I wanted to quit golf... Yesterday I shot my best-ever round.

[elpollosuperloco]

A while back I posted about wanting to quit golf. I'd been playing and practicing very hard for nearly two years, and I was still a 20+ handicap. I'd spent thousands on lessons, and it just wasn't happening. The game wasn't fun anymore. Folks gave responses varying from "just take a breather" to "quit bro" to many giving earnest swing advice and even expressing a similar sentiment. I think it made people feel like they had a dark secret -- that they also wondered about quitting -- in common that they were too afraid to admit.

 

I took the advice, distilled it, and took a few steps.

 

• First, I took a small break from golf. Didn't think about it, touch my clubs, or do anything else. I even abandoned my post here on the forum, not wanting to even engage one brain cell into thinking about it further.
   
• Second, I fired my golf coach. He's renowned where I'm from, but after eight hours I wasn't appreciably better and although we agreed on how a lot of things in the golf swing worked, I felt like what he was trying to get me to do was awkward and leaned toward band-aid material rather than true fixes.
   
• Third, I tried to teach myself a little bit. Get my weird swing to be consistent. This was the first hiccup, because it did not work at all. Even just trying to "feel" a shot out rather than do video analysis and concentrate on details didn't help me at all. It just got me frustrated that my zen approach didn't work. My attitude at this point was that maybe golf isn't something I'm going to be good at. That really sucked, but I could see starting to accept that.
   
• Fourth, I got feedback here about getting hooked up with Monte. I also had previously had a call in with a new instructor at my home course so I went through with that. I told the new guy that I wasn't looking for a long-term thing, just some fixes to get me hitting it straighter with driver and woods only. This was the turning point. Some lower body movement to fix my reverse pivot, all by feel and zero "technical" instruction, led me to be able to hit straight drives for maybe the first time all season.
   
• Fifth, I played as practice, using the new lower body feel on the course. This was the second thing that clicked for me. All of a sudden it seemed possible for me to play well. That led to the biggest thing of all...
   
• Sixth, I played an experimental round where I either hit driver to a playable position in/near the fairway or (once) if I couldn't get a couple balls in a hittable area, I dropped middle of the fairway and played my second shot from there. My assertion has always been that I play the rest of the game well enough to make me happy, it's just driving I'm crap at. The result? Turns out if my first shot is near the fairway and not constantly under the damn trees I play pretty well. A course I typically shoot low 90s at I shot 79. Point proved.
   
• Seventh, I went back to the new instructor and we continued working on a feel, this time keeping the arms connected with simple feel. Wow did this make a difference. All of a sudden I'm getting closer to having a one way miss, and my drives are all much longer and the misses are less severe. I can compensate aim for my miss, and put the ball generally where I want to. I also told him I was very happy, but I'm not in maniac mode anymore and I'll take another lesson whenever I feel like it.

 

This culminated with, yesterday, me scoring my best-ever round of golf at 84. That's two better than I've ever shot in my life. I almost lost it near the end, and of course once I realized what I was on course for my chances to make pars and birdies diminished and I was mostly fighting off doubles. So it could have been even better. When I finished I quietly told my playing partners what the deal was, and it was great! But, since I had sort of unclenched about the whole thing, it was also more even-keeled. If I had shot 84 two months ago I would have lost my mind in celebration and been on cloud nine. But I've realized I can't base all my happiness from hobbies in how I score in golf. It's completely unhealthy.

I then followed that up by shooting 87 on the sister course this morning. I could have easily shot 85 or 84 again. WOW.

 

My takeaways are: taking a break is sometimes a good thing, even if you really do not want to. But also, sometimes you just have to keep looking for the right thing. Honestly, as much as I wanted to,  the advice of "just find a way to enjoy it" was really hard. Playing with friends, who play to score, makes it hard to play how I want. If I wanted to truly enjoy golf and reset myself I would do what a lot of us wish we could do: bad shot? Drop a ball! Hit again! Duff a chip? f*** that! Hit again! First two drives are duck hooks? Hit a third! Set up camp on the tee, take out a mortgage on the place for god's sake. Because hitting a bad golf shot sucks so much a** and we're out here paying for it. I want to enjoy it! And you can't do that with people around waiting for you to take what's really your 150th stroke of the day.

 

What worked for me, in all honesty, was taking a break and finding just one more swing instructor who "gets" me. It clicked. It's no pressure, it's easy, and I'm not going to try to get much better than I am right now. Or at least, I'm not currently motivated to do so. Some of my drives and stuff were just so good today, who wants anything more than to pure the hell out of the thing? I loved it. Shooting mid-80s is as good as I ever dreamed of being. And while this isn't some big life lesson, and it's unique to me, the reality is sometimes you've got to try everything you have at your disposal, including trying nothing.

 

Eventually, it might work. It might not, too. But for your sake, if you're ever in my same situation, I hope it works out for you too.

 

See you in the fairway.

[Hawkeye77]

That's it, I'm quitting! ?

[miamistomp]

 Awesome

 

   I find that going out and " hit until you are happy" does wonders for the golf sou[

[BlueDragonKorea]

Congrats man! That attitude will help you improve quickly. Next thing you know, you’ll be posting on how you broke 80... ?

[Jtgavigan]

Love that you have found some happiness. As I believe I told you, I have taken a few breaks and given myself some space. It is ok. 

 

Finding the RIGHT instructor is a huge plus also. I just started taking lessons again (low single digits and about to be 50, but want to compete some when i turn 50). I wouldnt trust my swing to just anyone. Found a guy i like and the 1st lesson will likely unlock some consistency i never had. So, yeah, that chemistry matters.... a lot! 

 

So happy for you!

[EMA1]

Congratulations!! Sounds like you’ve made some great breakthroughs. 

[evolvingwildes]

Congrats on the new low round and finding a swing instructor that clicks! Golf's weird sometimes in that more often than not your first few rounds back after a long hiatus end up going surprisingly well. Taking a break every once in a while can actually be very beneficial.

[eastriver]

great post. v glad to hear it.

[kozubs]

This is great hearing you turned the corner and are enjoying yourself.  As stated above, It wouldn't surprise me in the least if you break 80 soon.  You seem to be really working at it and just had a couple issues holding you back.   Hopefully the trend will continue.  

[trilerian]

Congrats on the new low round.  Keep up the hard work!

[llewol007]

Unless golf is a job where you rely on it to make a living then cut yourself a break, take a deep breath from the game, reassess what was and was not working and slowing implement little things to see what affects it does on your game. That is what I realized and took away from your post OP. That is the game of golf. One day you are playing the best golf ever and suddenly, you cant hit a chip to save your life. Enjoy the victory and on to the next one. Now dont over think what you have done and over complicate it again. Have 1 or 2 take aways and take that to your next round. You will be shooting the scores you want soon enough. 

[Chip Duffer]

I am really happy for you Elpollosuperloco! 
 

Great life lessons in there, for all of us. I’m glad you shared your experiences with us.

 

congrats on the newfound joy and the lower scores that are now yours.

Edited August 26, 2020 by Twin2L

[Steve P OAK]

Totally get where you are coming from.  Trust is the most important thing.  You have to trust the changes you are making and keep up with them.  Best advice I heard was  that we all have a swing DNA, and it is 99% incorrect.  We always have to fight against this swing DNA in order to be consistent.  Some can do it be rigorous practice, some by athletic talent, and others just tweak around the margins and live with it.  In the end, we all want to look like DJ or A. Scott or Rory, but hitting it straight and scoring always makes the game more fun LOL.  Now time to break 80 consistently!

[1mcozik]

The best golf is playing I dont care golf. I normally just focus on hitting the fairway from the tee box and trying get on the green without trying for hero golf.

 

Makes life easier.

Edited August 29, 2020 by 1mcozik

[platgof]

I was in the same boat for awhile, super frustration with my swing. My driver was killing my game, then I remember people on this forum talking about cutting their drivers to 44 1/2".  I was ready for anything, so I chopped the G Max to 44 1/2". My next round was 43, and I left a lot out there, so this is very positive. The shortened driver will now put the pressure on the rest of the clubs, and show their weaknesses. I played nine and hit all the fairways, impressed. We all have to find the happy medium. 

[mjforn]

I've felt your pain, Elpollosuperloco. I think everyone here has a golf coach story that just didn't work. Thats why a lot of us don't take leasons, afraid of the guy who wants to reinvent the wheel. 

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by mjforn

[mahonie]

I’ve been playing 40 years give or take. Got down to a self-taught 10 handicap with my only ambition to have a single-figure handicap if only for a week. (9.6 is my lowest and now back up to 11).

 

A couple of years ago I had 2 rounds in my club championship of 92/93 and seriously felt like giving the game up. Instead I re-read Bob Rotella’s ‘Your 15th Club.’

 

The following weekend I shot 76 (equalling my best ever round) with same clubs, same swing, same everything. Back in love with the game, the following weekend I shot 85 and back to normal ?

 

Life lesson for me - I realised that there is no way to beat golf you just have to play for those rounds where the majority of things go right and take time to enjoy the good shots...and forget the bad ones.

[blueonblack]

Good stuff. Have taken "the break" a few times over the decades myself.

 

Curious: the new instructor seemed to give you the "break through." Was wondering why you didn't go back to them for the 2nd lesson? Sounds like its all working though!

[Sean2]

Well done! Not just for the score, but sticking with it. 

[ClubBuildRookie]

Nice job powering thru the rough patch.  When you make great shots, learn to bookmark them in your brain.  As soon as you see it’s a great shot, start reflecting on everything you just did to make that shot.  Reflect on your setup, hand and finger positions, form, feel and follow thru and click the save button.  The more you take the time to reflect on the inputs that went into making the great shot, the more dots you’ll connect along the way that leads to creating the desired outputs more frequently.  If you make a bad shot, don’t get upset as it the worst thing to do.  Learn to find and connect the ugly dots just the same.  Before you know it, you’ll be connecting the dots and regularly besting your bests and just looking for more dots to connect.

[dlygrisse]

Seriously.  You should quit.  You aren’t mentally or emotionally stable enough for golf.  I would recommend video games, anything that doesn’t involve reality would be ideal.  

[Roejye]

congratulations on the personal best. Just be careful of giving yourself too high expectations. I shot my personal best recently and have played a few rounds since then, Most +9 or higher, one even in the mid 50's. I was really disgusted with myself, I took the mental step back and looked at my scores, considering my skill level I was actually playing quite consistently, I was "due" for that round in the mid 50's (leaving the driver at home on a full length course didn't help).