When the wheels fall off

[torvine]

Hi

I have all Brians videos and have had some really great games using them. But recently my game has totally fallen apart. Mainly I'm getting SO mechanical I dont know where to put the club.

Resulting in weak sliced shots. I'm in a really dark place. Any tips on how to return to glory...?

 

[curtisj76]

Just don't quit. The other day I played a round (9 holes) with my daughter and I just played horrible. More double bogeys than anything else. Thought about calling it quits for the day but we decided to keep going. First three holes on the 2nd round: bogey, bogey, bogey. My exact words to my daughter, "We might be going home early" after the third hole. Number 4's green kind of goes back to the clubhouse so I figured I would just tee off and then probably go home. Crushed my drive and the rest is history. Birdied the hole and then finished with all pars. I was SOOOOO happy I didn't quit. If I would have quit I would have returned home basically depressed, confused, and pissed off. But I didn't and I returned home super happy with the feeling that I can play this damn sport!

 

[dashfan87]

If your getting too mechanical, remember golf is feel... you need the mechanics some, the feel is most important. if your at a point where you cant feel your golf shots anymore... your not going to hit good quality shots.

 

[Brian Manzella]

The wheels....

On Wednesday, me and Damon Lucas and two other pros played a little match at a place called CAVES VALLEY.

Nice place.

Anyhoo, I huffed and puffed my way up the hills, hit a dozen unmentionable shots, put on a clinic from 80-120 yards, putted like a Tour player, and shot 77. Damon shot 69 and we beat the crud out of the two nice pros. I cut Damon 3 or 4 shots.

The point is Caves Valley from the TIPS is no slouch, and 77 ain't bad for a worn out teacher wearing very hot slacks.

I played nine holes with Hunter Morgan at Crescent Hill in Louisville yesterday, and on a bad day, I would want to quit if I shot 77 there. I have shot 32 for 9 holes there about 25 times, and 31 once or twice. Par 36.

The first two holes are easy par 5's.

I had 7-iron to #2.

I started 7, 6.

Don't ask.

The point here is I played the last 7 holes 1-under and that was that.

You guys panic WAY TOO much.

I didn't hit a SHOT for 3 days. I knew what to expect.

As far as mechanics go, it is VERY HARD to score with any kind of swing changes.

You have to hit balls to figure out what you need to think about and feel on the course. Then, if you play, play for a score.

Just go out and hit some balls with NO THOUGHTS. Then report back here.

 

[birdie_man]

I been taking more doses of the patience serum lately too. I tend to change things way too fast when things don't work out bang on.

 

[curtisj76]

I tend to change things way too fast when things don't work out bang on.

SAME HERE, but NOT anymore. I wrote a thread a while back where I said I used to be a "golf internet forum junkie". Gave that "hobby" up and only stick around here and MJ's. Game has improved because of it.

 

[jbrunk]

On Wednesday, me and Damon Lucas and two other pros played a little match at a place called CAVES VALLEY.

Nice place.

Anyhoo, I huffed and puffed my way up the hills, hit a dozen unmentionable shots, put on a clinic from 80-120 yards, putted like a Tour player, and shot 77. Damon shot 69 and we beat the crud out of the two nice pros. I cut Damon 3 or 4 shots.

The point is Caves Valley from the TIPS is no slouch, and 77 ain't bad for a worn out teacher wearing very hot slacks.

I played nine holes with Hunter Morgan at Crescent Hill in Louisville yesterday, and on a bad day, I would want to quit if I shot 77 there. I have shot 32 for 9 holes there about 25 times, and 31 once or twice. Par 36.

The first two holes are easy par 5's.

I had 7-iron to #2.

I started 7, 6.

Don't ask.

The point here is I played the last 7 holes 1-under and that was that.

You guys panic WAY TOO much.

I didn't hit a SHOT for 3 days. I knew what to expect.

As far as mechanics go, it is VERY HARD to score with any kind of swing changes.

You have to hit balls to figure out what you need to think about and feel on the course. Then, if you play, play for a score.

Just go out and hit some balls with NO THOUGHTS. Then report back here.

Dad? Is that you?

That is what I hear everytime I go play with my dad and 'the boys'. I try too hard, get too pissed off on one bad shot, can't shake it off, then post 82 when I know I can shoot 78. Then I go back to my lesson and the range and try to find that swing that gets me to scratch when I know I never will be.

Crazy game.

 

[torvine]

Thanks for all the advice !!

I just love golf it's a real passion, just spent a week away reading Hogan & watching Brian's DVD's. I enjoy the learning.

I'm a good athlete and former county squash player, gymnast and swimmer. Yet I cant master golf.

I guess we have all been here "those here" if not every golfer out there.

I will get there...... !!!!

 

[dashfan87]

[/B]


Dad? Is that you?

That is what I hear everytime I go play with my dad and 'the boys'. I try too hard, get too pissed off on one bad shot, can't shake it off, then post 82 when I know I can shoot 78. Then I go back to my lesson and the range and try to find that swing that gets me to scratch when I know I never will be.

Crazy game.

Me? Is that you!?!

you sound just like me, right down to posting 82s when you should be posting 78s...
and the dad too....

welcome to my boat... our boat...

 

[holeout]

You all should do yourselves a favor and go out to watch a mini-tour event (Hooters, Gateway, Canadian, Tarheel, Adams, etc) and follow a really good player and see how he puts together his round.

One thing though: you have to make sure he is a really good player (based on past performance) and that he has a BAD LOOKING swing. So you know, you won't have to do all that much searching.

Seeing how a guy can make a very un-impressive pass at the ball, hit some very mediocre to bad shots, and still put together a round of 69 or better is fun to watch.

And very educational.

 

[dashfan87]

You all should do yourselves a favor and go out to watch a mini-tour event (Hooters, Gateway, Canadian, Tarheel, Adams, etc) and follow a really good player and see how he puts together his round.

One thing though: you have to make sure he is a really good player (based on past performance) and that he has a BAD LOOKING swing. So you know, you won't have to do all that much searching.

Seeing how a guy can make a very un-impressive pass at the ball, hit some very mediocre to bad shots, and still put together a round of 69 or better is fun to watch.

And very educational.

actually that does sound fun... There are some on the PGA tour like that... Tommy Gainey comes to mind.

 

[tongzilla]

You all should do yourselves a favor and go out to watch a mini-tour event (Hooters, Gateway, Canadian, Tarheel, Adams, etc) and follow a really good player and see how he puts together his round.

One thing though: you have to make sure he is a really good player (based on past performance) and that he has a BAD LOOKING swing. So you know, you won't have to do all that much searching.

Seeing how a guy can make a very un-impressive pass at the ball, hit some very mediocre to bad shots, and still put together a round of 69 or better is fun to watch.

And very educational.

could that be why they're on these "mini" tours?

 

[holeout]

could that be why they're on these "mini" tours?

Don't kid yourself. A bunch of these guys can go out and shoot nothing on any course you put them on, any day of the week.

Not all of them are this good. I'm only talking about the BEST on the mini-tours. The difference between them and the average PGA Tour player is not all that much.

 

[Jay845]

I recently did watch a Canadian Tour event. I followed a groups that contained Anthony Rodriguez (of The Big Break fame, an former PGA tour player), Graham Delaet (who is a rising young Canadian player), Brent Schwartzrock (former PGA tour player) and a few other Nationwide Tour players.

My obeservations:

1) Yes they hit if far, but more impressive to me was their putting and short games (I have never seen more 15-20 footers made in person in my life)

2) They aim at the middle of the greens alot more than I thought they would (their putting makes this possible I guess)

3) Alot of different swings, but they all got to a good impact position very smoothly

4) The majority of the players that I followed had quick tempers when a bad break occurred or they hit a bad shot, but they calmed down equally as quick.

I learnt a ton watching this event, and I will be attending next year.