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Playing terribly - take a breather or work your way through it?

JezzE

JezzE

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Morning all,
The debate in the next issue will be addressing this little teaser, so if any of you have any thoughts to share, that would be great.
Personally, I would say it depends how bad things have got. If it's got to the stage where I really can't hit my hat I would be inclined to leave it for a few weeks and see where I'm at when I come back. Anything short of total chopping, and I'd be inclined to keep tinkering and tweaking to see if I can slot things back into place.
 
It depends what works for you.
Personally, I play through it as I know the game is there somewhere - probably on a beach sunbathing.........
 
Always always always carry on playing.

Go back to basics, the best drill being, feet together and half swings and the game will return. Not playing, I am sure, will only make the anxiety last longer


Chris
 
Ultimately, we play because we enjoy it. I think :mad: We're not playing to make a living. If it's making you miserable to keep playing, then take a break. If you still get some enjoyment even when relatively playing poorly, carry on.

I always find a few moments, even in a bad round, which make it worthwhile, even if it's just banter with my mates about how bad I'm playing. ;)
 
Take a break, come back refreshed with no frustrations and enjoy it. I stayed away for two weeks about a month ago and it helped me big time.
 
Previously I would have said to just hammer the range until you work through it. Now I'd suggest having a lesson and not playing until you are hitting well enough to not get frustrated on the course and revert to bad habits just to get round. I don't mind hitting a bad shot on the course if I know it's part of the learning curve rather than a re-occurring swing fault that I'm not trying to fix.
 
thecraw said:
Take a break, come back refreshed with no frustrations and enjoy it. I stayed away for two weeks about a month ago and it helped me big time.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with Craw. If it isn't going well, it probably isn't enjoyable so take a break and come back fresh, ready to enjoy the game again.
 
Generally I try and carry on, however I did get a terrible reoccurence of the old sherman's earlier this year, I tried to soldier on for about a month with self diagnosis/remedy, it got WORSE. remedy a few lessons with the Pro, a new stance/improved posture and things are better, have continued the lessons on a regular basis and the whole game feels like its on the up.

Summary: IMO keep going if you can otherwise seek help.
 
Yes play though it. But go back to basics. Alignment, setup posture, half/3 quarter swing. keep it nice and smooth. Tempo tempo and tempo. Soon be back on track (with a bit of luck).
 
Having a break from bad golf would be like parking your car for a rest when you're lost.
Driving round a strange city with the sat nav turned off and not asking for directions will get you nowhere fast.
If you don't know, ask for help
 
I have often been in a place where things are not going as I would like, in fact such is my ambition that I have never been in a place where I have been happy with my swing or game. I have always tried to work harder and harder, its the only way I know, I love the game and I don't want to take a break, if I did all I would think about was my swing 24 hrs a day. To this point forcing my game and practice endlessly has not worked for me, I feel that I have a pretty/very good knowledge of the golf swing I am just too uncoordinated/add any word you like.

However.... I have been forced to rest/ lost some focus through an injury and a lifestyle alteration and the last few times I have been out I have been extremely relaxed and have been hitting with much less aggression to protect my knee, this seems to have given me more time in my swing with less tension. I have been obsessed with draw spin for years, have always had the opposite and while I would not call my current ball flight a natural draw it is going in that direction, certainly in the long game.

If we were voting today, for the 1st time ever I would side with the "take a break" crew but maybe I would put it more like "be less intense"

The only thing I would say is that I believe you lose a little bit of sharpness on the putting green from not being out as much.
 
Flashes of brilliance keep me going when I'm having a bad time on the course. I can be spraying it all over the shop, but that one shot, out of the middle of the club, seeking it way towards the target, is what keeps me going

Every week;)
 
bobmac said:
Having a break from bad golf would be like parking your car for a rest when you're lost.
Driving round a strange city with the sat nav turned off and not asking for directions will get you nowhere fast.
If you don't know, ask for help
Click to expand...

I don't know... I think a complete temporary break is sometimes a good thing if things have got that bad, as it helps you draw a line under all the negative feelings and emotions associated with playing terrible golf, before then getting your head back in a suitably positive place to try and do something about it?
 
I'm in this place at the moment. My game had been steadily improving September through October but in the last few weeks it went completely to the dogs. I'm currently taking a break, not through choice but just circumstances mean I can't get out for the next few weeks due to family commitments, and I'm that busy at work untill Xmas it is unlikely I will get to the range either. So I am kind of hopeing against hope that the break will do me good.
 
JezzE said:
I don't know... I think a complete temporary break is sometimes a good thing if things have got that bad, as it helps you draw a line under all the negative feelings and emotions associated with playing terrible golf, before then getting your head back in a suitably positive place to try and do something about it?
Click to expand...

Of course, we are all different.
I can see how having a break can re-charge the batteries for some whereas for others, it's just not an option as they have to keep playing.
As most golfers play to have fun, knowing how to fix any fault specific to your game is the way to prevent complete meltdown.

After all, golf only has 2 components...how you hit it and where you hit it.
As Jezza says (not you sir)
How hard can it be?
 
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