Thinking of calling it quits

[Deleted member 15717]

As the thread really! Started playing around 5 years ago, which was the first time I had ever picked up a club. I never really took to it, but after some lessons and plenty of playing practice, things started to come together and the handicap drop ensued. 28 - 21 in one year, 21 - 10 the next, and then the drop to single figures, where I have been for about a year or so. Enjoying the game, enjoying playing and practicing.

Then, around 7 weeks ago...out of nowhere, I am struggling to hit the ball. It can go off in all sorts of directions, and nothing I am doing is resolving it. Lessons have been had, but despite practicing what is being taught (and in the lesson, everything seems grand), there is no improvement. As such, I am now in a constant state of two minds...keep practicing and hope it all clicks, or just throw in the towel. The more I practice, the more I get frustrated as it doesn't go to plan, and the more I get disheartened with it.

I've tried the whole 'give it a break' routine, but it's always on my mind, so I return to the range, confident that I can start striping it again, but alas, it's not to be, so am beginning to think maybe it is time to get rid of everything and move on with a 'tried it, was good at it, wasn't to be' kind of attitude. I have to give it until at least mid-august, as booked to go away somewhere, but after that, who knows.

Anyone done the same/been close to it? How did you get out of the slump? I'm not one who can just go out and enjoy being outside chopping around. I am one who wants to play to the best all the time, and unless striking it well don't get much enjoyment whatsoever...I'm a very competitive guy. I guess that's the reason I keep trying to work it out, a pride thing.

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling. Comments welcomed!

 

[Foxholer]

There's more to Golf than shooting a good score!

Try just going out and hitting a ball, admiring the countryside, good company and conversation, the mild exercise and don't worry how well or badly you play! I'm sure you'll start hitting it much better - the swing will just flow!

If that doesn't, can I have dibs on the wedges?

 

[chrisd]

I agree with Mr Foxholer ........ Except the bit about the wedges!

 

[Deleted member 15717]

There's more to Golf than shooting a good score!

Try just going out and hitting a ball, admiring the countryside, good company and conversation, the mild exercise and don't worry how well or badly you play! I'm sure you'll start hitting it much better - the swing will just flow!

If that doesn't, can I have dibs on the wedges?

Haha...I tried that on Saturday. 22 points was the answer, and many a bad shot!

There probably is more to it than shooting a good score...but that is where I derive a lot of my pleasure from, sadly. It's probably very closed mind, but when I go out, I want to play well...not worrying about where the ball is going/has gone etc!

Dibs noted on wedges

 

[williamalex1]

Every year every bad shot , makes me feel that way , but i enjoy meeting and playing all sorts of diverse types of people while playing different courses.
Would you rather go shopping on a sunny golfing day. It's a no brainer .:fore:

 

[mcbroon]

As the thread really! Started playing around 5 years ago, which was the first time I had ever picked up a club. I never really took to it, but after some lessons and plenty of playing practice, things started to come together and the handicap drop ensued. 28 - 21 in one year, 21 - 10 the next, and then the drop to single figures, where I have been for about a year or so. Enjoying the game, enjoying playing and practicing.

Then, around 7 weeks ago...out of nowhere, I am struggling to hit the ball. It can go off in all sorts of directions, and nothing I am doing is resolving it. Lessons have been had, but despite practicing what is being taught (and in the lesson, everything seems grand), there is no improvement. As such, I am now in a constant state of two minds...keep practicing and hope it all clicks, or just throw in the towel. The more I practice, the more I get frustrated as it doesn't go to plan, and the more I get disheartened with it.

I've tried the whole 'give it a break' routine, but it's always on my mind, so I return to the range, confident that I can start striping it again, but alas, it's not to be, so am beginning to think maybe it is time to get rid of everything and move on with a 'tried it, was good at it, wasn't to be' kind of attitude. I have to give it until at least mid-august, as booked to go away somewhere, but after that, who knows.

Anyone done the same/been close to it? How did you get out of the slump? I'm not one who can just go out and enjoy being outside chopping around. I am one who wants to play to the best all the time, and unless striking it well don't get much enjoyment whatsoever...I'm a very competitive guy. I guess that's the reason I keep trying to work it out, a pride thing.

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling. Comments welcomed!

Everyone goes through that period of nothing seeming to work. Some of us go through it a couple of times a year. If I played a round in which I hit absolutely zero good shots, then I'd think about chucking it. But as long as I can still hit a good one, then that's enough to keep me coming back - I know it's in there somewhere and will come out eventually.

Maybe a break will do you good, maybe try to play 'just for fun', even though you say you don't enjoy that. It might be the thing that helps your game come back. I'd be very surprised if you've completely lost any ability you ever had so I'd say stick at it.

 

[Crow]

Only you can decide if enough is enough, do you have the patience to work out the reason for your loss of form or do you consider it terminal? I think that there's something in the mind of most golfers that means that they will keep tryng for a lot longer than a couple of months to resolve an issue, it's part of the attraction of the game after all that one week everything is rosey and the next week it's the polar opposite.

I've been in a similar place to you for a few months now, badly afflicted with the shanks and have felt the same about chucking it all in, it's the fact that you know you can play better than this but at the same time you can't, no matter how hard you try.

And I've tried all sorts but no improveement. I'm currently gong throguh Hogan's 5 Lessons and looking at the absolute basics.
Might have found the reason this weekend but more likely just another false dawn.

I say, "hang in there", it'll come good I'm sure, just a matter of when!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Haha...I tried that on Saturday. 22 points was the answer, and many a bad shot!

There probably is more to it than shooting a good score...but that is where I derive a lot of my pleasure from, sadly. It's probably very closed mind, but when I go out, I want to play well...not worrying about where the ball is going/has gone etc!

Dibs noted on wedges

Don't give up Wabz, you've put way too much time and effort into getting to where you are today handicap wise.

Have you tried clubbing up with a half swing to eradicate your 'bad' shots? Surprisingly it worked for me.

 

[SVB]

I think I've played my best golf when not trying, typically out for a quick nine holes on a summer evening. Seems easy and effortless, but before you know it you three under hcp!

I'm sure your current mental anxiety (golf wise, not suggesting anything more worrying!) is part of the cure and perhaps attacking that rather than the swing may be more fruitful since, as others have said, having got to single figures, you can clearly hit a ball.

karl Morris does some good CDs on the mind game, I have a putting one but I know there are others focussed on tee to green. Also, some work on that will satisfy the 'need to work on game' desire but also give you some time away from the course as well for a bit.

Aren't we all experts on someone else's problem!

Best of luck, hope you get back to it soon.

simon

 

[srixon 1]

You have probably hit the wall and found a plateau in your golf game after such a rapid decrease in your handicap.

Like others have said, have a rest and then go out and play for fun without the worry of a card in your hand. We all "think about" giving it up after a lean spell but most never do. Do you have other life pressures? sometimes these can detract you from your golf game, even if you think that they don't.

 

[guest100718]

As the thread really! Started playing around 5 years ago, which was the first time I had ever picked up a club. I never really took to it, but after some lessons and plenty of playing practice, things started to come together and the handicap drop ensued. 28 - 21 in one year, 21 - 10 the next, and then the drop to single figures, where I have been for about a year or so. Enjoying the game, enjoying playing and practicing.

Then, around 7 weeks ago...out of nowhere, I am struggling to hit the ball. It can go off in all sorts of directions, and nothing I am doing is resolving it. Lessons have been had, but despite practicing what is being taught (and in the lesson, everything seems grand), there is no improvement. As such, I am now in a constant state of two minds...keep practicing and hope it all clicks, or just throw in the towel. The more I practice, the more I get frustrated as it doesn't go to plan, and the more I get disheartened with it.

I've tried the whole 'give it a break' routine, but it's always on my mind, so I return to the range, confident that I can start striping it again, but alas, it's not to be, so am beginning to think maybe it is time to get rid of everything and move on with a 'tried it, was good at it, wasn't to be' kind of attitude. I have to give it until at least mid-august, as booked to go away somewhere, but after that, who knows.

Anyone done the same/been close to it? How did you get out of the slump? I'm not one who can just go out and enjoy being outside chopping around. I am one who wants to play to the best all the time, and unless striking it well don't get much enjoyment whatsoever...I'm a very competitive guy. I guess that's the reason I keep trying to work it out, a pride thing.

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling. Comments welcomed!

Quit and sell all your stuff.

 

[harpo_72]

Getting grumpy makes it worse, be positive, slow your swing down. Its supposed be fun, think how lucky you are that your not a) food shopping ,b) stuck at work listening to some oxygen thief c) shopping with HID who is asking "does my bum look big?", d) changing a rather full poohie nappy of a hyperactive wriglet 18month old boy!

 

[Evesdad]

If we are doing dibs I'll put my name on the putter lol

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

As the thread really! Started playing around 5 years ago, which was the first time I had ever picked up a club. I never really took to it, but after some lessons and plenty of playing practice, things started to come together and the handicap drop ensued. 28 - 21 in one year, 21 - 10 the next, and then the drop to single figures, where I have been for about a year or so. Enjoying the game, enjoying playing and practicing.

Then, around 7 weeks ago...out of nowhere, I am struggling to hit the ball. It can go off in all sorts of directions, and nothing I am doing is resolving it. Lessons have been had, but despite practicing what is being taught (and in the lesson, everything seems grand), there is no improvement. As such, I am now in a constant state of two minds...keep practicing and hope it all clicks, or just throw in the towel. The more I practice, the more I get frustrated as it doesn't go to plan, and the more I get disheartened with it.

I've tried the whole 'give it a break' routine, but it's always on my mind, so I return to the range, confident that I can start striping it again, but alas, it's not to be, so am beginning to think maybe it is time to get rid of everything and move on with a 'tried it, was good at it, wasn't to be' kind of attitude. I have to give it until at least mid-august, as booked to go away somewhere, but after that, who knows.

Anyone done the same/been close to it? How did you get out of the slump? I'm not one who can just go out and enjoy being outside chopping around. I am one who wants to play to the best all the time, and unless striking it well don't get much enjoyment whatsoever...I'm a very competitive guy. I guess that's the reason I keep trying to work it out, a pride thing.

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling. Comments welcomed!

I could have written your post, after 20 years I have just resigned membership, I was playing so badly (even when I managed a half decent score) that I became completely disheartened, when a bout of the shanks took hold a few weeks back it was the end for me, in truth I hadn't enjoyed golf for a couple of years, my handicap was going north and despite a real effort to reverse it I just got more stressed and enjoyed things even less, like you I couldn't derive any pleasure from chopping it around in 85-90 week in week out, so golf for me is no more, I will play in a charity day later in the summer and hopefully H4h in the autumn, then it will be a complete winter off, perhaps 2 games in the next twelve months will reinvigorate my love for the game or perhaps it will be time to move on.

I wish you well with whatever you feel is right for you.

 

[chrisd]

I could have written your post, after 20 years I have just resigned membership, I was playing so badly (even when I managed a half decent score) that I became completely disheartened, when a bout of the shanks took hold a few weeks back it was the end for me, in truth I hadn't enjoyed golf for a couple of years, my handicap was going north and despite a real effort to reverse it I just got more stressed and enjoyed things even less, like you I couldn't derive any pleasure from chopping it around in 85-90 week in week out, so golf for me is no more, I will play in a charity day later in the summer and hopefully H4h in the autumn, then it will be a complete winter off, perhaps 2 games in the next twelve months will reinvigorate my love for the game or perhaps it will be time to move on.

I wish you well with whatever you feel is right for you.

I'm sorry to read that Steve, I thought you knocked it round well at West Hill and more importantly, you were great company, and other golf club members will miss you for that alone

 

[Baldy Bouncer]

What shafts are in the Mizuno`s and how much do you want for them?

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I'm sorry to read that Steve, I thought you knocked it round well at West Hill and more importantly, you were great company, and other golf club members will miss you for that alone

Chris, thank you for that, I hope to see you at H4h.

 

[CMAC]

Been there!

Felt that way last week after 4 weeks of hitting the ball like a pro (in my head) then a round in constant rain and hitting all the bad shots you can imagine made me think "what's the point"

So, IMO forget just having a break, or swinging easy etc etc
You need a radical back to basics change. Get out there by yourself, clear your head of the technicalities and rigid methodical process of hitting a good shot, and inject some competitive fun back into the game.........with every shot. Choose to draw/fade/high/low/check/bump'n'run on everything once your basic fundamental set up is done.

You, like me I think, are caught up in the process and forgetting to swing freely and project that ball where you want.


The score is irrelevant to me, if your hitting it well that's the enjoyment, the score will come naturally.

 

[Fyldewhite]

You can obviously play. Nobody can do it to order. Just get those two simple facts in your head and enjoy being out there (even if you play badly). Sounds very much as though the problem is between your ears and you are putting too much expectation on yourself. Personally, I'd forget the lessons, practice etc (you know you are a single figure golfer) and just go out and hit the ball with zero expectation. You may surprise yourself.

 

[Hacker Khan]

As the thread really! Started playing around 5 years ago, which was the first time I had ever picked up a club. I never really took to it, but after some lessons and plenty of playing practice, things started to come together and the handicap drop ensued. 28 - 21 in one year, 21 - 10 the next, and then the drop to single figures, where I have been for about a year or so. Enjoying the game, enjoying playing and practicing.

Then, around 7 weeks ago...out of nowhere, I am struggling to hit the ball. It can go off in all sorts of directions, and nothing I am doing is resolving it. Lessons have been had, but despite practicing what is being taught (and in the lesson, everything seems grand), there is no improvement. As such, I am now in a constant state of two minds...keep practicing and hope it all clicks, or just throw in the towel. The more I practice, the more I get frustrated as it doesn't go to plan, and the more I get disheartened with it.

I've tried the whole 'give it a break' routine, but it's always on my mind, so I return to the range, confident that I can start striping it again, but alas, it's not to be, so am beginning to think maybe it is time to get rid of everything and move on with a 'tried it, was good at it, wasn't to be' kind of attitude. I have to give it until at least mid-august, as booked to go away somewhere, but after that, who knows.

Anyone done the same/been close to it? How did you get out of the slump? I'm not one who can just go out and enjoy being outside chopping around. I am one who wants to play to the best all the time, and unless striking it well don't get much enjoyment whatsoever...I'm a very competitive guy. I guess that's the reason I keep trying to work it out, a pride thing.

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling. Comments welcomed!

You are a single figure golfer who can obviously play well. So sounds like a lot of the problem is mental rather than technical? Perhaps might be worth looking at that side a bit rather than trying to find a technical solution to it?