Struggling with an aspect of your game

[cnosil]

We all have aspects of our game that we struggle with. My question is how do you try to get past the struggle? Could be lessons, more practice, just accepting the limitation, or something else.

 

Been struggling with an aspect of my game. It is the area that I focus on when practicing. Unfortunately, the struggles continue so I try to go back to the fundamentals, then change my swing, practice more and in the end become more frustrated. How about when you think you have it figured out only to have it fall apart during play or worse the practice session is a miserable failure?

 

What helps you get back on track and how do you deal with the frustration?

[Rusty1885]

I've been struggling with the long irons. It used to be 6i but now 5i and down covering the distance from 175-210. Then I just look for the alternative clubs for the distance. There are too many overlapping alternatives, from 7 hybrid to 11 wood. I tried most and settled on a few.

 

I used to struggle with my bunker play and got the super wide sole type like the Cleveland smart sole wedge then the problem went away. I do like the regular wedge play so I put in the hours per month to keep my sand shots skill sharp.

 

I do like to hit the long irons because of the ego thing. Nothing's like hitting a 2i off the tee with decent distance. It says, oh yeah I'm the man!, but now I'll settle for 3 hybrid in the middle of the fairway and think oh yeah, I'm the (old) man!

 

Edit: In addition, I've been trying to fade the ball for a long time but never could do it on the course consistently enough to go for it. It just does not fit my eyes at set up, so I play straight or draw the shots I have in the bag and gave up the fade.

[revkev]

We all have aspects of our game that we struggle with. My question is how do you try to get past the struggle? Could be lessons, more practice, just accepting the limitation, or something else.

 

Been struggling with an aspect of my game. It is the area that I focus on when practicing. Unfortunately, the struggles continue so I try to go back to the fundamentals, then change my swing, practice more and in the end become more frustrated. How about when you think you have it figured out only to have it fall apart during play or worse the practice session is a miserable failure?

 

What helps you get back on track and how do you deal with the frustration?

It depends a lot upon what I'm struggling with. I've played long enough to know the following:

 

Putting - always ball position - if I get too far from the ball my eyes aren't centered and I get inconsistent. Just move closer to the ball stupid.

 

Chipping/pitching - I'm very good at this part of the game. It's just a matter of practice.

 

Bunker play - I have to do this my way and must practice on a regular basis or else. I always s get into trouble when I try to follow a "tip".

 

Part wedges - I try to avoid these because with limited practice time they get neglected. I'm fine with them through practice.

 

Full swing - start with basics - grip, alignment, posture, tempo. If none of these work take a lesson because generally speaking the more I tinker the farther away from my norm I will get and my norm is good enough to enjoy the game.

 

Finally there's tons of stuff I can't do. Among them, hit it 300 yards (or 270 for that matter) off the tee. Hit it more than 225 from the fairway, often less, hit a fade other than in an emergency. Hit a long iron which for me starts at a 5.

 

I got to a 1 not doing those things so there's no need to spend time trying at this point. It would take time, energy and money from the other parts of my game.

 

Generally speaking when something goes wrong simpler is better and don't wait to long to take a lesson if it doesn't work.

 

Good luck!

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Good topic!  We all struggle with some part of the game, I'm sure.  For me... right now... it's the 40-80y shots.  I think it's my tempo, but I won't know for sure until I take a few videos.  Local instructors don't know my single plane swing so it's hard for any of them to tell me what to fix, plus what they say has a tendency to screw up the rest of my game.  

 

My suggestion:  When that part of your game, long game or short game, is really good, take a video down-the-line and face-on.  Keep that for reference.  When your game is struggling, take videos and compare with the reference video.  I guarantee that you will see something different.

[Canucklehead]

Currently it's my putting. Hands of stone as some would say. Can't hit the middle of the club face to save my life

 

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[DawgDaddy]

Currently from 100 in to 50 I totally cringe.  I might shank, chili dip, thin it or actually hit one flush.  Problem is the flush hit is only about 10% of the time now.  Frustrating as with my bad back I cannot put in any practice time. 

[cnosil]

Currently it's my putting. Hands of stone as some would say. Can't hit the middle of the club face to save my life

 

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What about your putting and What are you doing to try and improve center face contact?

[cnosil]

Can't get past the bladed and chunked 10-30 yard pitches. Do okay when the pitch gets to about a half swing or it is a putt like chip with longer irons. Pretty sure I am flipping the club to try and keep the arms moving but I am really stopping and flipping. I can do right arm chips with much problem and have occasionally gone to those during a round; just no distance control.

 

Just trying to stop the downward spiral and continual tinkering to find the solution. Gotten to the point that I am searching YouTube for help; which is bad. Probably to the point that I need a couple of lessons. IT IS JUST SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!

[Canucklehead]

What about your putting and What are you doing to try and improve center face contact?

I just have no feel. It's really frustrating because imo I spend a good deal of time (75% on the chipping and pitching, and putting green. Plus most range time is spent hitting wedges to different flags).

 

Have tried lining up with the ball right on the heel, and putting with alignment sticks on either side. The latter works for a few holes, but the bad habit keeps coming back

 

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[Kenny B]

I just have no feel. It's really frustrating because imo I spend a good deal of time (75% on the chipping and pitching, and putting green. Plus most range time is spent hitting wedges to different flags).

 

Have tried lining up with the ball right on the heel, and putting with alignment sticks on either side. The latter works for a few holes, but the bad habit keeps coming back

 

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The bad habit will always come back until you replace it with a new habit.  To ingrain a new habit you must take the time to do it until it becomes your new norm.  If you practice for awhile, then go out on the course and play, the old habit will come right back because it feels normal to you.  Got to make the change feel normal.

[Kenny B]

Can't get past the bladed and chunked 10-30 yard pitches. Do okay when the pitch gets to about a half swing or it is a putt like chip with longer irons. Pretty sure I am flipping the club to try and keep the arms moving but I am really stopping and flipping. I can do right arm chips with much problem and have occasionally gone to those during a round; just no distance control.

 

Just trying to stop the downward spiral and continual tinkering to find the solution. Gotten to the point that I am searching YouTube for help; which is bad. Probably to the point that I need a couple of lessons. IT IS JUST SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!

Yeah, it sounds like chips are made with arms and hands only.  Focus a little more on controlling the shot with body turn.  When the body stops rotating, the arms keep going.  Difficult to be consistent.

[Flipper554]

My struggle is with the driver. Some days it's there some days not even worth taking out of the bag. When I lose it, just leave it in the bag and 3 wood it the rest of the day. Very little struggle with the rest of my game. Bad games are usually the result of my back issues, or the idiot of a caddy making poor choices for me. Really need to fire that guy.

[MaxEntropy]

Irons have been killing me this season. Haven't had enough time for practice, so I try to figure it out on the course, which usually doesn't end well. Just when I think I've figured something out, something else stupid shows up. It got so bad one round, I tried to choke down a 3H from 180 because I had zero faith in an iron. Naturally, the resulting smooth, easy swing put it about 20 yards long.

 

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[TBT]

I usually end up spending some extra practice time on it, the only problem is I end up getting better at the aspect I was struggling with only to start struggling with another part of the game

[Rusty1885]

I just have no feel. It's really frustrating because imo I spend a good deal of time (75% on the chipping and pitching, and putting green. Plus most range time is spent hitting wedges to different flags).

 

Have tried lining up with the ball right on the heel, and putting with alignment sticks on either side. The latter works for a few holes, but the bad habit keeps coming back

 

Sent from my E6853 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

 

That's me sometime ago, couldn't get the distance right then I'd stand at address for almost 10-15 seconds dreading the strike I was about to make.

 

Then I picked up a tip about turning stroke and swing into a reaction move and stop thinking about how to do it and just let it happens.

 

If you can shorten your set up to about 10 seconds or less it would help a lot. After determine the break and line as well as taking the practice stroke for the right feel.

Approach your address from behind take 2-4 seconds to square up the blade, then the last 2 seconds look at the target, look at the ball then let it go. 2 seconds-look at the target-look at the ball-let it go.

There are at least 3 speed option for each putt if your brain is telling you the line it's already factoring in the speed. It's the fly by wire operation and too complicated for your conscious mind to control so don't let your brain take over, you'd be as surprised as I did how close or spot on putting distance your brain can deliver.

 

Can't get past the bladed and chunked 10-30 yard pitches. Do okay when the pitch gets to about a half swing or it is a putt like chip with longer irons. Pretty sure I am flipping the club to try and keep the arms moving but I am really stopping and flipping. I can do right arm chips with much problem and have occasionally gone to those during a round; just no distance control. Just trying to stop the downward spiral and continual tinkering to find the solution. Gotten to the point that I am searching YouTube for help; which is bad. Probably to the point that I need a couple of lessons. IT IS JUST SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!

Me, me, me too. That was exactly me not long ago. There are too many good school of golf, you just have to pick one that make sense to you. For me it was Phil's DVD and Pelz techniques. Hinge and hold seems to do the trick for me.

 

Once I know how to do it right then I look back at what I did wrong, it turns out in my case I was not focusing on the target but on the swing which leads to steering and lots of scooping and not relaxing and just let it happens.

 

I rework my swing to the hinge and hold method and it produces more consistency than ever though I probably gave up a few yards but well worth it.

[Canucklehead]

That's me sometime ago, couldn't get the distance right then I'd stand at address for almost 10-15 seconds dreading the strike I was about to make.

 

Then I picked up a tip about turning stroke and swing into a reaction move and stop thinking about how to do it and just let it happens.

 

If you can shorten your set up to about 10 seconds or less it would help a lot. After determine the break and line as well as taking the practice stroke for the right feel.

Approach your address from behind take 2-4 seconds to square up the blade, then the last 2 seconds look at the target, look at the ball then let it go. 2 seconds-look at the target-look at the ball-let it go.

There are at least 3 speed option for each putt if your brain is telling you the line it's already factoring in the speed. It's the fly by wire operation and too complicated for your conscious mind to control so don't let your brain take over, you'd be as surprised as I did how close or spot on putting distance your brain can deliver.

 

 

Me, me, me too. That was exactly me not long ago. There are too many good school of golf, you just have to pick one that make sense to you. For me it was Phil's DVD and Pelz techniques. Hinge and hold seems to do the trick for me.

 

Once I know how to do it right then I look back at what I did wrong, it turns out in my case I was not focusing on the target but on the swing which leads to steering and lots of scooping and not relaxing and just let it happens.

 

I rework my swing to the hinge and hold method and it produces more consistency than ever though I probably gave up a few yards but well worth it.

Gonna have to try that. Thanks Rusty!

 

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[Berg Ryman]

For me right now the struggle is consistency. Every round there seems to be one hole that throws the round out of wack. Problem is, because of work and other commitments I don't get hardly to the time into my game that I wish I had. Maybe when I retire in 35 years I'll finally get it, lol.

[cksurfdude]

Confidence.

 

I have no confidence in myself to make the shot at hand, so I tense up and start thinking too much.....

(ie. the exact opposite of what you should actually be doing)

 

Don't know what the fix for that is .. other than maybe a few more years playing experience plus many many many hours of practice plus some good coaching.

[Rusty1885]

Confidence.

 

I have no confidence in myself to make the shot at hand, so I tense up and start thinking too much.....

(ie. the exact opposite of what you should actually be doing)

 

Don't know what the fix for that is .. other than maybe a few more years playing experience plus many many many hours of practice plus some good coaching.

Wise Fools once said

Good judgment comes from experience a good experience comes from bad judgment

 

Something to keep in mind, confidence comes from within and before good results. If it comes after a good performance or a win no one would never win for the first time.

 

 

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[Kenny B]

For me right now the struggle is consistency. Every round there seems to be one hole that throws the round out of wack. Problem is, because of work and other commitments I don't get hardly to the time into my game that I wish I had. Maybe when I retire in 35 years I'll finally get it, lol.

I retired 2 years ago, and no... you won't.  

[Hackabilly]

Consistency is definitely my problem as well. Went to the PGA superstore to hit balls last week and was hitting all my irons consistently well. Got a few of my 3 irons to go 235. Went to the range over the weekend and couldn't even get it out to 200. On top of that I tried to hit the driver and it went all sorts of fun directions. However despite my inconsistency, I'm just dumb enough to hold on to the really good shots and think I can repeat those every time I step over the ball. Somehow my confidence isn't shaken by the fact that I hit way more bad shots than good shots.

[Kenny B]

Consistency is definitely my problem as well. Went to the PGA superstore to hit balls last week and was hitting all my irons consistently well. Got a few of my 3 irons to go 235. Went to the range over the weekend and couldn't even get it out to 200. On top of that I tried to hit the driver and it went all sorts of fun directions. However despite my inconsistency, I'm just dumb enough to hold on to the really good shots and think I can repeat those every time I step over the ball. Somehow my confidence isn't shaken by the fact that I hit way more bad shots than good shots.

Confidence improves immensely when you start hitting way more good shots than bad shots.      Keep at it.

[cksurfdude]

Confidence improves immensely when you start hitting way more good shots than bad shots. Keep at it.

So: only count the good ones. Got it!

[cksurfdude]

Consistency is definitely my problem as well. Went to the PGA superstore to hit balls last week and was hitting all my irons consistently well. Got a few of my 3 irons to go 235. Went to the range over the weekend and couldn't even get it out to 200. On top of that I tried to hit the driver and it went all sorts of fun directions. However despite my inconsistency, I'm just dumb enough to hold on to the really good shots and think I can repeat those every time I step over the ball. Somehow my confidence isn't shaken by the fact that I hit way more bad shots than good shots.

Great attitude!!! Keep at it!

(and yeah I have to work on that positivity thing for myself....!)

[Kenny B]

So: only count the good ones. Got it!

Yes, the pros are better than amateurs at forgetting the bad shots.  Remember the Law of Attraction...  I attract to myself whatever I give my focus, energy and attention to; my wife keeps reminding me of that.  

 

My problem is her nickname for me is... Eeyore, and it's not because I'm an old gray stuffed donkey; although I am old, mostly gray, somewhat overstuffed... but not a donkey. (I have been called an ass on occasion though.)  

[ole gray]

Driver - solid

Putter- solid

Irons - inconsistent

Wedges - pitiful

 

I shot 85 the last two days and flat out stunk from 75 yards in .... stunk

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Driver - solid

Putter- solid

Irons - inconsistent

Wedges - pitiful

 

I shot 85 the last two days and flat out stunk from 75 yards in .... stunk

 

 

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Just so you know... I didn't "Like" this post because you stunk.  

[ole gray]

Just so you know... I didn't "Like" this post because you stunk.

Well I did take a shower this morning and I smell like a sweet honey suckle vine . Wedge game smells like a hawg trough

 

 

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[Reesedw]

Lets see, I put a 9 iron into the windshield of a Subaru, because i missed a par 3 by 15 feet and hit the cart path and it rocketed into the parking lot. I'm spraying my driver, can't make solid contact with my irons, and and my putting has been off by "Thaaaaaaaat much".. Oh yeah my wedges from inside 100 are horrible.. 

 

I might need to work on a few things. But I think I'm close to making a run at the tour.. So we'll see.. LOL.. 

[Kenny B]

Lets see, I put a 9 iron into the windshield of a Subaru, because i missed a par 3 by 15 feet and hit the cart path and it rocketed into the parking lot. I'm spraying my driver, can't make solid contact with my irons, and and my putting has been off by "Thaaaaaaaat much".. Oh yeah my wedges from inside 100 are horrible.. 

 

I might need to work on a few things. But I think I'm close to making a run at the tour.. So we'll see.. LOL.. 

Way to go!!  All the pros say "I'm close."  Good job!