I'm going backwards

[slugger]

By the third hole on Saturday i had had it with golf... didn't want to swing another club again. I completed my round but felt like this until yesterday, when i started trying to convince myself that it can't be all that bad!

That's 3 medal rounds in a row that i've NR'd

From scoring regular low 80s only a couple of months ago, i am now struggling to score below mid 90s on any round of golf i play! It's all been since my bad back injury and perhaps more recently, a lesson i had with the pro. Since that day, i've not been able to swing a club! This is despite spending plenty of time at the range trying to work on what he gave me.

Anyway, my confidence is gone and i can't be arsed with it all... which depresses me as a few months ago, i felt that I could be good at this game

Anyone been through the same, got any advice?

 

[birdieman]

Oh yes, 2 years ago I stopped on 2nd August, was utterly fed up with the game. Came back in 09 much keener and played better.
The enthusiasm will return at some point and if it doesn't so what, it's a hobby you're meant to enjoy, if you're not, leave it.

Have a break, maybe you're trying too hard?

 

[Aztecs27]

Take a couple of weeks/months off, enjoy other stuff in life, be it family, other hobbies, strip clubs etc...And come back when you're ready. You will want to play again. Also, use this time to get your back in check.

Golf, if nothing else is addictive. I took 3 years off, watched the Masters this year and have been re-obsessed with it ever since.

The ABSOLUTE WORST thing you can do is carry on if you're not enjoying it...You will get to a point where you associate golf with being sad, depressed and unhappy...You don't want this.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Also, just remember, only a relatively small percentage of people ever really "crack" this stupid game. The rest of us mere mortals are left with having to hack our ball around our chosen field. It's obviously easier said than done - but don't let the bad times get you down. It's the downside of this game. Bad rounds are inevitable.

 

[Smiffy]

Take a couple of weeks off. Good advice.
I played last Wednesday at Cooden Beach and didn't play too badly. Followed this up with a very good game at Pings HQ in Gainsborough. Well chuffed with my performance. Went onto Forest Pines for the week-end, four rounds booked.
Rounds 1 & 2, despite not scoring that well, (due to iffy greens and a wonky putting stroke), I was well chuffed with the way I was hitting the ball.
By round 3 I was getting a bit tired and my score reflected it. By round 4 I was sick to the back teeth with golf but hung on in there for the banter, of which there was plenty.
I've had it for a week or two now and may not pick a club up until the Cooden Beach meeting on the 20th.

 

[kid2]

By the third hole on Saturday i had had it with golf... didn't want to swing another club again. I completed my round but felt like this until yesterday, when i started trying to convince myself that it can't be all that bad!

That's 3 medal rounds in a row that i've NR'd

From scoring regular low 80s only a couple of months ago, i am now struggling to score below mid 90s on any round of golf i play! It's all been since my bad back injury and perhaps more recently, a lesson i had with the pro. Since that day, i've not been able to swing a club! This is despite spending plenty of time at the range trying to work on what he gave me.

Anyway, my confidence is gone and i can't be arsed with it all... which depresses me as a few months ago, i felt that I could be good at this game

Anyone been through the same, got any advice?

I can completely relate to it Slugger!
Iv been playing 9 months and started off 21 won 2 comps 1 in which i shot a PB of 7 under my handicap.....This saw me reach 17.....Brilliant says I....
Iv had 0.1 back for the last 5 comps and i now play off 18.......Im still pretty upbeat though as i know i have a good grasp and attitude for the game which keeps me going......

Its hard as hell though knowing what your capable of but not being able to produce it regular......
Im probably being too impatient and hard on myself instead of relaxing and enjoying it but its tough when 1 or 2 holes destroy a peach of a round.....

I had a mare sunday gone in which i got another 0.1 back but im putting this down to playing a 6 a side tournament on saturday....The muscles didnt know what hit them....

Roll on the weekend....
Keep the chin up Slugger and dont throw in the towel.I sure as hell am not...Thats what it wants....Be stubborn

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think my on off affair with golf is well known. THe low point was the Volvo Matchplay 1st round at Maidenhead with HTL where I lost the ability to hit the ball at all. I would shank it, top it and on one hole barely got it 15 yards down tee box. I was so embarrased but what could I do. It was a match and I could hardly walk in. As it happened I did a bit of work early on (unusual I know for me to be helping HTL) and he did blinding to keep us in the game until the 18th. I had a 30 yard putt across a gree to take it to extra time but it was never going to happen.

I took a week off (long time for me!) and then had a lesson. Got my confidence back and have been enjoying it since. Not playing great and the handicap is still climbing and I could do without playing the last four holes in +12 as per Saturday but I'm trying so hard to relax and enjoy it more. I'm getting there and on days like the Longest Day I can sometimes forget about anything technical or scores and my game is pretty sharp.

I think you have three options. Jack it in completely for a while and do something else (the hardest if you are me) get a lesson or two and just work on any tweaks down the range so at least you are improving and still swinging or accept that you are in a rut and just try and enjoy the rare good shots and not get too stressed about the bad ones

 

[Region3]

I could play from now until doomsday and not get anywhere near my best score again.

I'll keep playing because I enjoy it, whether I'm playing well or not.

It's meant to be fun. The only things in life that you should carry on doing that aren't fun either keep your family happy or put food on the table.

If you don't enjoy it, don't play. You'll get the bug again before long.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Either forget what the pro told you and go back to what you were doing before or go back and see him for a refresher. It's very likely that your interpretation of what he said isn't quite what he actually said.

I've had too many enforced breaks from golf to voluntarily take time out so I always opt for playing through it and I've always come out the other side soon enough.

 

[slugger]

cheers for the input people... much appreciated. I've decided that i'm not going to pick up a club until middle of next week. Take this weekend off, might even go skiing at Braehead to do the other sport that i'll be doing for as long as i live.

Back to the range next week though and i'll see what happens from there.

 

[Robobum]

I could play from now until doomsday and not get anywhere near my best score again.

I'll keep playing because I enjoy it, whether I'm playing well or not.

It's meant to be fun. The only things in life that you should carry on doing that aren't fun either keep your family happy or put food on the table.

If you don't enjoy it, don't play. You'll get the bug again before long.

The single best post on here for ages.

 

[thecraw]

I feel your pain and know the feeling all too well. Started the season at 4.7 thinking four is "nae bother"! Now sitting at 5.6 & rising!!!!

 

[bobmac]

I would suggest you go back and see your pro.
You paid for a lesson to improve your game and it isn't working.
The one thing to realise is you haven't lost the ability to play golf, you've just lost confidence and you've forgotten where everything goes.
Take a wee break by all means but go and see your pro when you start back and explain to him what is going on.
Good luck.

 

[slugger]

cheers bob...

yeah, i had said to him that i'd get another lesson in the next couple of months anyway and my goals are to build towards next season, as this one has been a write off!