a year - having spent years and years building and honing a fantastic game.
white_feather
Club Champion
"A good golfer is just a bad golfer who never gave up." - Jackie Burke Junior.
