On Tuesday I played my best round of golf ever, prior to that over the last number of weeks I had been getting progressively better, today I went out and had the worst round of my life, I could barely hit the ball a few feet ahead of me, my putting was terrible, and to cap it all the strongest part of my game My Drive was appalling, anyone care to give me some encouragment, or offer any advice as I feel like jacking it in

LOL pat thats how it goes, but because you have had some good rounds and some good shots dont you feel like you want to get back on the course to prove to yourself that today was a one off.

Im our comps me and my mate have been playing well below our handicaps playing quite well, then last week we were up against 2 players that we should have beat and we both had an awful round, bright sunny day no wind so couldnt blame the eliments.
Not that i condone it but i even throw my driver after i failed to get my tee shot off the teeing area.

These things happen, laugh it off go out next time feeling positive remember the good rounds and good shots and forget the last round. you need positive thoughts when playing golf, any negativity when your over the ball and your going to mess it up.

Your worst round was it on your own? with better players than you or worse players than you

That's the beauty (or frustration) of the game, Pat.  The next thing is that you'll start to play consistently well and think, 'if I had some better clubs.....'.  Guarantee of misery.

Thats how it goes sometimes Pat, well all the time in my case!! Keep going though, your bound to get back playing well soon!

LOL thanks a lot to those who have responded to my plight LOL, I just don't understand what I was doing different, my grip didn't change, nor my stance nor my swing(at least not that I noticed) the only thing I could think of was it was a new course and was much longer than most of the other golf courses I play on, this was forcing me to try and hit the ball further, I hope this was the reason as I don't want to play like that again LOL

Don't worry, Pat, that round is now history. You are only as good as your next round.

Welcome to the club Pat! Golf has a funny habit of bringing you back down to earth just when you think you've mastered it!

When things haven't worked for me in the past, I take just one club, usually a seven iron, and use nothing but that and a putter for the rest of the round, from the tee to bump and runs round the green. I don't even put it back in the bag between shots. After using just one club my feel tends to return and I score as well if not much much better.

Hey Stuart that sounds like a very good idea, might givethat a go if it happens again, fingers crossed though that I don't need too eh

You'll probably find the next round you play a scorcher. Golf's like that. But you may want to try it just for fun one day. Leave all the other clubs at home or in the boot of the car, take a seven, a wedge for bunkers and a putter, then you'll have no option! You won't be so tired from lugging a full set round either. If you are a reasonable ball striker you'll be amazed how well you'll do

Pat, for a bit of fun decided to practice what I preached today. Took a only 6-iron, wedge and a putter. The other day I scored 96 with all the clubs in the bag; today I scored 95, and that included some god-awful chips (and one memorable Seve-style punched 6-iron under a tree to within 6 foot of the pin).

John P, if you're reading this I tried your swing thought about right elbow into right pocket and it was working a treat! 

2 weeks ago shot 111 today shot 89 my first sub ninety on what i would call a proper course (ive broken 90 on par 67s and 65s before but they dont really count for me) . Same clubs, same ball, couldnt tell you what changed, wish i knew

Well done Stuart, the swing tip is one that was handed down to me by my grandfather, so I cannot claim it as my own.

Well done, Colin, the way you are going you will not need any advice from me, that's for sure.

Was going to start a new forum post today about 'Right Elbow, right pocket' but just found this forum post.

JP, worked a treat. Helped with some other stuff I've changed in my swing after a lesson about keeping my upper arms closer to my chest on the upswing.

Now I didn't score particularly well, but was hitting a lot straighter, short game was considerably better and confident. Definitely something to this tip.

NB Score was high due to upside down tea saucer greens that were slightly frozen resulting in 40+ putts and 25 on the back nine, first ever 4 putt! shocking.

John, It was on belfairs so i was doubly pleased to have my best round on my favourite course. 10 shots off my best score ever there.

Darren, congratulations on your first 4 putt letts hope there will be plenty more of them in April ive had similar games especially on those greens where the hole has been pulled up by the hole cutter, dead centre or it aint going in.