Need Advice !! What would you do ??

BUACHAILL

Ok guys I genuinely need some help here.

As everyone is aware its Barton Cup season and pressure is on to make teams, play well, get results etc..

Now here is my problem, I have done the first few bits right been playing very solid upto about 2 weeks ago, made the team and our first game is this sat against European club and I am away !! I have started to play awful stuff in last two weeks and just cant pick it up, everything is hooking which is not the game you want going to the European club, I got myself a lesson yesterday off my pro and he says my allignment is way off. I naturally play with a draw and this is now exaggerated because of my allignment causing the hook. I have corrected my allignment and done what he has asked and this feels totally alien to me as he wants me to create a slight fade which will get me a lot more consistant,not how I should feel before a big game.

So what do I do ? I have planned on going range today and tomorrow for a few hours and just see how I get on, if I cannot resolve it I will step aside and let someone else play, Do I bull through it and just play ? I have more than enough game to get me by as long as I get some feeling back into my shots ? do i play the old way and just correct my hook ( which I can do ) as this is how i have always played ??

Just not sure, want to be fair to team but also know I can offer a lot of game to someone on my day and hoping the comp will bring it out in me as it normally does. I do realise posting this probably isnt the smartest thing but if I am playing I will be right, and if I pull out someone else will give the european club a game !!

Anyway enough ranting whats your thoughts??

Appreciate all comments good or bad !!

ShriekingSheet

You need to speak up. I'm not saying you need to take yourself out of contention, but it's a team game, and the least you can do is let your team captain know the situation, that you've got a few problems, but that you're working on sorting it out.

If you've just barely pipped someone to a spot, and they're playing okay, you should be subbed out - if the goal is actually to win through the round. If you're a scarce entity, in terms of h'cap, or are head and shoulders above others in contention for your place, sticking it out and doing the best you can on the day may be the way to go.

What I wouldn't want to do, is show up on the first tee having said nothing, thinking "jayzuz, I hope my form miraculously changes today so I don't make a show of myself". So it's for your own good, as well as the teams'. Especially assuming your game will be much better in a few weeks, at which point it'd be nice to have a place in round 2 to fight for, assuming some out-of-form players didn't get the club dumped out of round 1

BUACHAILL

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

You need to speak up. I'm not saying you need to take yourself out of contention, but it's a team game, and the least you can do is let your team captain know the situation, that you've got a few problems, but that you're working on sorting it out.

If you've just barely pipped someone to a spot, and they're playing okay, you should be subbed out - if the goal is actually to win through the round. If you're a scarce entity, in terms of h'cap, or are head and shoulders above others in contention for your place, sticking it out and doing the best you can on the day may be the way to go.

What I wouldn't want to do, is show up on the first tee having said nothing, thinking "jayzuz, I hope my form miraculously changes today so I don't make a show of myself". So it's for your own good, as well as the teams'. Especially assuming your game will be much better in a few weeks, at which point it'd be nice to have a place in round 2 to fight for, assuming some out-of-form players didn't get the club dumped out of round 1

Thanks Shriek,

To answer your questions I had originally posted we had away draw I was mistaken, we had home draw but I am playing away in European club.

I have already spoken with my captain of the team and he knows exactly what is going on, I have more respect for my team mates, manager and myself (hence why I am writing this )to just try wing it knowing I am playing poorly, I would always rather stand aside than let that happen. On the head and shoulders above other players comment, thats not for me to answer and doubt it, I will let my captain know how I am fixed tomorrow night. that gives him enough time to pick someone else !!

ShriekingSheet

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Thanks Shriek,

To answer your questions I had originally posted we had away draw I was mistaken, we had home draw but I am playing away in European club.

I have already spoken with my captain of the team and he knows exactly what is going on, I have more respect for my team mates, manager and myself to just try wing it knowing I am playing poorly, I would always rather stand aside than let that happen. On the head and shoulders above other players comment, thats not for me to answer and doubt it, I will let my captain know how I am fixed tomorrow night. that gives him enough time to pick someone else !!

Well yeah, I mean it's his call, not yours, once he has all the info. That way if you're standing on the first tee it's because he's put a bit of faith in you. If you struggle, it's his gamble that didn't work out, as opposed to you letting the team down. But I think the way you've gone about it will give you the best chance of playing well on the day. As far as I can see you've nothing to worry about.

Just aim right

BUACHAILL

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Well yeah, I mean it's his call, not yours, once he has all the info. That way if you're standing on the first tee it's because he's put a bit of faith in you. If you struggle, it's his gamble that didn't work out, as opposed to you letting the team down. But I think the way you've gone about it will give you the best chance of playing well on the day. As far as I can see you've nothing to worry about.

Just aim right

Just aim right, get that fade I am after and land my partner in the shoite ha ha

I should of mentioned I also have a practice round there tomorrow which will also give me a much better insight to how I am gonna fair !! I honestly think I can make it right, but just wanted other opinions !!

jimjo

Very honest post. A dilemma a lot of players will experience from time to time but never have the honesty to speak out about it.

I’d say practice hard over the next few days, get down to the range and work on those aspects you mentioned. You should have the confidence of playing well a few weeks back. You know you’ve got that recent form in the locker, infact you’re probably being a bit hard on yourself of your recent play. If you’ve been picked someone must have confidence in your play. You can make a proper assessment after your practice round.

The European Club is a tough place to go and play especially so if your off form as you say you are however I say go and PLAY, only my 2 cents

BUACHAILL

jimjo wrote: »

Very honest post. A dilemma a lot of players will experience from time to time but never have the honesty to speak out about it.

I’d say practice hard over the next few days, get down to the range and work on those aspects you mentioned. You should have the confidence of playing well a few weeks back. You know you’ve got that recent form in the locker, infact you’re probably being a bit hard on yourself of your recent play. If you’ve been picked someone must have confidence in your play. You can make a proper assessment after your practice round.

The European Club is a tough place to go and play especially so if your off form as you say you are however I say go and PLAY, only my 2 cents

Thanks jimjo appreciate the feed back.
I am a pressure type player and do rather have my back to the wall to grind a result, but normally that was never questioning my own game in such a big way. I guess I will just play tomorrow and try put it right, my partner is going with me so I will speak to him and after that I will ring the captain and make a decision from them conversations!! nothing more I can do I guess.

heavyballs

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Thanks jimjo appreciate the feed back.
I am a pressure type player and do rather have my back to the wall to grind a result, but normally that was never questioning my own game in such a big way. I guess I will just play tomorrow and try put it right, my partner is going with me so I will speak to him and after that I will ring the captain and make a decision from them conversations!! nothing more I can do I guess.

my advice would be not to worry about it and trust yourself,
i've been in this situation myself a few times,i think your pro has possibly over-analysed your swing problems
i play with so many really good players who have bad allignment that it leads me to beleive that it's not as big an issue if you're slightly off line

what i've found myself is in a big match like this one with the adreneline pumping on the first tee(blurred ball,shaking hands etc)what's most important ishaving your head right more so than you're swing
i read a couple of chapters before the round of Rotella's 'Golf is not a game of perfect,' and that works for me
don't worry to much about allignment and concentrate more on your small target and i guarantee you'll play well

pinkdoubleeagle

heavyballs wrote: »

my advice would be not to worry about it and trust yourself,
i've been in this situation myself a few times,i think your pro has possibly over-analysed your swing problems
i play with so many really good players who have bad allignment that it leads me to beleive that it's not as big an issue if you're slightly off line

what i've found myself is in a big match like this one with the adreneline pumping on the first tee(blurred ball,shaking hands etc)what's most important ishaving your head right more so than you're swing
i read a couple of chapters before the round of Rotella's 'Golf is not a game of perfect,' and that works for me
don't worry to much about allignment and concentrate more on your small target and i guarantee you'll play well

Good Advice here

ShriekingSheet

I agree about your head needing to be in the right place, as opposed to swing mechanics being A1, but the fact is the guy is out of form and short on confidence. If there's someone available who doesn't have these challenges, why wouldn't you let them have a go?

Heavyballs, if it was a singles medal he was worried about I'd agree, but in a team situation, the most suitable players need to play. Today's out of form sub can be the next rounds key player in a few weeks. If the out of form guys are stuburn, there won't be a round 2.

BUACHAILL

Thanks for advice guys
Just back from the range and tried to put into practice everything he pointed out and it was going nowhere, so I took just a couple of small things from it and tried it and my shots were much better, slight fade on them and if needed slight draw. Had a few wild ones but when tinkering thats gonna happen I guess, Tried slowing it right down and just feeling the shot a bit more and it helped a good bit.

Will hit range for an hour later on this evening and again in the morning, then it will be time to play my practice round. All that said feeling a bit better about it all, im striking it very well !! just getting the shape on it now

Cheers again , will keep you posted if anybody actually cares ha ha

BUACHAILL

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I agree about your head needing to be in the right place, as opposed to swing mechanics being A1, but the fact is the guy is out of form and short on confidence. If there's someone available who doesn't have these challenges, why wouldn't you let them have a go?

Heavyballs, if it was a singles medal he was worried about I'd agree, but in a team situation, the most suitable players need to play. Today's out of form sub can be the next rounds key player in a few weeks. If the out of form guys are stuburn, there won't be a round 2.

I fully agree with this and as posted earlier I would always step aside if it doesnt happen, With this format it is imperative that all your players are working well together and when things get tight you need to have your head right as the win for the full team can come down to your match. I think its easier to bull through these problems when its singles etc as it just falls on you and your letting noone else down, the teams are different. That said I wont give up my spot easily and will practice hard to put things right as dropping out is the last thing I want as I fought so hard to get there, but if I am not right I will be honest enough to drop myself !!

BUACHAILL

Ok folks quick update (even though noone is interested anyway ha ha). So got a text from Donkeypoker offering me a few holes in Wicklow instead of hitting driving range, fair play to him so I took up the offer. I went out with the intention of just getting a feel for the new alignment, swing and grip. I hit the ball much better than last two weeks and even today at the range so all in all I am happy enough. Was concentrating so hard on just swinging-gripping the new way I wasnt too worried about anything else and as a result putting and chipping was shoite but thats ok I am confident with these aspects.

Thanks Donkeypoker I just went out and enjoyed it with no worries of scores etc and my new ball flight is a lot more controlled and straight/slight fade than my normal draw/hook. Tomorrow morning its the range for an hour then later on down to the European to give it some wellie !!

Its been a while since I played with Donkeypoker and I must say he has come on leaps and bounds, completely slowed his swing and is a right bandit, get your eyes off my hybrid and gps though ha

Thanks again mate

DonkeyPokerTour

BUACHAILL after playing with you today I've come to the following conclusion, you should give up golf completely, give your golf clubs to me and take up a different sport, can I suggest tiddley winks?

Now seriously speaking, apart from your two shots on the first which you knocked down with irons you were striking the ball very well. You were definately hitting it straight to maybe a baby fade with your "new" swing. I think if you can get your yardages down with your Irons on your new swing you'll be laughing.

My honest advise is to choose 1 swing, be that your "new" or "old" one and stick with it. I'd suggest your "new" one but either way pick one and stick to it, you dont wanna be in a pressure situation and be in two minds which swing to use.

As for if you should play in the Barton or not, I'd be more than happy to have you as a partner playing foresomes. You were solid hitting your Driver, Irons and Hybrid so I'd definately be picking you If I were your captain!

Good Luck,
Regards
Ian

P.S. dont dare get rid of that hybrid before offering it to me

BUACHAILL

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

BUACHAILL after playing with you today I've come to the following conclusion, you should give up golf completely, give your golf clubs to me and take up a different sport, can I suggest tiddley winks?

Now seriously speaking, apart from your two shots on the first which you knocked down with irons you were striking the ball very well. You were definately hitting it straight to maybe a baby fade with your "new" swing. I think if you can get your yardages down with your Irons on your new swing you'll be laughing.

My honest advise is to choose 1 swing, be that your "new" or "old" one and stick with it. I'd suggest your "new" one but either way pick one and stick to it, you dont wanna be in a pressure situation and be in two minds which swing to use.

As for if you should play in the Barton or not, I'd be more than happy to have you as a partner playing foresomes. You were solid hitting your Driver, Irons and Hybrid so I'd definately be picking you If I were your captain!

Good Luck,
Regards
Ian

P.S. dont dare get rid of that hybrid before offering it to me

Cheers Ian appreciate the observations and advice !!

I will be sticking to my new swing as I know its the better in the long run and I fully agree I just need to work on my yardages now, wont be easy to do so quick but I have a good idea so tomorrow will tell its own story. I am happy enough in my progress considering my lesson only happened yesterday.

You might put that rumour to bed on driving yardages for me mate considering it was witnessed ha ha !!

Thanks again man

DonkeyPokerTour

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Cheers Ian appreciate the observations and advice !!

I will be sticking to my new swing as I know its the better in the long run and I fully agree I just need to work on my yardages now, wont be easy to do so quick but I have a good idea so tomorrow will tell its own story. I am happy enough in my progress considering my lesson only happened yesterday.

You might put that rumour to bed on driving yardages for me mate considering it was witnessed ha ha !!

Thanks again man

I will indeed confirm that you hit the ball a "country mile", I'm not a short hitter, would generally be the longest hitter in my group and Buachaill made me look like a short hitter, out driving me by about 20-30yards. He hits it so far he actaully bruised my ego . But I'd say he carrys the ball about 230-250ish and total drive distance of 270-280. And thats with ProV1's not Rocks! And today he busted one to valley infront of the 6th green off the green sticks which is 300+yards. And fairly level.

BUACHAILL

Now if only it was bloody straight !!

BUACHAILL

Right folks played the European club today and all I can say is the place is in stunning condition, staff were very welcoming and couldnt do enough to help us, fair play.

So my game, My original complaint was a bad hook in which I had developed from a natural draw I normally played with, generally was always off the teebut had crept into my irons also. Today I didnt hit one single hook from the tee box, I got around most holes with rescue / 3 wood off tee for position and hit it as good as I ever have which was most encouraging, they went long too. My irons were 60/40 good which was dissapointing but I can work on that between now and then easy enough. The place played very tough with a strong wind so ball control was essential and all in all I managed it quite well, not perfect but hey I aint a pro !! Spoke with my partner and he is more than happy to have me by his side and now have to speak with my captain which will happen tomorrow after the range in the morning.

Few really bad days of uncertainty but I have worked my ass off and looks like I have come out the other side, certainly more confident standing over it than I was last week and loving my new ball flight, taking out the left side of things makes life much easier IMO.

Anyway just thought I would share it.

madds

Best of luck in your upcoming match Buachaill. Sounds to me like you are better prepared than most.

BUACHAILL

madds wrote: »

Best of luck in your upcoming match Buachaill. Sounds to me like you are better prepared than most.

Thanks madds, think it was a case of having to work hard or I just wasnt going to play simple as. Time will tell just how prepared I actually am.

jimjo

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Few really bad days of uncertainty but I have worked my ass off and looks like I have come out the other side, certainly more confident standing over it than I was last week and loving my new ball flight, taking out the left side of things makes life much easier IMO.

Good man, a few hard days of work and your back on track. If you pulled out in a few days you'd be kicking yourself for not playing.

Let us know how you get on.. all the best.

BUACHAILL

jimjo wrote: »

Good man, a few hard days of work and your back on track. If you pulled out in a few days you'd be kicking yourself for not playing.

Let us know how you get on.. all the best.

Thanks Jimjo will let you know !!

jimjo

Any good than Buachaill? At least you had some day for it on a great course!

BUACHAILL

Not good news I am afraid.

In what was a gorgeous day the Golf wasnt too bad but just couldnt get it done.
Overall we were beaten 3-2 and had the home draw. Lost both games away I was playing in one of them. Beaten 4 and 3 down there and I for the first time can honestly say I was beaten by a better player. Guy off 2 and partner off 12 who played to about 6 made it very tough. The guy off 2 was awesome. Anything from 170 yards and in was left to 8 feet or less and was a joy to watch even if I was on the wrong end of it.

On an upnote I played and hit the ball well. Few sloppy shots here and there but to be honest in the place I had good shots punished so you just got to take it on the chin down there and stay patient.

Appreciated all the feed back and support folks

Buachaill