how do you handle burnout..

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Tball88

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ok, I'm just about fried on golf right now. I've played a lot this year, most any year, close to 70 rounds, and have practiced hard getting my index down to a 4.

Problem is I'm burned out, don't really feel like playing, however, I have this fear of getting worse. I know you never stay the same, you're either getting better or worse all the time.

Just wanted to know how others of you handle this, and how long have you been able to take off, and how much did you notice your game fell off when you came back.

who knows, since this is a golf website, maybe I'm the only one who's dealt with this.
 
magicmarker

magicmarker

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Play other sports, or take a break (Rory didn't touch a club for ten days after winning the U.S. open, Cabrera didn't touch one for months last fall)

The only way some time off and a refreshed perspective can erode your game in the long run is by you thinking it will. My guess is after some time away you'll be longing to get back out there, you may be full now but the hunger will come back!
 
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dbl

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Fear of getting worse? You mean that that "4" might rise...or some other factor may vary more than what you want? Right now your scoring can be modelled as something like a base score like 67 plus a variable amount described by a Poisson distribution with mean of perhaps 15. Even if you could play right now with that same statistical distribution your scoring output WILL vary and perhaps not be what you want. What do you DO with that, just as it is?

I'd say if you feel like you need a break, take break. That is in the natural order of things. Then evaluate how much of your self-worth you have tied up in scoring outcomes and/or this statistical makeup that leads to outcomes. Even if nothing else consider what in this game is the important stuff to you...holing putts, up n downs, girs, accuracy, etc. Or even perhaps the going through a process "perfectly" letting results fall where they may...

Good luck. :)
 
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otto6457

otto6457

New
Put the clubs away till you feel like playing again. Unless you're getting paid to play it's no big deal. I took a whole year off and its been great for my game. I came back eager to go to work and I'm enjoying the game more than I have in a long time. My scores have improved this year due mainly to a better attitude about my game. And this from a guy that handicapped 187 rounds of golf in 2009. Its been a MUCH better 2011 and my break had a lot to do with that.
 
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birly-shirly

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Burnout and breaks are a fact of life in just about all sports. If real athletes can take an offseason and recover their fitness, then you can do the same with your golf game. Much better to do that than let it become a half-hearted grind.

If you can find a way to play or hit balls for fun, without overly worrying about results, then it might help. If playing at anything less than your peak is going to stress you out, then make the break a clean one.

What might be worth doing is trying to take a sample of where you're at now before you take a break. If you've been taking lessons, maybe a final lesson to review what's sunk in and worked well for you. If not, maybe get your swing on video or at least take some notes on your current game.
 
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Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
One round of raking leaves is a cure all for burnout. Better yet, take ur mother in law to brunch when you usually play and we'll see how burned out you really are.
 
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