Slump

leftygolf · June 28, 2007

I seem to be in some kind of a slump right now as far as my golf game is considered. It seems to be about this same time of year, every year and it last a week or so.

Does anyone else experience this and what do you do to come out of it.

rl4673 · June 28, 2007

Oh, man. You're speaking my language. I went from shooting 82-86 to barely breaking 100 in a matter of months. I can't put my finger on it, but it's making me nuts! I am going back to the pro next week to get a check-up.

Mud · June 28, 2007

Whenever this happens to me I just take a few days off.

Don't play, don't practice, don't read about golf.

This usually lets my brain shut off and my muscle memory reset.

Bobcat43 · June 28, 2007

Ive been there for several weeks. Ive taken the last couple weeks off. I have a tourney on Sat and dont plan to pick up a club until that morning. It sounds crazy. But what Ive been experiencing lately is forcing me to consider drastic actions. I know if I go to the range or play 18 tonight or tomorrow it will turn into a revamping of my swing and make things worse. I'll see what my swing gives me when I warm up Sat and play it.

This is what I do in the Spring and I alway play well then. I guess I just lost my feel.

alexthegrrr8 · June 28, 2007

lefty:

I've been there and I know what you're saying. If you're playing alot and still experienceing the slump the best thing to do is back away from the game a bit and take time off. Someone already mentioned this and I humbly agree. Don't even go to the range either as yu may find that your ballstriking might go from bad to worse.

I haven't been out in two weeks (knee injury) and it's killing me. When I return next week I can almost guarantee I'll be in a slump as well. Good luck and the game WILL come back.

Alex

keith723 · June 28, 2007

That happens to me at least once a year as well. I go from low to mid 80s to high 90s and my swing feels the same. I always have my wife video my swing and I'm usually able to identify one or two things that I'm doing wrong and then I know what to work on when I'm hitting balls.

Good Luck to you!

KNC47 · June 28, 2007

Was just there a few weeks ago but fortunately I have been forced to take time off due to 16 days of rain. I have been busy with other activites and not really dwelling on my game. Hopefully, when it dries out my natural game will come back as I feel I was trying to be too technical. I figured out I am more of a feel player than a technical guy.

thehobbit · June 28, 2007

I'm in one right now. Usually happens about 2 months into the season, for about two weeks. It looked like this, 74, 72, 76, 67,69, 85, 89, 95. Happened the last two seasons with the same type spike. Its a mental plateau. According to the only golf instruction I've ever had, Bobby Jones book On Golf, your body is generally ready to shoot lower scores than your mind. Your head starts to get in the way (too high expectations, trying to hit every shot perfectly, hitting good shots and getting upset with yourself because they are not perfect). Golf is a game that is best played in a happy mood and with fun in mind. I took a week off and when I go back out next monday, Im just going to hit the ball, and try to make good contact with every shot. Whatever happens happens, if good contact is my only thought, it usually works itself out, and all of a sudden I feel good again. Truth is, you can't make birdie off the tee, so don't get too worried about not hitting a perfect drive, if you just try and hit good shots one at a time things start to work out. I'm with you right now so I'm pumping myself up as well

tbowles411 · June 28, 2007

I'm going through it now. I was flirting with 100 for the weeks I was playing. Then all of a sudden, WHAMO! 125, 133. I have zero idea of what happened or how to fix it. Guess I have to go play more!

Jaliveto · June 28, 2007

the hobbit

That's well put. Expectations make this game difficult.

mhmob · June 29, 2007

I've found that sometimes a lesson will help, it can highlight the flaws that have crept back into the swing. But then you try to think too much, get too technical, and you need to jump ahead to that time when the positive swing changes have become ingrained and not conscious. Golfers must leave their brains on the range, and play without thinking too hard. Golf is the one place where Alzheimer's works! If we can forget what we just did, we are so much better off!

GolferGal2009 · June 29, 2007

I'm in one right now. Usually happens about 2 months into the season, for about two weeks. It looked like this, 74, 72, 76, 67,69, 85, 89, 95. Happened the last two seasons with the same type spike. Its a mental plateau. According to the only golf instruction I've ever had, Bobby Jones book On Golf, your body is generally ready to shoot lower scores than your mind. Your head starts to get in the way (too high expectations, trying to hit every shot perfectly, hitting good shots and getting upset with yourself because they are not perfect). Golf is a game that is best played in a happy mood and with fun in mind. I took a week off and when I go back out next monday, Im just going to hit the ball, and try to make good contact with every shot. Whatever happens happens, if good contact is my only thought, it usually works itself out, and all of a sudden I feel good again. Truth is, you can't make birdie off the tee, so don't get too worried about not hitting a perfect drive, if you just try and hit good shots one at a time things start to work out. I'm with you right now so I'm pumping myself up as well

thanks for this reply, it really helps

S70B · June 29, 2007

2 ways.

First is to just take a break for about a week or 2 then come back refreshed. I do that when I get too exasperated with the game.

Second is what I do more often. Look at the scorecard and analyse what you did wrong on the high scoring holes. Is it the drive? the approach shot, chipping or putting? Simple stats to work out the weakness in your game and spend more time practicing that. It should improve the next time round after working on it.

I was a very bad putter couple of years ago. Found that I had too many 3 putts for a single hdcper. So worked very hard on my putting and now am making a few birdies a round while having less 3 putts.

Now, if only I can get my 3 wood off the tee to go straight...

jackierobinson45 · June 29, 2007

I was in a slump much like yourself a couple weeks ago. I played in a tournament and shot 84, thought it was just nerves maybe, but next day I shot 81, didn't make the cut and ended up shoot only one round in the 70's out of my next 4 rounds and it was a 78. I kept trying to get out of the slump by playing two rounds a day and grinding it out on the range, but I found out it wasn't my swing it was really just my mindset. I was forcing the issue too much, and a good friend of mine said I just needed to take a little break. He told me that I shouldn't stop playing, but just stop playing competitively for a week or so, and just play a couple of care-free rounds with my buddies and that when I came back my game would be back. I took his advice. First my family went on a trip to Yosemite National Park to camp for a week and that was relaxing and a lot of fun. The next week I played three rounds of golf where I didn't keep score. The following week I played only two rounds and did keep score and posted a 71 and 70. I hope my story helps you out and don't worry too much about the slump.