Swing breaks down after 8 holes

[captain]

I play off 15, and I think I have a sound swing and can play great golf for about 8 or 9 holes. My last round I was level par after 8 holes (2 birdies, 2 bogies), but then proceeded to lose 4 balls on the next 4 holes, due to bad Tee shots (leaked right mainly). This is a common pattern for my golf.
Am I just getting tired, or is it a mental thing?
Does anyone else have the same problem, any advice most welcome.

 

[USER1999]

Isn't that what handicaps are for? You need to be mentally prepared for the odd bad shot, and just accept it, otherwise we would all be on telly.

Mentally, do you feel that you are waiting for the wheels to come off? If so, this is an issue you need to work on.

I can't see how you can be tired after 8 holes.

 

[bobmac]

otherwise we would all be on telly.

I've been on telly

Crimewatch

 

[freddielong]

Don't take this the wrong way but I think its your head that is breaking down rather than your swing

 

[colint]

Do you have any swing thoughts they you use for the start of the round and then forget to think of them ? Must be a mental thing unless you've got a health issue.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sounds to me like the old adage of getting ahead of yourself and starting to think about what you need to shoot on each hole. Once you start doing this especially with a good score going, you tend to swing defensively and almost steer the ball. As a result you won't release through the ball properly and this is probably where the shots right are coming from.

 

[ball_basher]

cut an inch off your clubs !!!!! that way you cam get em un the wheely bin

 

[drawboy]

I dont think you are getting tired probably the opposite, as you loosen up your muscles the swing gets longer and looser causing you to come through the ball faster thus leaving the clubface slightly open. Try to swing with more control and a shorter backswing and it should sort the problem for you.

 

[RGDave]

Does anyone else have the same problem, any advice most welcome.

I used to have this now and again. I'd be sailing along, then seemingly unable to "remember" how to swing the club as normal. I distinctly recall one game being close to level after 12 holes or so and then fatting and duffing everything until the finish.

Tiredness? I don't think so
Mental?.....could well be - if you are expecting a crash, a crash will happen.

In my experience, my games often take on patterns. For example, if I've been to the range the day before, I might hit the ball straight-ish for the first two dozen full shots, then a bad habit (like a pull or push) might start to creep back in.

What I tend to do (and I don't reckon I can be the only one here) is start to notice when a bad habit is coming back. For example, if I've been driving straight then hit a few wayward pulls/slices, I might simply choose to pull my right foot/shoulder back (closing the stance) and limp home making do with 3 woods or something.

You haven't said whether you get pushes or slices as things turn bad, but presuming a slice, why not wait for one to come (don't deliberately "look" for it) and when one does, spend 20 seconds longer on the next tee, get yourself settled, then either grip the club a bit stronger (and maybe hit a pull) or simply aim where it's safe.

It possible at mine to play the last 4 aiming at the edge of the left rough and if it goes straight, that's ok, and if it slices, then I'm still just about on the course.

I know lots of players who have a bad shot and don't seem to adjust as the game wears on. I admire their persistence but not their logic. Fix faults on the range.

If there is a 9/10 chance you're going to slice it, think about where to aim. With 4-5-6? holes to go, just get home the safest way. I aim down the left of 14/15/16/18 and tend to hit a fade shot that wouldn't happen on the front 9. My partners think I'm deliberately choosing to play a professional shot.....that's a 50/50 call really.....I expect to leak balls as I get weary and old habits creep back, but also, if I should middle it dead straight, I'm still in a good position.

Before playing again, I'll go and hit 100 balls with a push.
Then it happens the same next game.....more often than not!

 

[USER1999]

That only works if your poor shot is consistent. With my rubbish swing, the same swing can produce a slice, a straight shot, a pull and a massive pull hook. It just depends how my hands correct for the swing error. In this instance, I still have to aim down the middle, and there is no safe shot.

 

[RGDave]

That only works if your poor shot is consistent. With my rubbish swing, the same swing can produce a slice, a straight shot, a pull and a massive pull hook. It just depends how my hands correct for the swing error. In this instance, I still have to aim down the middle, and there is no safe shot.

Yes, that's true. It must drive you pretty mad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've got all the shots in the bag but have no idea what order they'll come out in

 

[Adrena1in]

That only works if your poor shot is consistent. With my rubbish swing, the same swing can produce a slice, a straight shot, a pull and a massive pull hook. It just depends how my hands correct for the swing error. In this instance, I still have to aim down the middle, and there is no safe shot.

Sounds just like me, and it's why I've all but given up.

But falling to pieces specifically after 8 holes sounds like a mental issue to me. If it's that consistent then what I would do is go to the course and start on the 8th hole, or the hole which is the first one where you seem to fall apart. Play from there to 18, and then the first 7 holes. See what happens.