[acneman]

Please share your thoughts and/or experiences with the same situation.

At the range today it took me a large, and I mean large, bucket to finally hit the balls correctly. I went through a number of different conditions during this time. Anger, embarrassment and confusion were at the top of the list.

The worst part is that I couldn't figure out why I couldn't hit the ball . That was until I started on the second bucket and the only thought I had going through my thick head was "Stop thinking and start swinging."

I didn't suffer any traumatic experience on the way to the course, nor did I have any distractions at the range which would have messed me up, so this is why I was so confused as to why I couldn't hit the ball. When I say that I couldn't hit the ball I am not exaggerating. To put a visual perspective on it I was hitting the ball like I was brand new to the game or each of my clubs was bent. I skulled them, sliced them and even whiffed a few. I normally play to a 12 handicap and rarely, if ever, shank a shot, so, again, I was thoroughly confused as to why this was happening.

Then, it dawned on me. Yesterday, I was looking at a web site with video lessons and today at the range thoughts of those lessons were creeping into my head and I was trying all of them at the same time. I backed off, took a stroll to re-wet my towel, cleared my head and returned to my spot on the range. This time, I thought of only one thing and that was to put my club into the back of the ball and send it to my target. About three or four balls later I was hitting them flush. Trust me, I was even thinking at one point before this that blades weren't for me. I've been playing the same clubs since the beginning of the year and have had zero problems.

What it comes down to is this: don't think more than you have to. It sounds so simple, but it's true.

Sorry about being so long, but I think this will help a lot of players in the same situation.