Had the weekend from hell to cement what has been the quickest decline in golfing ability probably ever seen. Two weeks from near single figure level player to complete chopper.

Have been on the range the whole of last week as my swings gone out of place, ball striking and everything all gone wrong. Had to play in the Clubs Medal Saturday despite not feeling anywhere near confident, but is a requirement for Club Champs weekend. So went out at 7:!5 in the morning made a 7 down the Par 4 1st and without losing a ball or hitting it into trouble. Just failed miserable to hit the ball correctly the correct number of times. On the 2nd turned it round and made a nice Par, then Birdied the following Par 3 and Par 4 thanks to good shortgame shots. Started thinking I was getting back into the swing of it, relaxed and then made an 8 on the next Par 4, again much like the 1st never picked up any penalties so why the high score. Followed it with a 6 & 5 on the following two Par 3s before going 5 & 6 on the final two Par 4s on the front 9.

Got on the 10th tee and got a long hold up as a guy starting his round in the group in front got to the green before realising he'd left his putter in the boot of his car. Rather then let us play through he run all the way back to the car park to fetch it. I was just making my swing on the tee as he decided to run from car park across the tee box and start his way back towards his group. My playing partners screamed for me to stop and try as I might to do a Tiger and check my swing, I could only toe-end it over the fence OB. Not happy now. Reload and hits my 3rd shot into a copse of trees. Chips out sideways and proceeds to shank shot number 5 OB. Had enough at this point so for the 1st time in 12 months recorded my 1st NR.

Thought the day was over there but oh no, still had an 18 Hole 1st Team League Match to play in the afternoon. My usual partner was away for the weekend so I got matched up with a new guy who hadn't played a competitive game for 12 months. We then got a shock when we were sent out against the oppositions teams young +2 handicaper golfer. Talk about Lambs to the Slaughter, got smashed 6&5 and had to endure the most cocky and arrogant behavour for the round. Did something totally out of character for me and after the winning putt went in on the 13th just turned round and walked back to the clubhouse, Never carried on and played in with them or my partner. Okay I can understand I'm not going to beat a +2 handicap golfer off scratch in matchplay, but I never even hit one telling shot. I also didn't like his attitude and some of his tactics, could have happily punched him in the mouth a few times when he made comments.

Went out for some practice last night after work and only managed 7 holes before getting fedup with the shots I was hitting and came in. I'm at the stage now where I don't want to play competitively now until I'm sorted out. The worst bit is after a week on the range, obviously can't sort it myself so may now have to resort to seeking professional help.

 Hi Chris, Sounds from this and a couple of earlier posts as though you are putting yourself under a lot of pressure to improve. I'm guessing you are almost at the stage where you are almost scared to hit the ball! Most of the problems may be in your head not your swing.I had a spell just like this a couple of years ago and really didn't want to play as the ball was going anywhere. However after a couple of weeks without a game I went out and shot a really low score on a tough course. I'm sure it was because I didn't expect much and just concentrated on hitting the ball without any swing thoughts goin' on to mess things up! As you obviously have a good game(or you wouldn't be near single figures) I wouldn't beat yourself up tooo much and step back a bit till your head clears and you get the itch to hit balls again. good luck for the future.

Chris,

It's a tough game & we all go through spells like this, I'm sure you'll come throught it.

On a sour note I can't condone your behavious, re:walking off, & if you had done it to me I would ask not be paired or even if the same group again.

I think in your position you should be setting an example.

John.

I suggest that you are "golfed out" Chris.  On the range everyday then 36 holes shows you are trying to force it and your body is rebelling.  The harder you try to fix it, the worse the problem will be.  I agree with David; take a break for at least a few days, preferably a week.  Don't even do any putting.  Then just take a six iron out on the range and hit a dozen balls.  Bet you strike it much better

Chris, you clearly know how to play the game. Chill out and go back to basics. Don't let the +2 idiot get the better of you, he has to go through life with that attitude!

All the matces that I have been involved in from Club league matches to county matches have always ended once the match has finished. Everyone then walks in.

I guess I've really let this game get to me these last few weeks. Gone from being really happy with my game and playing well, better then my actual handicap to now being confidenceless and really struggling to hit the ball.

I'll blame my boss partly, he told me more or less two weeks ago he was disappointed that in the 5 years I've been playing I hadn't progressed further then where I'm at. So I've tried to go to the range and learn a scratch golfers swing in two weeks, and as I'm not a scratch golfer I've made a right hash of it.

Plus I've been playing so much lately that its been bad score after bad score after bad score, which doesn't help things further. Looking at my diary I have 3 more fixtures this weekend then its empty. Think I'll try to get through this week then take some time off from playing.

My boss took a couple of videos on his phone last night when I wasn't aware and he showed me them today. My backswing looks good but at the top of the swing it seems like I've forgotten what to do then. I get the club trapped as my hips and lower body don't turn, even after I've hit the ball my hips are still at address position with my right foot on the floor. I've got nothing but an armswing going on.

As for the +2 Golfer, he's got it coming to him in the away match at the end of the season. My usual team partner met him yesterday during the Lincolnshire Amateur Event and instantly disliked him before he knew of my story with him. He's decided this kid needs bringing down a peg or two. So my only goal now for this year is to get my game back to a point I can hopefully take this kid the whole 18 holes at his course and walk off smiling when he hasn't beaten me.

That's the ticket Chris.  Give yourself a mental and physical break and come back with a target.  It'll help you to focus

I went through this at the beginning of this year.  Lost the enjoyment factor of the game - basically I had forgotten why I got hooked on the game in the first place.  I was too screwed up over my score, had a double and then lost the plot - round over.

I took the decision to go out one day and not add up my score till the end - laugh off any crap shots, have a laugh with my playing partner and basically have fun.

It worked. Swing felt better (as I wasn't thinking of mechanics), chipping was crisper and I tried to think "`i'm going to make this putt" every time I got to the green.  Bob Rotella helped with the mental side of putting!

I am now shooting in the late 70's and early 80's and carded my best score of 76 a couple of months ago.

Overall I rediscovered why I started to play this game in the first place.  Maybe you need to. 

Played in the Middlemans Cup at my club today. A Trophy and Board Competition for the 10-19 Handicap Players.

Finished with a 1 over Nett 72 today. Winning score was Nett 70. I annoyed as threw so many shots away today. On the three Par 5s alone I scored 7, 9 & 8. Thats 9 shots wasted on 3 holes. Though for Handicap Purposes I'll get 3 shots rounded off my score, so may get a handicap cut today. Back down to 14 CONGU which will be nice. Had a few Par Putts stay out later in the round as well despite catching the edge of the hole all day, not many fell in. One day I might start aiming inside the hole to remove this element of chance or lucky depending on how Greenstaff have cut the holes.

Try again Saturday now, see if I can do better.