I Feel Like Giving Up!!

[forefortheday]

Played a round on Sunday, as I hadn't been out this year I thought I'd pop into the range on Saturday.
Hit about 150 balls and was relatively happy with my flight etc.
Went out Sunday morning stood on the first tee nice easy swing with my 3 wood, bang out the ball goes to the right OB! and again with my second, I eventually get away and line up my 7 iron, nice easy swing just looking to knock it on towards the green. Swung my club and managed to hit the ball about 20 yards without it every leaving the ground, and again and again.

In total over 18 holes I think I hit about 20 shots that I was happy with (ie they went up and in the general direction). By the time I got to the third hole I was so confused and bewildered I spent the rest of the round in a daze!

I don't expect to hit it well all the time as I play off 28 but I am starting to believe I have totally misunderstood what to do when I'm swinging through the ball!

Does anybody have any tips for focusing on the course and how I can check if I'm actually swinging somewhere near correctly, I've been told by a number of people that I "push" the ball right as I swing down is there any way I can correct it whilst on the course? (And yes I'm having a lesson this Thursday!)

 

[TWM]

Everyone has this experience at the start and even after trying for some time. You are doing the right thing in getting lessons and remember that it is much easier to hit them straight on the driving range as you are under no pressure.
Keep going and get out on the course as much as possible. This is the only way to improve.
Now if I can only accept my own advice.............

 

[forefortheday]

I think thats part of the problem I only play once every 3 weeks and don't get to the range much either but I know a decent swing is in there, I can match my mates' drives when I use my 3 wood in fact sometimes I can outdrive them, and I seem to have no major problems hitting my short irons. But put anything above an 8 iron in my hand and all sorts of crazy things start to happen!

 

[toonarmy]

Your lesson should start you on the road to recovery as far as alignment/direction are concerned.

As for focus, all I can suggest is do a bit of reading on sports psychology and see what the big boys do. Make no mistake, all the pros go out there and have rounds where they have no idea why they are playing so badly. The good ones have the mental strategies to overcome this.

I generally find that on the bad days the only thing to do is approach every shot as your first of the day. I also try and visualise the last time I had that shot and played it well, rather than dwell on what I've been doing badly up til then.

Failing that, just step into the ball and hit it with as little thought as possible (sort your direction out obviously!). The clearer the mind, the cleaner the strike I find.

Finally, stick with it mate - every single person who has ever swung a club in the history of time has been through the same thing!

 

[madandra]

forefortheday, instead of saying to yourself 'oh 5hit, I am using a 3 iron, I am goona chuff it' Tell yourself it as your lovely 8 iron and think if it soaring into the sky. DONT change your swing from the 8 iron and just hit it. I am telling you this will work and soon 3,4,5 and 6 will just be numbers on your clubs and not the number of times a year you use them

 

[Parmo]

I don't expect to hit it well all the time as I play off 28 but I am starting to believe I have totally misunderstood what to do when I'm swinging through the ball!

I would have thought most people playing off 28 would be playing like this?

On friday I booked the day off for golf (and some food shopping with the wife ) and I have not enjoyed a game so much, the wind was really bad but the course was quite, no one rushing up your behind and no one in front, it was bliss, I also have found confidence with my iron play which has been the bain of my life for the past 6 months. So all in all, to improve you must relax and be positive.

 

[forefortheday]

Thanks for the advice everybody, I think madandra's post is about right. I don't fear my sort irons and I can "see" how I want most shots to go. But with my medium to long irons I don't get the same feeling and so everytime I mess up a shot I start to try and change everything about my swing.The really annoying bit is when you catch one really nice and have no idea how you did it!!!!

 

[daveyboy17]

Dont give up and dont get annoyed. Feeling bad will only make you play worse. If you hit a bad shot you have got to believe that your odds of a good one are getting better not worse. A good player mate of mine said its like flipping a coin if you call heads and it comes down tails are you going to pick tails on the next toss. Off course not! Odds are increasing not decreasing, and hitting 20 shots is good i only hit about 5... Enjoy it pal!!!!! lol all play well!!!