I think I need a shrink, jump in!

[shanx]

I have been battling "questionable contact" for years, my user name here discloses my malady, I still battle them from time to time.

 

After spending a lot of time and $$$$ trying to hit the ball solid, I have pretty much started over, and have learned how to hit the ball properly. 

 

Over time, spending hours hitting balls at the range has started to pay off, I can get through the bag without a single hosel rocket, top or chunk, I am hitting the ball farther and better than ever. Cuts, Draws, high or low, on the range I hit it like the single digit handicap I once was..

 

Then I get to the course, and it all seemingly flies out the window. Most of my misses happen later in the round, I have been walking/carrying every round, I still have some work to do on my fitness. 

 

This past weekend I played with a guy who I have been playing golf with since high school. After the round, he was commenting on my swing, and how it fell apart in the end. I did not have a great day ballstriking (as usual), he remembered when I beat him years ago and how good my swing was that day. His swing hasn't changed since HS, it's flawed, but its consistent. 

 

I don't have that, or I don't have it on the course. At the range, yes, consistency is easy...

 

I'm very frustrated, but will not yield! I don't want swing tips, video analysis etc. 

 

I need a shrink.

 

Any good books, or guidance to shore up the game between my ears?

[trilerian]

I've been working on swing changes for a bit now, and have even had 2 different swings.  But one thing I notice when I record my swings, and I have done that a lot in the past month, is how similar they look.  All I'm going to say is that on the range you can get into a groove and get your timing just right.  On the golf course a number of things can happen that can ruin your timing which make your flaws more visible.  

[badboggs]

It is so difficult to make real swing changes.  I would definitely not do it on your own.  You are way more likely to make a change that hurts you rather than help you.  As Monte says get to the root cause.  Or just let it all go and play atheletically.

[shanx]

11 minutes ago, badboggs said:

It is so difficult to make real swing changes.  I would definitely not do it on your own.  You are way more likely to make a change that hurts you rather than help you.  As Monte says get to the root cause.  Or just let it all go and play atheletically.

 

Been taking lessons for two years now, the "moves" are all there, just need to have it happen on the course instead of the range..

 

Your last comment describes my buddy's swing perfectly. He was a baseball player, and kinda has a baseball move in his swing. I hadn't played with him in a few years, his swing, ball flight etc, is exactly the same..

[me05501]

I know it sounds crazy, but pay attention to your hydration and food fuel on the course. If you're flagging late, consider downing a Gatorade at the turn and maybe having a little snack. 

 

Four plus hours in the sun will take a lot out of you if you don't stay ahead of it. 

[Long_Left]

9 minutes ago, me05501 said:

I know it sounds crazy, but pay attention to your hydration and food fuel on the course. If you're flagging late, consider downing a Gatorade at the turn and maybe having a little snack. 

 

Four plus hours in the sun will take a lot out of you if you don't stay ahead of it. 

This is huge, it's difficult to estimate your mental game while playing, but I've found help from snacking on the course. Now I always have a couple granola bars or some breakfast cracker/cookie things in my bag. I used to tell myself I played better when hungry, it's not true.

 

One other huge difference that I have worked on for the past year + as a fellow driving range "all star" is disconnecting from the result of the shot. I 100% play my best golf when I'm making a decision on a club and shot "type," picking a line and going for it. If I have my target in mind or really anything aside from putting a solid swing on it my results get significantly worse. On the range it's "I'm going to hit a fade at that tree" and on the course it has to be "I have a smooth 8 iron started over that divot (or grass or leaf etc) with a draw." Once you get to "This pin is tucked so I need to spin this with a cut" or "This has to carry that bunker or I'm hosed" your results will suffer. It's harder to execute than to say, but your driving range swing is with you on the course, you just have to trick your brain into using it!

 

 

[shanx]

24 minutes ago, me05501 said:

I know it sounds crazy, but pay attention to your hydration and food fuel on the course. If you're flagging late, consider downing a Gatorade at the turn and maybe having a little snack. 

 

Four plus hours in the sun will take a lot out of you if you don't stay ahead of it. 

 

The guys noted that I was a little "off" on the 18th tee. It was hot, humid and I walked/carried. I'm 54, not in great shape (hence the walking/carrying), but I am going to pick up a pull cart instead of carrying. I did drink water (2 full 24 oz bottles each side) and chugged a Gatorade at the turn. Ate a good breakfast, but didn't eat the protein bars in my bag at all. I usually grab a banana or two also. Will remember to eat on the course though...

 

 

4 minutes ago, Long_Left said:

This is huge, it's difficult to estimate your mental game while playing, but I've found help from snacking on the course. Now I always have a couple granola bars or some breakfast cracker/cookie things in my bag. I used to tell myself I played better when hungry, it's not true.

 

One other huge difference that I have worked on for the past year + as a fellow driving range "all star" is disconnecting from the result of the shot. I 100% play my best golf when I'm making a decision on a club and shot "type," picking a line and going for it. If I have my target in mind or really anything aside from putting a solid swing on it my results get significantly worse. On the range it's "I'm going to hit a fade at that tree" and on the course it has to be "I have a smooth 8 iron started over that divot (or grass or leaf etc) with a draw." Once you get to "This pin is tucked so I need to spin this with a cut" or "This has to carry that bunker or I'm hosed" your results will suffer. It's harder to execute than to say, but your driving range swing is with you on the course, you just have to trick your brain into using it!

 

 

 

My teacher thought I needed to really add a preshot routine and actually stick to it. I kinda go through something now, but I don't think it's working, or how effective it is. On the range, I just pick the target and beat balls at it. I'm also at least a club longer on the range than in actual play. My pro said that I seem to swing full bore on the range, but kinda chop at it on the course (we walked a few holes one lesson). 

 

The fear of hitting a hosel flare always creeps in on the course, on the range I just swing with no regard. On the course, my backswing is chopped off, on the range, it is long and free!

[SNIPERBBB]

Focus. You must learn focus.

 

Later in the rounds is when focus issues tend to crop up. Playing in a money game with my dad yesterday and after each bad shot on the back 9 he said he wasn't focus. Wanted to slap him silly.

[Long_Left]

1 hour ago, shanx said:

 

The guys noted that I was a little "off" on the 18th tee. It was hot, humid and I walked/carried. I'm 54, not in great shape (hence the walking/carrying), but I am going to pick up a pull cart instead of carrying. I did drink water (2 full 24 oz bottles each side) and chugged a Gatorade at the turn. Ate a good breakfast, but didn't eat the protein bars in my bag at all. I usually grab a banana or two also. Will remember to eat on the course though...

 

 

 

My teacher thought I needed to really add a preshot routine and actually stick to it. I kinda go through something now, but I don't think it's working, or how effective it is. On the range, I just pick the target and beat balls at it. I'm also at least a club longer on the range than in actual play. My pro said that I seem to swing full bore on the range, but kinda chop at it on the course (we walked a few holes one lesson). 

 

The fear of hitting a hosel flare always creeps in on the course, on the range I just swing with no regard. On the course, my backswing is chopped off, on the range, it is long and free!

You're not alone in the struggle 🙂

 

I would 100% recommend you "practice as you play" which means you're going through whatever routine you have before every swing on the range after you are warmed up. It certainly doesn't have to be some drawn out process, but if you want to perform in a similar fashion I find it to be a must to quiet my brain on the course. Mine is pretty simple, stand behind the ball, find my line to my target, set up, find my balance and go. Whole thing takes less than 10 seconds.

 

Every shot on the range has no "consequence" as you can just rake in another and stripe it so your mind lets you swing without fear of failure. The biggest difference on course is that last peek at the lake or the trees or the trap lets you make a snap decision to "give it a little extra" or "take a little off" or "bail out left" etc. If you know that 140-155 is safe and your holding a club you can confidently hit 150, you have to learn to be comfortable hitting it "good enough" to go 140... if the last thing you think with a 9 iron in your hands is that the 8 would be a smart play you're almost guaranteed to fail.

 

Being comfortable over the shot is a result of choosing the right shot before you ever swing and letting your brain go into automatic in my experience. My miss is also a short backswing, typically resulting in heavy contact, it happens primarily to me when I feel like I'm rushing, even if I'm not actually rushing.

 

 

[MikeSierra]

2 hours ago, me05501 said:

I know it sounds crazy, but pay attention to your hydration and food fuel on the course. If you're flagging late, consider downing a Gatorade at the turn and maybe having a little snack. 

 

Four plus hours in the sun will take a lot out of you if you don't stay ahead of it. 

 

This ^^, especially if its hot and humid.

 

Couple other suggestions..

 

You said you've done the practice and the movements are there, except on course. So stop going to the range and only play. Play nine holes or less if that's all you have time for, or hit a par 3 course late when not many people are there. Play multiple balls and don't keep score. You can hit draws, fades, high/low shot on the range. You need to transition that to the course.

 

Another suggestion I do sometimes is trick my myself into starting fresh every 6 holes. Everyone looks at their front nine and back nine scores, and sometimes that can hurt your score and and more importantly your mindset. Set a score in you'd like to be for the first six holes, -1, +1, +4... doesn't matter. But on the 7th hole repeat the process, and give yourself a fresh start. Do the same again on hole 13.

[tthomasgolfer605]

12 hours ago, shanx said:

 

 

 

 

My teacher thought I needed to really add a preshot routine and actually stick to it. I kinda go through something now, but I don't think it's working, or how effective it is. On the range, I just pick the target and beat balls at it. 

 

 

The answer is in your comment.

[shanx]

Great advice here...

 

Had time off yesterday, was planning on hitting the range, but decided to play 9 instead. I got out around 5, was all alone for the round.

 

Ended up playing better, developed a quick preshot and stuck with it.

 

Since I am struggling to get a full backswing, I decided to take a club less on every "in between" yardage and try to "go after it" and take a full backswing. I got a few to the target, a few fell short. Also tried to keep the head down and hit down on the ball too. Still hit a few clunkers, but there were a few holes where I emptied the bag and hit every ball I had on me..

[Ghostwedge]

" keeping the head down " try keeping eye line level and releasing the head with the swing ( think Annika and Henrik) instead.

Sometime when practicing on the course, place a tee next to your iron approach shots, check to make sure the divot is front side of the tee. Simple stuff that works for me.

[Barfolomew]

Practice on the course!  Serves many purposes.  Its real practice.  Also familiarizes your nervous system to relax on the course.  Play late in the day when no one on course and hit many from same spot.

 

You're getting tired!  Happens to me too,  I'm working on it and made a HUGE difference at the end of rounds.  I was known for mailing it in at end of rounds.  You need your energy levels up at end of rounds.

 

 

 

 

[shanx]

Walked 18 last night, added a push cart instead of carrying.

 

I was still tired on the final few holes, but not as bad as earlier. I ate a protien bar, drank a Gator Aid, tons of water. The push cart did make walking better though, I felt better walking up the 18th this time. I managed to hit the best tee shot of the day off the 18th tee, so something was better this round!

 

I hit a pile more greens, shot an 80 (missed the par putt on 18 for 79). Was in a much better frame of mind all round, even after hitting a few clunkers along the way.

 

The clunkers happened when I tried to "force" things. On the 13th, a long par 4 with a slight dogleg right, I hit a long drive that didn't "cut", so I was in a bad spot and needed to draw/hook around a tree. I setup for a draw/hook, but flared one right (it never hooked). On the tee on the 17th (164yd par 3), I tried to smoke an 8 iron (with a draw), but ended up flaring one out to the right again. 

 

 

[phizzy30]

Until you get your fitness/stamina up to speed, you may want to consider either getting a motorized push cart or ride in a golf cart.  I know for me when I tire out towards the end of the round, my swing can get sloppy and my hips stop rotating.  I have to focus even harder to make sure I don't do that.  As for not being able to take it out on the course, it sounds mostly mental. 

Edited June 28, 2021 by phizzy30

[nlk10010]

You can't judge progress without a proper baseline.

 

If you're tired and weak you won't be able to rotate completely. You also won't be able to keep your head back and maintain pelvis separation, it takes a lot of effort to do that. You'll drift forward, top and scuff the ball. If you don't have a fixed preshot routine then your address and setup position will be all over the place. You at least need to have a consistent place from which to start your swing.

 

Not only is the range misleading because you get into a "rhythm", IF you hit off mats then you won't see the consequences of fat shots.

 

Look, I'm a terrible golfer and I don't like to make excuses for myself. But I'm also fairly intelligent and know there's nothing to be gained by trying to pretend that my physical and mental condition (either because I've had no sleep or it's really hot or I've been driving a lot or I've been working really hard on a research paper) has absolutely no effect on my swing. You know "if I was a REAL golfer with a REAL swing then it wouldn't matter if I only got two hours of sleep or it's 90 degrees or..." well, you get the idea. If you want to be REALISTIC and face facts, first make sure you are in reasonable condition, both physically and mentally, and you're precise in your setup. THEN you can analyze.

 

Good Luck.

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by nlk10010

[GLF4EVR]

My experience is the range & the course exist in 2 different worlds.  Can be out on the range & hit shot after shot pretty dang close to where I actually am wanting the ball to go.  Then get on the course I fight like crazy to even get on the green.

 

I have a pre shot routine very close to what @Long_Left uses.  I use that on every shot on the range & the course.  For me the routine is like "keeping the basics", in focus.  Where I want the ball to go.  What will tend to get me screwed up on the course is just trying that little bit harder than I do on the range to place the ball near where my minds eye is focusing.  Vast majority of the time this will just throw my tempo off slightly.  May be taking the backswing a bit faster or starting my transition too quickly.  Then the other little things will pop up now & then, like looking up.  Had this going on yesterday.  Front nine was all over the place & fought to pull a 47 out of it with a mulligan on a ball that all of us saw, but could not find the dang ball.  By the 5th hole I start taking some practice swings before shots just to get the tempo back.  Birdie the 6th, then the 7th is where we could not find the ball so take a double.  By the back I am at least in the ballpark (outfield anyway), on ball striking.  Sitting 3 over on the 16th before the rain & hail comes in to take care of the rest of the round. 

 

Thinking your issue may be close to mine....the mental aspect.  There are many good posts on here for things for all of us to work on.  About the only suggestion I can make is finding the pre shot routine that works for you.  Once I have the club & shot in mind, I stand behind the ball & pick my target for where I want the ball to go.  Once I have that line, I step into the shot with using that line to get my feet parallel to it.  Kind of like stepping into the batters box.  Ball position is dependent on the club & shot I want to hit.  Once I am set, all I think about is where I want the ball to go.  Get all of the other crap out of my head before I get set, like keep your head down this time you big dummy!

 

Basically wanted to post this just to let ya know you are not alone.  Just keep working at it & find what works for you.  That is about the only tip I can give ya from my perspective.  Always think back to the Ben Hogan line about the hardest distance in golf.....6 inches, the space between your ears.

[Soloman1]

Many people get into a ball striking slump from two things.

One, they try too hard to increase their backswing and it hurts their balance and rhythm.

Two, they get a little too flat.

 

If you want to know how far your backswing should be, kneel on the floor and take a slow backswing with an iron.

If you want some crisper iron contact, choke up a little (~1/2"), hover the club head behind the ball and swing a little more upright. Hopefully, you'll hit a little lower on the face, which is where good contact should be.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Soloman1

[shanx]

2 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Until you get your fitness/stamina up to speed, you may want to consider either getting a motorized push cart or ride in a golf cart.  I know for me when I tire out towards the end of the round, my swing can get sloppy and my hips stop rotating.  I have to focus even harder to make sure I don't do that.  As for not being able to take it out on the course, it sounds mostly mental. 

 

Yeah, adding the push cart was a big step for me, I hate them and loved carrying my own bag.

 

My stamina and fitness are pretty much tied to me walking the course now. Aside form walking at lunch, or nature hikes with the kids, golf is my exercise. I won't go back to riding anytime soon, I walk a few rounds a week now...