My golf is in going down the gutters!!

[PoorGolfer]

Here is my story: for sometime I have been playing some very good golf relative to my level and hadicap. My drives were almost always straight and long, my iron play was solid and my short game was good.

 

All was good until a rainy cloudy thundery day when I had a match play game with a guy in a local club championship. I hit the range early, hit some good quality shots and got ready for the game. I stepped up on the first tee, did my routine, and took my position. The moment the ball hit the face of my driver a terrible multitude of pain exploded in my left foot and as I saw the ball soaring mid-level penetrating against the wind I fell down to my knees in pain.

 

I could barely walk on it but I said it's OK. I went down the fairway to play my second shot. This time the pain was unbearable. I knew I was done for the day. I conceded the match and went home in pain and full of sadness. X-rays showed no bone injuries and the doctor suggested they were ligament sprains and advised I take a break from golf.

 

So anyway, I stopped playing for 2 weeks, and went back. But it was over. I can't play the same golf I used to play anymore. I just seem unable to hold my finish, unable to do the vigorous lower body rotation on the downswing like I used to do and the result: all my drives are left-hooking balloons that travel 150 yards at most.

 

My iron play was also affected. I can't hit a good iron shot anymore. I'm hitting them fat, topped, and at most cases shanked.

 

Yesterday I was on the course, and after 6 holes of play, I couldn't get one single iron shot air-borne. Every single shot was either a low shank to the right, a top that went 20 yards on the ground or a fattie where I hit a whole inch or two behind the ball (at one instance I did not hit the ball at all). I was close to crying yesterday and I left the course after the 6th hole feeling I should stop playing golf for good.

[jamo]

It seems like you are either favoring your left side, or you are just scared of what could happen. I think you need to try a few swings where your weight is very far forward, putting a lot of weight on you left side, then then swing. If you keep doing this, you body won't be scared of it anymore.

[Matt Saternus]

It seems like you are either favoring your left side, or you are just scared of what could happen. I think you need to try a few swings where your weight is very far forward, putting a lot of weight on you left side, then then swing. If you keep doing this, you body won't be scared of it anymore.

 

This makes sense to me.

 

I hope you are feeling well physically and you find something in your game that helps you to play well again. Best-

 

-Matt

[mudfish]

If I were in your shoes, I would go to a driving range and just keep hitting until you feel confident... Last year, I pretty much couldn't hit my driver at all, so I put it in my bag for a couple weeks and only used it on the driving range until I was comfortable... I'm still not hitting it like I should, but I feel better...

[Addicted2Golf]

Are you still in pain? You may want to go to a foot specialist. I had pain like you're describing and I went to a Podiatrist who suggested I get a new pair of shoes with good arch support and a cushioned sole. I eventually ended up with shoe inserts (orthotics) and after a while the pain went away. Something to think about...

[JohnBarry]

It's time to see a doctor and see what you pulled.

[Moecat]

You'll definitely need an MRI done and, depending on doctor's orders, some level of rest / therapy.

[GolfSpy Dave]

It seems like you are either favoring your left side, or you are just scared of what could happen. I think you need to try a few swings where your weight is very far forward, putting a lot of weight on you left side, then then swing. If you keep doing this, you body won't be scared of it anymore.

This was my same thought. You described my miss exactly when I don't get the weight off of my right foot.

Doctor/foot specialist is absolutely the call if the pain is lingering. Don't "play through the pain". That maybe OK for the pros who get paid to play, but for us it probably just translates to more time off the course later.

 

One tip for foot health. I stand all day when working. I went to a store in our mall called The Waking Store to find shoes that would help minimize the strain on my back and legs that came from standing. They actually fit me for inserts rather than selling me more shoes. They had a machine that measured where the pressure lies on your feet when standing, then they give you the inserts that match.

Made a difference for me at work, and when walking, they really help on the course. Maybe something to look into.

 

However, just like you should seek a pro to help the swing, seek a doc for the feet.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

+1 See a doctor. Then, when you get back to the range, work on 30% shots. try to hit the ball at 30% power, focusing on solid contact. then work up to 50%, 60%, ect.... It works.

[Jeeves]

3/4 quarter 7-iron shots at the range will cure almost everything. Tempo, confidence, etc.

[PoorGolfer]

Played yesterday. It was better, but far from back to normal. I am still unable to hold my finish however hard I try, but my trajectory is not ballooning as often as it was last time. Still my drives are short and my iron play is not accurate.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Keep it up. Glad to hear that the pain is mostly gone.