Roll on my lessons...............

[Smiffy]

I'm getting really cheesed off with my golf at the moment.
I'm driving reasonably well, keeping up with my mates, but it's my bloody iron play that is slaying me.
Played yesterday, only managed to get about 9 holes in before we got "snowed off"..
Lovely par 4, very tight driving hole with a dogleg left (which are not my ideal type of holes as my natural shape tends to be a fade).
Knocked a lovely 3 wood into prime position to the dogleg, left me 150 to go to the green.
Couple of practice swings while waiting for the green to clear....felt fine. Set up over the ball with my trusty 7 iron and went for it. Result? Fatted the bloody ball about 5 yards. Cursing myself for being such a useless prat, I replaced my divot (which was massive by the way.. ) and stepped up to the ball again. Same club. Same practice swings. Stood over the ball and went for it again. Another terrible fatted shot which literally went one yard further than the first attempt. Walked off the bloody hole with a 7.
I hate this game sometimes. I know I can hit a decent shot, I've hit thousands of them in the past. Nothing could be easier than knocking a nice easy 7 iron into a green could it? Trouble is, it's getting to me now, playing mind games. I'm beginning to tense up even more, because I am expecting to hit a bad shot. Driving, chipping and putting is still OK. It's just my bloody iron play. It's easy to put the blame elsewhere, and at the moment I am blaming my change of clubs. But I really do hope that the pro can sort me out. I've got some important games coming up over the next few months, playing some really decent courses. And the more I think about it, the more worried I'm getting. Bloody game.....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you are hitting fairways then your swing is still working and I think it is more between your ears that the problem lies. From reading your post you are telling yourself you won't hit a good shot before you swing so of course you are tense over the ball with the inevitable bad shot.

I'm not sure when you'll be able to try this given all the snow, but next time you are on the course, take your club and stand behind the ball and picture it landing in the centre of the green. As you get over the ball imagine you are in the bay of your local range in the middle of a normal session hitting it well and just see yourself on the mat and trust your swing and release.

 

[USER1999]

I have been hitting it fat recently too. Must be something in the air.

 

[TWM]

Smiffy,
I feel your pain since I am in the same position.
I was going to organise a set of lessons but I will wait until this weather improves. Six lessons including nine holes on the course. Once a week should get me going for the season (hopefully).

 

[Sam]

Most of us have been driving (cars) for many years and have done many, many thousands of gearchanges so muscle memory must be deep-seated. Is every one perfect? No way but we dont dwell on it and think I must try harder next time.

 

[TonyN]

I hardly hit fat anymore, but I did have a very random, out of place fat wedge at the Belfry, I just put it straight out of my mind as a random fluke.

 

[nicksampo]

I'm also having real iron problems at the moment, I can't get my swing to feel comfortable with a long to mid iron in hand. Wedges, fairways and driver are all in the good at the moment but as soon as I get a 4-8 iron in my hands I regress to when I first started. This is annoying as around August I was a demon with irons but shocking with the driver! I should stick to cameras, they don't play with my mind

I'm just planning on sticking in there, getting a few lessons and thinking that if I could hit it well before, I can again.

Maybe a set of G10s might help this.....

 

[Leftie]

Smiffy
It could just be something simply like all the extra clothing you are wearing at this time of the year, or the glasses, ????

Once it gets into your head though ....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I had a s***k on one hole on Saturday. I had a lesson to change my pitching technique and it was the first time out on a course so I'm putting it down to the fact that my original set up was so bad and that I hadn't had time to work the new changes in. I did get up and down for a par though.

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy
It could just be something simply like all the extra clothing you are wearing at this time of the year, or the glasses, ????

Once it gets into your head though ....

To be honest Rog, that's the only thing keeping me going at the moment...the thought of warmer weather, short sleeve shirts etc.
I'm still not used to playing in my glasses and have an appointment with the "specialist" tomorrow afternoon to see about contact lenses. I'm hoping these will make a difference, 'cos it still feels weird wearing my bins whilst playing.
I appreciate what you are saying about more clothing, but to be fair..yesterday I had a polo necked undershirt on, a jumper (not too tight) and my wet weather jacket which is nice and light and you hardly know it's on. It wasn't as if I was bogged down with clothes mate.
Something has happened over the last couple of months and as I say, I'm blaming everything from my new clubs to my glasses.
I've not hit a bad patch like this in years and it's frustrating knowing that I can hit the shots but just can't seem to find them at the moment.

 

[Earl]

I suggest shortening and slowing down the back swing just to get the feel in the swing. To start with you might not hit your 150 yards but your confidence will rise and then your distances will increase just my thoughts.

 

[Andy]

Smiffy

150 yard 7 iron in such cold weather, ball not flying as far. Why not choke down on a 5 or 6 iron and swing easy to see if it makes a difference.

You mention large divots,I've been prone in the past to be lunging at a ball when trying to murder and iron to get the the green where the sensible play was to take a club more and swing easier.

Might help you or it might not but worth a try.

Andy

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy

150 yard 7 iron in such cold weather, ball not flying as far. Why not choke down on a 5 or 6 iron and swing easy to see if it makes a difference.

Andy

Hear what you are saying Andy, but it was 150 to the pin, slightly downhill, although ball was on a flat lie, and was sitting perfectly (courtesy of winter rules)and no wind to talk of. When playing well I could normally bank on that shot 9 times out of 10 with a well clipped 7 iron.
What got me really pissed was the fact that I did exactly the same thing twice...massive great divot and badly fatted shot. The result of the first "attempt" nudged the ball down the fairway about 5 or 6 yards, so in reality the second shot was only just over 140. I've never been shy of taking more club if the situation warrants it but in this particular instance felt that the 7 was the perfect choice. I just don't feel right set up over the ball at the moment, that's why I'm looking forward to my course of lessons...back to basics I think.
The guy I was playing against knows my game better than anybody, we've had some right old "ding dongs" over the years and as we were walking back to the clubhoouse he commented that he felt I hadn't been really trying to hit my irons and had been swinging very slowly. Whether he meant I was quitting on the shot I don't know, but that's what it felt like to me.

 

[USER1999]

Sounds to me like a combination of quitting, negative thoughts, and lifting your head up too early.

 

[jeffc]

Hi Smiffy

I got exactly the same problem, can't understand it because a week last Saturday I played and hit 99% of my irons perfect I played in the week on thursday and also this Saturday but was doing exactly what you are doing.
WHAT A FLIPPIN GAME
I had kept the same swing thoughts and feelings from when I played well but it just didn't work.

All I can think of is that I am transfering too much weight to the right hand side in the backswing. Going the range at dinner time to try it out but if I don't solve it I will use some of the lessons I had for xmas.

 

[bobmac]

Smiffy, you mentioned your divot was deep. Was it straight?
Without actually seeing your swing, its a bit tricky to give an educated guess, but sounds like your angle of attack is too steep which could be caused by an out to in swing or the ball too far back in your stance which is stopping you from transfering your weight onto your front foot. Do you have a video camera?

 

[thecraw]

Brush the ball off the turf, keep the lower body quit, like a long bunker shot!

 

[TonyN]

Smiffy, have a look in last months mag at the 'what your talking about' section and take my advice, it made the mag so it must make sense

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy, you mentioned your divot was deep. Was it straight?
Without actually seeing your swing, its a bit tricky to give an educated guess, but sounds like your angle of attack is too steep which could be caused by an out to in swing or the ball too far back in your stance which is stopping you from transfering your weight onto your front foot. Do you have a video camera?

Valid point. My divot was straight, but I have been making a conscious effort to get the ball back in my stance the last couple of times out because I found it had crept forward and I was losing distance on my iron shots. I have moved it back to try to make better contact with the ball and really get it zipping off the club face.
I may have moved it too far back, and as you say, I am having to swing very steep (compared to my previous swing) to get back to the ball.
Thanks for the really good advice lads, I can see where you are all coming from and will try a few different things over the coming week.

 

[bobmac]

Your welcome Smiffy and good luck