1st range session of the new season -- not good

[NGage]

Went to the range today for the 1st time this year. All I took was a 7-iron....just wanted to get back into the swing of things slowly. Instead, it was horrible. I only really hit two types of shots:

 

1) hosel-rockets to the right (low grounders, mid-height, and full height but still off the hosel and right at 45* angle)

2) pulls to the left; they started left and stayed straight on that line of flight.

 

It's days like this that make me want to just quit the game. I was out there for at least an hour trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I told myself over and over any and all of the following: "just get the left arm low and tight across the chest", "initiate the downswing by pulling the left hip and knee back away from the target line", "stay in the zone". All of those are my "keys" for my one plane swing. None of it helped.

 

I desperately wish there was a 1-plane instructor around me. I've been told (on the Jim Hardy website) that one's coming to my area soon. I very much hope so.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I am a much worse player than you so I can't offer any swing, advise, but I feel your pain.

Maybe in a day or two try again...

[Matt Saternus]

I'm sorry to hear about your frustration, hopefully you will work it out very soon. Is it possible that seeing a handful of those misses led to more misses? I'm right in the same handicap range, though my lows are not quite as low as yours, and I find that when things go sideways the best thing to do is to really grind on set up fundamentals, then let the swing go. Really check your alignment, ball position, posture, etc, then think about how many great shots you've hit in your life and let it go.

[jamo]

I used to shank it at the beginning of the season too. Likely your timing was off, and you head was moving. It will improve with time, just keep hitting.

 

I would also venture to guess yo were going over the top. It is much harder to shank when you swing from the inside. Try pushing your hips forward at the beginning of the downswing to set your hands.

[Addicted2Golf]

I usually hit hosels when I'm pulling the club too far back to the inside getting extremely flat with my back swing. Then, I focus more on making sure the club head is outside my hands as I take it back and that normally fixes the issue.

 

But, I feel your pain. I don't like it when they are appear and I feel like I'm much too good of a player at this point to be doing that s%#$.

[NGage]

But, I feel your pain. I don't like it when they are appear and I feel like I'm much too good of a player at this point to be doing that s%#$.

 

That's what gets me....I'm a 10 give-or-take, my all-time best round is 71, I've had a round with 8 birdies in it, and I can hit it well --- but then I can also come out and have days like that.

 

 

It's maddening.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

That's what gets me....I'm a 10 give-or-take, my all-time best round is 71, I've had a round with 8 birdies in it, and I can hit it well --- but then I can also come out and have days like that.

 

 

It's maddening.

Its golf... Its supposed to be maddening. When I have a session like that, I chalk it up to early season yuck, and go home. It will be better next time. Go back and hit it!!

[NGage]

Its golf... Its supposed to be maddening. When I have a session like that, I chalk it up to early season yuck, and go home. It will be better next time. Go back and hit it!!

 

That's what I did...I just got to a point where I'd had enough...picked up the clubs and walked home.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

That's what I did...I just got to a point where I'd had enough...picked up the clubs and walked home.

That is 100% the correct move IMO.... no sense in grooving a bad move.

[Matt Saternus]

That's what gets me....I'm a 10 give-or-take, my all-time best round is 71, I've had a round with 8 birdies in it, and I can hit it well --- but then I can also come out and have days like that.

 

 

It's maddening.

 

I had my first maddening golf of 2010 today, so I can sympathize. Just the nature of the game unfortunately.

[JohnBarry]

A good start to the season for me, spells doom for the reast of the year. It's like poker, you never want to win the first hand, always lose in the end!

[MmmmmmBuddy]

A good start to the season for me, spells doom for the reast of the year. It's like poker, you never want to win the first hand, always lose in the end!

I always try to win the first hand.... Always.

[GolfSpy Dave]

A good start to the season for me, spells doom for the reast of the year. It's like poker, you never want to win the first hand, always lose in the end!

Didn't you just shoot 84?

Hopefully "doom" is an understatement...

[JohnBarry]

I did, but I just feel the shanks coming on!

[Matt Saternus]

I did, but I just feel the shanks coming on!

 

You need to hang on to the good thoughts and feelings from all the good shots you hit today. It's all about positive thinking.

[NGage]

Well...with a foot of snow last weekend, it will be a while before I get out for range session #2, LOL.

[GolfSpy Dave]

Well...with a foot of snow last weekend, it will be a while before I get out for range session #2, LOL.

I am pretty sure that new snow erases any prior range work so best of luck when you touch the clubs for the first time this season.

[NGage]

I am pretty sure that new snow erases any prior range work so best of luck when you touch the clubs for the first time this season.

 

 

I like the sound of that....let's run with it.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

I am pretty sure that new snow erases any prior range work so best of luck when you touch the clubs for the first time this season.

Can we agree that rain does the same thing??

[Matt Saternus]

Can we agree that rain does the same thing??

 

I'll vote for rain if I can have your vote for cold & wind. I had put away my winter jacket and it's back below 30 today. Stupid weather.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I'll vote for rain if I can have your vote for cold & wind. I had put away my winter jacket and it's back below 30 today. Stupid weather.

70* and sunny yesterday, 50* and lots of rain

Spring is stupid sometimes

 

resets on the season for all IMO

[jamo]

Can we agree that rain does the same thing??

 

Rain is not as annoying as snow, and snow is not as annoying as wind and cold.

[Addicted2Golf]

Rain is not as annoying as snow, and snow is not as annoying as wind and cold.

 

As someone who lives in the snow capital of the Midwest (or so it seems at times)... I can definitely tell you that snow is most certainly more annoying than wind and cold.

[Addicted2Golf]

70* and sunny yesterday, 50* and lots of rain

Spring is stupid sometimes

 

resets on the season for all IMO

 

We had two inches of snow last weekend and it melted off Monday. Just enuf to screw up my golfing weekend. How stupid is that?

[jamo]

As someone who lives in the snow capital of the Midwest (or so it seems at times)... I can definitely tell you that snow is most certainly more annoying than wind and cold.

 

Playing golf while it is snowing is actually kind of fun. Then after when it is on the ground is when I get pissed at it.

[Addicted2Golf]

Playing golf while it is snowing is actually kind of fun.

 

The longs hours we spend on this board must have warped your mind my young friend...

[jamo]

The longs hours we spend on this board must have warped your mind my young friend...

 

Yeah probably. I am now typing while eating my breakfast. An 80 calorie frozen pizza from whole foods, actually quote good.

 

My name is Jamo and I have a problem....

[Addicted2Golf]

Yeah probably. I am now typing while eating my breakfast. An 80 calorie frozen pizza from whole foods, actually quote good.

 

My name is Jamo and I have a problem....

 

Haha, pizza for breakfast. NICE!

[Matt Saternus]

As someone who lives in the snow capital of the Midwest (or so it seems at times)... I can definitely tell you that snow is most certainly more annoying than wind and cold.

 

Agreed. Wind and cold make golf lame, but not impossible. When there's a foot of snow, golf is not happening, period.

[JohnBarry]

Great, supposed to be cold and windy here all weekend!