Lost Swing

soverybored1878

I had a little layoff (roughly 2 months) of not playing due to family stuff, weather and a mix of other things getting in the way.

Before I took some time away from golf, I was making massive strides. I'd shot my best ever round of 79 was barely missing fairways off the tee and my irons, wedges and putting were on all point and the game felt easy.

Haven't been out since early October and had my first round back yesterday. It was absolutely atrocious. The club felt like a foreign object. I simply couldn't swing it, I was completely out of sync and things I'd done before just seemed not to work. I couldn't even get the ball in the air on some holes.

It just got worse and worse through the round to the point where I couldn't wait to get home. I even started whiffing some shots.

It was soul destroying.

My question is, how do you all recover from something like that? Don't know what to do with myself after such a terrible round.

bobster453

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058384621/lost-swing

Welcome to the world of real golf😆

Focus on basics

Position..of stance and ball

Alignment..of body and line

Swing..keep on plane by making half swing to 75% power max..dont force or overswing.

Relax..you know you can do it, trust the process.

Oh and most important..stay away from youtube videos😂

Merry Christmas

Not made with hands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058384621/lost-swing

I'd say it's all down to lack of practice, bad shots then causes lack of confidence and you start to change things for the worse..

Even if you can't get out try go to the range the odd night maybe.

coillcam

Start small with as smooth and easy of a swing as possible. Best to hit the range or a simulator even. Almost like a long chip 1/4 swing, then 1/2 swing, 3/4 swing. Even a few punch shots. Just try this with like 8/9i and then move into longer clubs and it'll come back. Driver is the one you need to practice separately I think as it's too different of a mechanic. However you can just tee it down and swing smoothly to get a rhythm back.

I find that any time I return from a break, I'm trying to leather the ball full send and jumping out of my shoes. I almost have to retrain myself to take it easy, to check my grip and alignment. Slowly it merges back together with muscle memory.

spacecoyote

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058384621/lost-swing

I think the first thing you have to realise is...GOLF IS HARD

Even when you play weekly you can have massive variance in your ability. And that doesn't just go for amateurs, top level pros can have massive swings day on day.

The tourney where Jim Furyk shot the 58, he also shot a round in the 70s. If elite pros can have 14-16 shot swings over the course of one week, why would you think that an amateur can take a couple of months away from golf and walk back to shooting the same scores, etc...

Remember...GOLF IS HARD

Pretty much every one of us who play golf and take a break will find that their timing goes off, their short game gets a bit rusty, their pace is off on greens. It takes some time and it takes reps.

Don't beat yourself up, we've all gone through highs and lows on the course, and we'll all go through them again in the future.

There was something else I was supposed to mention but have forgotten...actually oh yeah

GOLF IS HARD!!!!!

soverybored1878

Thanks all, was just so disheartening but you are all right, shouldn't beat myself up. I could probably do with doing a bit of reading on the mental side of the game tbh. I'm too much of a confidence player and if I have a bad hole, usually the rest of the round goes to pot.

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058384621/lost-swing

It has been mentioned on this thread already, but just a reminder….GOLF IS HARD.

I’ve been playing it since I was kid, I’ve played as low as 2 and as high as 22, I’m current off 6.9, and I still have doubts over my ability, or lack of, on the course at least 10 times a round, even after 30 years of playing the game.

I was sports mad all my life and played hurling, soccer and rugby until I no longer could, and golf is still, by far, the hardest sport I’ve tried to master from all those.

Don’t get too down over it, because if I spent 2 months away from the game, and went back at it in the middle of winter, I’d be absolutely trash too.

My advice, for what its worth, would be to take yourself away from the course and get in a range session or 2 over the Christmas. Just focus on your set-up, and try hit a few balls, don’t worry about direction, just focus on good contact with a comfortable set up, once you feel that contact, you will find your rhythm.

Golf is all about rhythm and developing feels. I actually have a mental note of what it “feels” like for me at set-up, take away, and contact. So, if I’m ever away from the game, and my swing is gone to sh**e. I just focus on what I know I should look like at address, where my hands and shoulders should be in take away, and what I look like when I deliver the club head to the ball. Ill try hit a few balls with those familiar feels in mind, and eventually my rhythm with sync back.

skinny90

would it make sense to get a lesson for a “reset” and then just use that as a basis for training ?
maybe try and record yourself as you practice.
seeing as your swing seems out of sync it’s likely something small like not enough shoulder/hip turn. For me it’s generally a reverse pivot issue

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123012579#Comment_123012579

Without putting swing thoughts into someone's head, I always find, whenever I'm away from the game for a while, its my set up is what gets me into trouble. Simple things like feet and shoulders not aligned, incorrect ball position, stance slight off. All simple fixes.

Too many times I've seen my friends go into a downward spiral with swing tweaks and changes because of poor days or weeks out there. When in reality, their swing hadn't really changed at all, it was just how they set themselves up to the ball.

blackbox

I rarely go to the driving range, but always do when in your situation.

I like to work it out for myself, but lots of people prefer to go to a pro.

You'll sort it out, but don't be surprised when you lose it again.

soverybored1878

Thanks all for the responses, sorry it took a while to come back. This is all great stuff.

I didn't hit the range, I didn't youtube anything and I didn't get a lesson. I just laughed it off and forgot about it. Played another round and was trying a few things in the net beforehand and it turns out my swing was off plane and as people have pointed out, few issues with the set-up. Good to remember as it drifts from time to time, especially not playing as much in winter.