Time to quit

[Down_The_Middle]

As some of you may have read in another post a week or so ago, I have been strugling to enjoy the game and finding it all a chore.Well today I topped it all. Wasnt hitting the ball well and getting really frustrated. On the par 5 9th miss hit my 3rd shot with a 7 iron and out of anger smacked the club into my bag a few times.Anyway I came to putt the ball took my putter out of the bag and the shaft(graphite) was destroyed.Had to putt with my 2i hybrid.After the hole my playing partner said about finishinf but we carried on . H.I.D was with us as well. She was none to pleased.Should be playing medal tomorrow but might miss it which will mean a 3 month. I think the time has come to call it a day because my behaviour. So cheers its been a blast

Goodnight

 

[Basher]

That's a shame DTM.

Golf is indeed a frustrating game which tests us all. Behaviour wise it's sometimes hard to control it when the game goes bad.

I'd reconsider mate, the clue is in the word "game."

That's all it is, a game. Your life doesn't depend on it, it doesn't put food on your families table. Nobodies gonna die if you play badly.
Bad behaviour on the course doesn't sit well with others. I imagine your playing partner was feeling a tad embarrassed, hence the option to finish early.

Try to contain your temper, remember it's just a game which you should enjoy, regardless of how you're playing.

If all else fails, what gear do you have, I'm after a good quality driver!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can sympathise as I had a really bad round from a ball striking perspective. Think I hit one green in regulation and about 4 fairways. Everything was a big weak fade or out of the heel (including a J Arthur).

Went to the practice ground this afternoon. I knew what I was doing wrong but was findin it hard to put right until one of our county players came over and gave me a quick lesson.

Its not right but at least I have something to work on down the range tomorrow morning. If I can get it going half decently I might go out about 3.30 and play on my own and try and get something sorted before my competition on Monday.

Try not to lose too much heart. I suggest you'd benefit from a rest from playing (do you get banned even if you pull out for legitimate reasons like illness or family crisis etc?). It seems that you need a lesson from a pro. It amy be something very simple that can get your game back on track in no time. Keep the faith. We have all been there and many of us will be back there again one day

 

[Down_The_Middle]

Thanks lads. Been having lessons. Its the same old story hit everything well on range on the course it goes tits up.
Basher I have a nike sq sumo 10.5* and a cobra ld m speed 12*. Wilson deep red 3 irons 3-sw.Progen 2-5iron utility clubs. TM r7 3wood draw

 

[RGuk]

You've clearly thrown your toys out of the pram...big style!
It happens to us all. If it's causing you more grief than pleasure, give it a break for a while and see how you feel.
S*d tomorrows medal, have some time out and see how deep the bug goes. I can't remember a time when playing badly hasn't made me EVEN MORE determined to learn to play better, even if it means more pain. We are all different.
Good luck, whatever you choose.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

DTM

It sounds like you go on the course too tense. You are putting yourself under too much pressure toperform as you do down the range and then when you hit a few errant shots you start to panic/get frustrated which in turn leads to more bad shots and so the cycle continues.

I bet I am right in thinking that you tend to rush the more it goes wrong. Do you ever stop take a deep breath and actually look at your options and think about maybe playing a higher percentage shot or do you just chuck the club back in the bag, rush to the ball and play it

If you gave yourself a chance to calm down, figure out a strategy etc you might find that once you have hit a bad shot that you can recover to make a 5 or 6 by jst relaxing and slowing down.

I'm sure when you hit a bad shot at the range you don't react the same way because there is always another ball so it doesn't matter. You need to take that "it doesn't matter" scenario out with you. Once you have played that shot there is nothing more you can do.

A good pre-shot routine may also help. It doesn't have to be long or elaborate but if it is something you do on every shot it will help you slow down and train your brain into when it is golf time and when to switch off and not worry about what has gone before or is still to come

 

[vig]

Look at the game from a different perspective.

I know it can be v frustrating but it's supposed to be relaxing. (that's what my anger management counsellor said anyway)
Given the choice of a day at work or on the course i know which i'd pick EVERY time!!!

As has been said previously take a short break or just go out and play some random holes to build your confidence up.

I gave the game up many years ago and only started again last summer. You can't get those years back believe me.

 

[brendy]

Frustrating? tell me about it, sitting very confortably at +3 for nine holes today managed to hook a ball then hit a tree forcing me almost oob then have to take a penalty fdrop from there, and end up with a nine thus leaving me around a shot to get round the rest of the round, ended up +12 and just on the buffer zone.

 

[OldWindy]

DTM

RGUK's quote is very true...

It happens to us all. If it's causing you more grief than pleasure, give it a break for a while and see how you feel. S*d tomorrows medal, have some time out and see how deep the bug goes.

...we had our Open today - I was swinging the clubs really well but couldn't get the short game together whatsoever - shot 106 (yes, that's 15 shots too many for me!). All I want to do is get on the practice ground and sort it out but I want to calm down a bit first.

Take the break, however long it takes. HTH

 

[theeaglehunter]

It is funny seems like everyone is having a bad time at the moment me included, my latest round was 106, when I had been averaging 90 since I had got my new handicap and was very pleased but it has all suddenly gone wrong. Just remmeber we are all in the same boat and getting stressed out does nobody any favours, I used to get very annoyed when I first started playing but am now very good at just laughing it off and relaxing. Try it and you will be surprised how much better you feel about yourself.

As for giving up I would refrain from doing so as there is no real need, you played badly so what? Plus I am pretty shocked at the moment as one of the best golfers I know and have played with (2 handicap), and also someone who helped me get into golf, has decided to quit as he was having such a bad time and had been unable to play to handicap since before christmas so he decided enoguh was enough as it was stressing him out so much. And this is a real pity in my eyes, expecially as he still goes to the course to walk round with his girlfriend and he doesn't play himself.

Stick with it and your love for the game will emerge soon enough.

 

[ball_basher]

dtm , this happened to me four years ago and i almost jacked it in , i had been playing bAdly for 3 years and was ready to give up , then suddenly things started to turn around and i have since played my best ever golf , the game has gone backwards again but after a session the range today i feel im getting it back again ,



good luck

 

[TonyN]

I was the same a few weeks ago, but i just built my self a pre shot routine and had another lesson.

I went out on the course determained not to rush any shots and enjoy the whole round regardless of how badly i was playing.

I didnt mark a card, i didnt count shots i just concentrated on striking the ball well.

Got to say now i am breaking 90 with ease. So much so i am confident of breaking 80 anytime soon and i was shooting close to the hundreds 6 weeks ago.

Maybe you should have a break for a few weeks then have a lesson out on the course with the pro.

Dont sell your gear, just hold on to it and have a break.

Golf is 90% mental and i think you have clearly written your self off. Untill you get a renewed attitude and some confidence back, your definitly going to struggle.

After our break, just go out on your own, with out a card and just play safe shots. Doesnt matter about distance etc, just concentrate on a nice controlled swing and get sme rythem back. I bet your as stiff as a board at the moment!

Anyway, good luck with it.

 

[AliB]

sorry to hear about your bad run, DTM. As you already recognise neither you nor your playing partners are getting any benefit from your being on the courrse, so I would do as Dave suggests and take a break. You'll probably find you want to come back quite soon, but the time off will allow you to think about improving your golf and your temperament. It's hard for everyone and we all boil over from time to time, but if you don't enjoy it there's no point. On the other hand, some lessons and some serious thinking might turn things around - if you want to change, you can.

all the best, whatever you decide.

AliB

 

[nomadpaul]

See , this thread is exactly the reason i like this forum so much . Its like a cross between a confessional and a psychiatrists couch , a place in which to unburden yourself of all your woes and hear those comforting words of wisdom.

Mate , if its getting to you that badly , i would take a 2 week sabbatical and see how you feel after that. Sometimes , trying to thrash out your errors does nothing but compound them.

Its an extremely frustrating game at times but lets put it into perspective.....most of the time , it is only a game .

Hope you get your head right and come back to the sport refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead

 

[Nico]

DTM.

Weed out the people who really only want to talk bout themselves and what they have overcome,the ones who have a bit of miracle advice and what have you left??

You have a bunch of like minded people who understand what you are feeling,and mostly at some point have been there.

There are not one of us who have not felt ashamed or let down by our behaviour,whether on the course,in the bar or even on this forum.

It is no reason to give up the game,unfulfilled potential or expectations should not cloud the positives to be gained from golf.

This is the greatest game in the world and it would be less if you stopped playing.

 

[viscount17]

dtm, get out on your own, early morning or late evening. doesn't matter if you play a round or three holes, just get out and learn to look around you again.

 

[shanker]

Keep at it DTM. You're not the first golfer in the world to lose his rag on the course. I've done it umpteen times and have broken two clubs in temper.
Giving up golf is hard, I've met few ex-golfers. It comes and goes.