Greg:
Every time I get in that slump I get a tee time at a really nice track like Cog Hill # 4. That forces me to forget the golf demons and just appreciate the round.
DD

Greg,

I know exactly what you are going through. I am going through this right now and like you I go through this every year. It's overwork and trying to hard. You and I are trying too hard and making the game a job and not a recreational activity. What I do is back off from my practice sessions and I will go out on my local golf course and play just for fun and not score. For a period of about 3 weeks I'll change my routine totally. I'll go out and play only 9 holes and I'll play from the most forward tees using only my irons for every shot, even from the tee box. Sometimes I'll go to a par 3 executive golf course to focus just on my iron and short game. I'll even put multiple balls in play. I have found this laid-back approach to be very refreshing as I have suspended my normal all-out, grind it out work routine. So go out and have fun, relax and enjoy yourself. Temporarily change your current routines, unwind and don't grind so much. You'll come back to the game emotionally, physically, and mentally refreshed. Works every time. Guarenteed!

Best Wishes,

DV

greg, soldier on, buddy. You're still playing. For 25 years I could not play at all because of a near fatal car accident. Count your blessings and buck up, my friend. It can be much worse. Also, it seems as if you're programing your mind for this to happen, "every year..." Change your attitude and you'll change your life. Good luck!

If I get into a slump, I just keep moving forward by reflecting on what seems to be the issue. I'll head to my go to ego boost course and play a round to gain confidence back. If that fails I take a break for a week or two then head to an executive course with my irons and play a some rounds until I feel I've worked out what's been the issue...if it's with my swing. If it's mental I just take a break for a couple of weeks and the first round or two back I don't score and just enjoy the round.

Vurich,
So happy you recovered and are back to the game. Sounds like your attitude played a big part in it.
Best

Greg p, I am in the same boat. Seems each year starts off with great timing/tempo and promise. Then around this time things "head south". It had gotten to the point where I was not having fun on the course. Golf was very frustrating. The desire to get out and hit balls was gone. I had no idea where the ball was heading.

My head was not in the game, I was not focused on the shot at hand. Tension had crept into my swing. I played 9 holes with my wife on a funky little course not far from home. In the first 4 holes I lost 3 Pro-V's!! It was my wife who noticed my lack of focus and pointed it out to me. I played the last 4 holes like I actually knew what I was doing, where the ball was going. I stayed focused on the shot, tried getting rid of "swing tension" and the results were really good. I went out the next afternoon on my home course and shot a 4 over par 39, with two 3 putts.

I am hoping that just slowing things down, appreciating the beauty of the golf course and swinging with a head free of negative thoughts will bring my game back to where I want it to be.

Plus as a bonus, when I started freaking out about losing Pro-V's, my wife told me to relax, she would buy me more!

Good Luck!

I take a break from golf if things are falling apart.....the break may be a few days or a week or two.

I will practice putting - putting requires constant attention from me.

Have been going thru the slumps here and hitting the ball to the right. You know the word we don't use. Gave some thought to what I was doing and felt I was standing to far from the ball. This has been going on for about three weeks and I play three days a week. When I played Monday, I ensured that my feet were lined on my intended target, moved closer to the ball in a more relaxed posture and choked up about a half inch on the club. Actually dropped nine strokes off my previous round. Ball was actually traveling on target, with less effort, and in total control. This was applied to all clubs. Just food for thought. Most of all, I stopped thinking about it and hit the ball. Cheers, Chuck =)

Should have said choked down on the club. My bad.

I get the same thing but I seem to have spells all year 1month on then a couple of really bad weeks then back into form. But when I say bad I'm talking embarrassingly bad I play off 10 and last weekend I shot 104 at my home course that's the worst low I've had but the difference is outstanding. Going from shooting 76-80 regular to then 100's. I have filmed myself during the lows and highs but my swing stays fairly solid all the time. I know it's all in my head. I just can't shift it it's really starting to take all the fun out of the game

I run into the same thing. When I get into a slump I've realized that I try harder and swing harder thus even making the situation worse and throwing off my timing. Once I realize this I slow down my tempo and swing lighter to get back my accuracy and not distance. When things are back where I'm satisfied I can turn on the heat more and go for it!!!!!!

The same thing happens to me every year as well. I find my enthusiasm for the game follows the tour schedule. I am super pumped to play when the pros hit Kapalua for the season opener. My excitement is at its high leading up to the Masters and gradually decreases throughout the season. My excitement and focus totally disappear after the PGA. I probably play 30-40 rounds during this time so maybe its just burnout. But the enthusiasm always comes back when starting a new year.

I feel your pain. For me my doldrums lasted about 6 weeks. Finally everything started to come back and for the first time in months I finally shot a round in the 70's. Then the rains came. Have not played in a week as it rained every day for a week. I am supposed to play this afternoon but it is drizzling as I type this. Seems like when I turn the corner and start playing good golf either weather or something physical interrupts the game. I deal with it by looking forward to when I can play.

I would like to make another comment from yesterday's. Played on our sopping wet course after 6 inches of rain over the past 5 days. It rained off and on during the round and rain is to continue for another couple of days until the system that is over the Gulf moves out. I have thought about the doldrums I have gone through the years and I can say that I do not play well in extreme heat where heat index is at 110 or above, cold weather where the wind chill is 40 or below and the absolutely worse is what I played in yesterday. I went from a 79 13 days ago to a 97 yesterday. I have never played well on a wet sopping course. The way to beat this doldrums is to wait until the course dries out. In the meantime I will work on my short game and do range work. A man has to know his limitations.

Great timing to read this thread. I consistently hit this year after year, but this year ended up being the worst. I played about 13 rounds in 8 days, and after that found myself to be worn out and simply playing just to reach the 18th green (or 19th hole.)

I have been to the range twice in a month, and played only one round since, and am both happy/disappointed with the result. My motto is when I do something that I'm not truly enjoying I need to take a break, and this was the case. I hit the range this morning and have a good feeling to keep grinding again. The swing isn't right, but I can't really expect that after a hiatus.

Like some have said, take a small break. One day or three weeks, whatever works for you. I can't say I'm a pro at this part at all, but try to find the enjoyment out of something in the game. Often times I forget I'm not a pro (not even close) and hold too high of expectations.

Grind away, TT, grind away.

When this happens to me I will play a couple scrambles(Best Ball) and the pressure goes away, game comes back spot on. You might want to try this. Just sayin.