[broksaksaak]

Hey bumpnrun. Last night my swing left me. Couldnt hit a flush shot to save my life. Even hit a 4 iron off the hosel. Shot 45 and felt so defeated. I'm hoping it was just last night this happened.

[mosypeSom]

Outside of a solid routine and sticking with it.. Pressure and Tension is the secret to golf. My playing partner has the same problem. He has been playing for 8 years and got me into golf last year. At the range hit hits great shot no problem. Put him on the course with two other guys he doesn't know and he falls apart. To many guys take golf to serious. We are ment to go out and enjoy it. Even when our game leaves us. Were all trying to make golf a game of perfect.

[Svatudjw]

I played in a competitive tournament for the first time yesterday. It was nothing serious, a 9 hole blind draw scramble, but it was my first time. I arrived at the course to warm up only to find the range was closed for maintenence (who does that!). Oh well, more time to putt and chip.

I get my team assignment and head out to the assigned hole. After some introductions we get started. The first guy sets up for a fade that doesn't, I hit a weak pull fade and thankfully the next guy nails one to position A.

I think first swing jitters but on my second shot I hit a topper with my 3 wood. Then for the next 8 holes I hit weak pull fades with my driver and s***k every iron in my bag. Thank goodness we have a player on the team and he is on. We come to our 8th hole 4 under though I have contributed nothing but one drive that we were forced to use. I am humiliated. So after another weak tee shot and a s***ked approach we are lieing 10' off the green when by a miracle I manage to chip it in for birdie which gets us to -5 for the win. I then proceed to s***k a 7 iron on the next tee box.

I barely sleept last night thinking my golfing hobby is over, can't focus at work this morning. Finally I give up and head to the (now open) range. No Problems. I hit a whole bucket with only 1 slightly fat 6 iron.

My game goes hot and cold sometimes but never like this.

Anyone else have this happen?

[DoctorDeryOne]

It happened to me very recently. Played 2 holes, and was hitting the ball great, and then poof...it was gone. I had so many problems the next few rounds I played as well as range sessions, that I just could not take it anymore. I broke down, and started getting some lessons. The change has been drastic after only 2 lessons. I have posted what has been happening at them if you are curious at th thread entitle "My first real lesson". Keep you chin up, and head down (sorry, little golf humor), and it will come back with just a little work.

[kranfid]

This is normal to me. I'll hit fine or even good at the range = to me, but when I go to play it is like a whole different game. Different facilities so usually different days but you'd never recognize the two different games I play. Sounds like a bad day is all.

[CGECngjA]

Playing under any kind of pressure, even the weakest pressure, can have a negative effect on your game if you don't know how to work through it. Keep playing competitive golf as much as possible and you will get better at it. It takes time. Don't forget to use a pre-shot routine and the other devices that will help you to be more confident with the shot, like aiming over a spot on the ground in front of the ball instead of staring down that narrow tree lined fairway. Also hit as many balls as possible every day. It is all about preparation, confidence and nerves or lack of same.

[PickEmUp]

I think it was a pressure thing. When it comes to tournament time you have those watchful eyes on you. You try to impress everybody including yourself. Nerves can take the best swing out there and wreck havoc on it. Somehow you got to give yourself some mental toughness practice time. Practicing golf shots is all good however without the practice on the mental game, it can be a scary adventure. Books like "Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect" & "Your 15th Club" by Dr. Bob Rotella and "Extraordinary Golf - The Art of the Possible" by Fred ShoeMaker is a good start. Good luck with the nerves bumpnrun. Some people handle it better than others. I think those of us who are afraid of failure, are the ones who let pressure affect them the most.

[Eagevawax]

been there

last May, playing the Nicklaus Grizzley course

we were playing 2 on 2 match play, im sitting in the middle of the fairway on 1 and then I hit my iron straight sideways to the right

proceeded to do this for most of the round, the only time I didnt was when I hit by putting my feet together.

very discouraging, but it happens I worked through it and am at least heading in the right direction.

For me it was just too much movement with the lower body, from time to time I do it with a wedge and I know immediately what the problem is.

Dont give up, just a hurdle to clear!

[broksaksaak]

I had this happen once years ago when I played Torrey Pines. I all of a sudden developed a slice with my driver. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. Every other club was fine.

When I got home I played and it went away. Just a hiccup in my swing that I fixed. Sounds like it's all you had as well. Try to focus and make sure you repeat your correct swing on the course and the range.

[Eagevawax]

I had this happen once years ago when I played Torrey Pines. I all of a sudden developed a slice with my driver. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. Every other club was fine.

When I got home I played and it went away. Just a hiccup in my swing that I fixed. Sounds like it's all you had as well. Try to focus and make sure you repeat your correct swing on the course and the range.

sounds like me, cause now I have a bit of a slice too, hoping it works itself out

[uchetrip]

I lost my swing late January after 2 great rounds, I've been working my way back including a set of lessons. You'll get through it, change your grips maybe that'll help.

[Prealiitellg]

I had the same problem and my friends do too but i get them fixed in a heartbeat. The pull fade is just coming over the top and cutting across the ball. The shank is doing the same thing, however with an iron you have a hosel that gets in the way and zooooooooom off to the right it goes.

Point of matter is: you need to find the "slot". Keep your head from swaying back and forth AND make sure that when your club gets to the top your first move is with your pelvis moving slightly toward the target and up!

You can do it in your house right now, take your club to the top. Stop. Then shift your pelvis slightly toward the target and up, youll feel the club "fall". Notice how its "falling" on an inside path closer to your body than you are with you "bad" swing.
Youll never shank again and your irons will be 100% crisp!
Move over Michael Breed

[abishiots]

Yep, I don't like to talk about it though in fear of it coming back. I get the wedge hosel rockets every year and am honestly scarred for the rest of my golf career because those thoughts always come into my head, they won't go away.

[broksaksaak]

sounds like me, cause now I have a bit of a slice too, hoping it works itself out

A little advice then. Bring the driver straight back in the take away. This is what I was doing wrong causing me to have an inside swing. It will help you to make the follow through swinging out at your target.

[Eagevawax]

A little advice then. Bring the driver straight back in the take away. This is what I was doing wrong causing me to have an inside swing. It will help you to make the follow through swinging out at your target.

worth a shot, thanks

the othe rthing I know is that I sometimes get to quick starting the downswing, I need to work on a nice smooth tempo

[optormtix]

Yes. I shot a 100 in a member-member tourny. It was terrible. First hole I hit 2 balls off tee into the bushes. It was like my swing went away and I forgot how to swing. I do not like to think about it too much.

[popsicesHoupe]

Yep, I don't like to talk about it though in fear of it coming back. I get the wedge hosel rockets every year and am honestly scarred for the rest of my golf career because those thoughts always come into my head, they won't go away.

Had those for 2 rounds last week and couldn't fix it for 4 days. 4 days straight at the range and for the life of me couldn't figure out what I was doing. Ended up I was setting up with the ball too far back in my stance. It was funny how I noticed it. The last day at the range I had about 3 balls left and just grabbed my wedge and walked up and didn't pay attention to where the ball was positioned and hit 2 balls in a row perfect, on the last ball it dawned on me what I was doing wrong before. Hosel rockets are gone, for now.

[Eviftilia]

Some times that first shot can set the tone for the day. When I start with a good drive I generally feel better and more confident throughout the round and end up with a better score. If I string a couple bad shots together I tend to try to hard to hit the perfect shot the next time and that usually makes things worse for me.

[Svatudjw]

Yep, I don't like to talk about it though in fear of it coming back. I get the wedge hosel rockets every year and am honestly scarred for the rest of my golf career because those thoughts always come into my head, they won't go away.

I know what you mean, you feel completely powerless. It was like Roy McEvoy from Tin Cup before the US open.

[legal-advicer]

Yep, I doubt there's anyone on here who hasn't had that same experience at one time or another. It's mostly nerves, followed by a complete loss of the mind caused by the first couple of hosel rockets. It's never pleasant, but in the end, I always overcome it, whether in a day or in a couple of weeks.