What do you do when you absolutely lose your game?

[Rdailey9108]

I've been in the lower 80s all year. Now all of the sudden I can't break 90. Driver is all over the place. Irons all over the place. Hitting pulls or over top slices when I weaken my grip. Pulls are huge problem for me. Only thing that is saving me is my short game is pretty good. 

 

Thing I'm worried about is I have a golf trip in 2 weeks to North Carolina and some of the courses seem tough so I know I need to have my game in check or it's gonna be a long trip. 

 

Should I go back to basics? 

[SNIPERBBB]

Live on the range, go through your checklists, get some video and dig it back out of the dirt. That's what I do anyways when Im in trouble 

Edited October 13, 2023 by SNIPERBBB

[getitdaily]

Do you know the 2-4 things that cause your problems?

 

[wagolfer7]

Trip in 2 weeks, I'd be cautious here.  Don't try to rebuild the swing prior to a big golf trip.  

 

#1) Get off this forum.  Bad idea to apply a million golf tips in 2 weeks. 

#2) Work on simple things for consistency.  Even if it's a slice, if it's consistent, it's playable with a good short game

#3) Work on Alignment - usually where a real bad shot comes into play, alignment has a role in it

#4) Tempo - again something consistent

#5) Grip - quit changing it, keep it consistent and live it with for now

 

Hope you play good enough that it's enjoyable.  Have a good trip.

 

Maybe after the trip you can look at technique and mechanics.  It's common for guys at that level to go through good and bad runs.  Some times the timing and compensations are workings, others it's not.  

 

[jholz]

I generally go for a "hard-reset."

 

I take a couple of weeks off from the course and just focus on range work and practice. 

For me, I'm typically struggling with something I've struggled with before - but that doesn't guarantee anything about the solution I might have found last time. 

 

Somewhere between fundamentals and the particular way I execute them - I find (or not) that groove again.  

Yay golf!

[Pepperturbo]

30 minutes ago, Rdailey9108 said:

I've been in the lower 80s all year. Now all of the sudden I can't break 90. Driver is all over the place. Irons all over the place. Hitting pulls or over top slices when I weaken my grip. Pulls are huge problem for me. Only thing that is saving me is my short game is pretty good. 

 

Thing I'm worried about is I have a golf trip in 2 weeks to North Carolina and some of the courses seem tough so I know I need to have my game in check or it's gonna be a long trip. 

 

Should I go back to basics? 

When you're unsure about something, you need to recall the basics and persevere.  Hit the range with a purpose of what needs to be practiced and stick with it until you feel progress, then stay with it until you leave.  It's mind over matter.   You have to believe in yourself, otherwise, what happened will again. 

 

Sounds to me like you're sloppy when it comes to attention to details.  Attention to details, includes applying basics when over the ball, it's vital to solid ball striking.   Strike the ball well, scoring takes care of itself.  Mind over matter.

 

 

[Mcgeeno]

2 weeks gives you some time to reset. Half swings at the range, dig it out of the dirt etc. Get the alignment sticks out and start working. Get the video out and see if something has changed. 

 

I've had to play tournaments and matches hitting punch draws just to post a score when things have gone off the rails with no time to work things out. 

 

 

[BombinJim]

Keep the throttle down on the short game, sounds like it is saving you. Don’t change grip with driver just spend some time on the range and try to understand your misses.

[Pepperturbo]

22 minutes ago, Mcgeeno said:

I've had to play tournaments and matches hitting punch draws just to post a score when things have gone off the rails with no time to work things out. 

 👏

 

Been there, done that... 👍

[JohnnyCashForever]

I keep a checklist of my swing keys on an index card.  I keep that index card in my golf bag and look at it before every range session and every round.  If you're not doing something similar, it's a little too late, but once you find your swing again, I would do the index card thing.

 

@Valtiel had a great post in another thread about why we lose our swing: 

 

 

[phizzy30]

24 minutes ago, jholz said:

I generally go for a "hard-reset."

 

I take a couple of weeks off from the course and just focus on range work and practice. 

For me, I'm typically struggling with something I've struggled with before - but that doesn't guarantee anything about the solution I might have found last time. 

 

Somewhere between fundamentals and the particular way I execute them - I find (or not) that groove again.  

Yay golf!

That's what I do except that I take a complete break from golf for 2-3 weeks.  Muscle memory is very real and once bad habits/movements are ingrained in any sport, it's tough to work through unless a hard reset is done IMO. 

[Fuscinator]

I just keep going through my vast catalogue of swings until one of them works. Then, I stick with that one until it too fails, and I start running through the catalogue again. 

[CSagan]

Check grip alignment posture and relax hit some balls tension free. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

Writing down the process correction once you discover it is a good idea. I did that just yesterday when I worked through some recent struggles. Even just writing it down enhances recall.

 

Take a break for a few days and dial back the golf exposure. (Hard to do, I know)

 

Alignment problems are generally the issue for folks that usually are striking well and then suddenly are not. It has been every time for me. Though, taking a break to clear your head is an important part of the process. 🙂
 

 

[AnthonyC143]

Lots of great info in here!  I narrow my stance, take quarter swings then moce to half swings until I pure the ball over and over again.  I keep going until I can do it with a regular swing.  I rather tweak it in small sections than in a full swing.

 

Break it down into manageable sections to fix it.

[MonteScheinblum]

 

 

While all of the answers are logical and somewhat helpful, there’s only one real answer.

 

Unless your name is Tiger Woods 2000’s or Jack Nicklaus 1970’s, it’s golf.  Most often, the harder you try to pull yourself out, the longer the “lost my game” stays with you and often, you groove a current bad habit, or add some new ones. 
 

Get your setup right, work on your biggest fault….which is what everyone should be doing at any given moment and keep your routine of practice and play constant.  

[b.mattay]

1 hour ago, MonteScheinblum said:

 

 

While all of the answers are logical and somewhat helpful, there’s only one real answer.

 

Unless your name is Tiger Woods 2000’s or Jack Nicklaus 1970’s, it’s golf.  Most often, the harder you try to pull yourself out, the longer the “lost my game” stays with you and often, you groove a current bad habit, or add some new ones. 
 

Get your setup right, work on your biggest fault….which is what everyone should be doing at any given moment and keep your routine of practice and play constant.  

Very true! Most of my good results in tournaments come while I'm convinced my golf swing absolutely sucks and I play anyways and focus on process. 

[naval2006]

I sometimes say I’ll take a week off but next day I’m again on the first tee with the gang.  

[gripandrip]

When my game goes to hell, it is usually only one thing that is off. Don’t jump around trying change everything. My last issue was a shoulder injury. Had to play in a tournament with a sore shoulder and was altering my takeaway to prevent pain without realizing it.

 

Went back the basic drills I have used in the past, and it was pretty obvious…. And not too difficult to get back from.

[getitdaily]

OP dropped the thread and then dropped out of it. 

 

Guess it's time consuming watching YouTube videos and trying every "this will change your game" move...

[ShortGolfer]

This is where having an instructor that knows your swing can be really helpful.  That person can easily spot something you are doing differently to throw off your swing.

 

I recently realized my grip was getting too weak from all the wedge game practice so my 5 iron going to the right, straight into the trees!

Not only did I fix it after the round, but I discovered that my old 4 iron was much easier to swing and put it back in the bag instead of my 5 iron!

 

At work I was tasked with fixing other people's problems.  Fixing my swing is so much easier!

Edited October 14, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[Rdailey9108]

10 hours ago, MonteScheinblum said:

 

 

While all of the answers are logical and somewhat helpful, there’s only one real answer.

 

Unless your name is Tiger Woods 2000’s or Jack Nicklaus 1970’s, it’s golf.  Most often, the harder you try to pull yourself out, the longer the “lost my game” stays with you and often, you groove a current bad habit, or add some new ones. 
 

Get your setup right, work on your biggest fault….which is what everyone should be doing at any given moment and keep your routine of practice and play constant.  

I think that's my biggest problem is I'm allowing myself to mentally give up before I even have a chance to hit a shot. I noticed when I didn't care about the result and just picked my target and swung that my results were better. I think when i obsess with the result and avoiding my miss that the miss happens anyway. I figured that the pros go through rough patches as well shooting in the 80s and missing cuts so I guess it happens all the time even to elite players. 

[Rdailey9108]

2 hours ago, getitdaily said:

OP dropped the thread and then dropped out of it. 

 

Guess it's time consuming watching YouTube videos and trying every "this will change your game" move...

I'm still here it's impossible to reply to 20 people. I read the replies.

[Rdailey9108]

18 hours ago, getitdaily said:

Do you know the 2-4 things that cause your problems?

 

I'd say over the top, hips too active which I guess is shoulders spinning out as well, inconsistent contact, and overswinging. My shoulders also tend to be too open at times.

[RSinSG]

15 hours ago, Mikey_HACKilroy said:

Alignment problems are generally the issue for folks that usually are striking well and then suddenly are not.

This is me. When I’m at the range I always use an alignment stick because for some reason I slowly end up aiming right off where I think I am. The other day on a 135 yd par 3 I hit what I thaws a perfect shot only to see it land off the green right. My buddy who was behind me said it was exactly where I was aiming and I had no clue.

 

I think what happens to me is I gradually start creeping to the right and then when I keep hitting ball right I end up adjusting my swing which leads to all kinds of problems. I have to consciously focus on every shot’s alignment in my PSR which i sometimes get sloppy with. 

[Klubster]

When this happens to me, I throw away all swing thoughts but one.  Relax and "Turn away-turn back".  A few relaxed, well struck shots can do wonders.

[nitram]

Stop overthinking it!!

Go back to basics (grip, stance, alignment, etc), and do what it takes to keep the ball in play. If that means you have to take an extra club or two to hit a quality shot, so be it. Half and three-quarter shots are your ally when you're not playing your best.

[Rdailey9108]

4 minutes ago, nitram said:

Stop overthinking it!!

Go back to basics (grip, stance, alignment, etc), and do what it takes to keep the ball in play. If that means you have to take an extra club or two to hit a quality shot, so be it. Half and three-quarter shots are your ally when you're not playing your best.

The real problem practically yesterday was the driver. I'm lefty and everything was going either pulls or snap hooks. I hit 4 good drives yesterday. The rest were either blocks left or the pulls/snap hooks. 

[OnTheBag]

19 hours ago, wagolfer7 said:

Trip in 2 weeks, I'd be cautious here.  Don't try to rebuild the swing prior to a big golf trip.  

 

#1) Get off this forum.  Bad idea to apply a million golf tips in 2 weeks. 

#2) Work on simple things for consistency.  Even if it's a slice, if it's consistent, it's playable with a good short game

#3) Work on Alignment - usually where a real bad shot comes into play, alignment has a role in it

#4) Tempo - again something consistent

#5) Grip - quit changing it, keep it consistent and live it with for now

 

Hope you play good enough that it's enjoyable.  Have a good trip.

 

Maybe after the trip you can look at technique and mechanics.  It's common for guys at that level to go through good and bad runs.  Some times the timing and compensations are workings, others it's not.  

 

I've read the whole thread and this is the best advice given.  I've caddied several thousands of rounds for professionals and everyone loses their swing at some point.  Most often, what you describe boils down to inconsistent setup and ball position.  

 

With two weeks left before your trip, avoid major changes and just find something consistent.

 

Good luck.  Now get off this forum and go to the range.

[getitdaily]

2 hours ago, Rdailey9108 said:

I'd say over the top, hips too active which I guess is shoulders spinning out as well, inconsistent contact, and overswinging. My shoulders also tend to be too open at times.

Your 2 or 3 biggest flaws never go away. They always have to be managed.

 

Go back to how you manage your key flaws and you'll "find" your game.