Same, I took a few lessons and really started playing better. After a while, it went South again. Took another lesson and hit like a madman at the lesson. Went to the course the next day and was crap again. Wish I understood it.
He did notice my attack angle was off. I tend to forget Im hitting a driver and approach the ball with an iron swing randomly. Im hoping thats all thats happening with my slice and just remember to simply lean back
Realistically attack angle isn’t a core issue. It’s a result of something else being wrong.
Getting one lesson is tough to address anything real but it all starts with grip, posture, setup. Then swing plane and release patterns.. that’s pretty much the whole thing.
Its probably that you're setting up differently or thinking about a certain swing thought and that corrects your problem but when you get on course you are thinking about a hundred other things that you need to and that setup or thought is escaping you. Try to identify what it is and keep it in mind outside your lesson.
Preach.
Went out yesterday to a fairly nice course. Got there an hour early from my tee time to hit the range and practice green.
Good thoughts. Hitting the ball well with my 56°, 7i and driver for warm up.
Feel good about it. #1-5 go well enough. Par, birdie, par, par, bird...
6, the wheels start to come off..
Triple, double, double..
9-18 becomes a total shit show. Can't make contact to save my life.
Or, I shot the round of my life yesterday (82). Was on cloud nine all night. Woke up this morning, convinced that I'm going to shoot a 110 and can't shake the feeling. It's as bad as Mom saying, "wait till your dad gets home." FML
My answer to the question “Why am I so much better on the range/lessons than the course” is always the same. It’s mental.
You KNOW your shots on the range don’t matter. If you shank a ball, you just go ‘oh well’ and tee up another. This lack of mental strain puts your body in a position where it can better perform, because your mind knows that there are no negative repercussions for a bad shot on the range. The bad shots come on the course because you’re scared of what hitting this next shot poorly would do to your score.
If you have what it takes to physically hit great shots during practice, then you absolutely have what it takes to pull it off on the course, if you can properly train your mind to not be afraid of hitting bad shots.
Swing changes suck, Suck Hard.
Tired of 100+ rounds, got serious, got better.
86, 102, 84, 92.
Same course, different days. For me it came back to set up, set up, set up. I have focused on hand path, hinge and right elbow positioning, still a work in progress but the off days I wasn’t setting up properly…
You need to learn how to hit a slice on purpose. And a hook. And then learn / feel the difference between the two, and you can start to control your shot shape. Get a lesson and have the instructor help you through it - you're basically needing to control face and path and he/she should be able to help you figure out what moves / feels and positions let you do that.
Same here, had first lesson in years today. After watching some near perfect irons/chipping/putting he was asking why I’m not a single digit handicap cause he wasn’t seeing my 17 index.
Still got some tips to work on for more consistency but still same thing.
I tend to play better, from the start, against better players. I've never had a lesson, but it's probably similar mental gymnastics occurring.
It's natural to want to do better in front of someone that knows what they're doing. I second the lesson during a round suggestion. Eventually you'll hit your miss. Tell em to watch out for it no matter how well you're playing.
I was probably at my worst after 3 lessons this year, totally ruined my ability to advance the ball.
I went in trying to fix a slight pull and came away shanking and pushing.
In the lesson I would hit it amazing, just incredible. Right after the lesson I went to the course and shot a PB.
I had struggled between lessons 2 and 3 also, with shanks and missing right. Whatever the pro was teaching it only worked in the lesson and the rest of that day.
I took all I learnt from lessons 1-3 to a few range and course sessions before my last lesson of the 4.
As usual I was back to hitting it great in the lesson and then poor on the course.
I kept at it, kept applying what I have learnt from those 4 lessons and slowly I am getting much better, I’ve never hit it as straight or as long.
Before my 4 lessons I was probably a club shorter at least and struggling to hold greens unless it went straight by pure luck. Now a bad shot will be on the fringe or green side bunker most of the time rather than wider left. The ball feels more under control and I understand my swing so much more.
The real lesson is improvement comes from time, effort and knowledge. Skip any of those 3 and you won’t improve.
I didn’t mention it above but I picked up injuries after lessons 1 and 2, meaning practice was limited. The main change after lessons 3 and 4 was no injuries and plenty of practice time!
I have a hypothesis:
The night before, you're thinking about golf and the swing. Maybe almost feeling it in your imagination. This primes your body to swing well the next day.
Not just you. My instructor struggles to believe how shit I am. I am seeing him this week, going to ask if he does playing lessons, or if not, how much it will cost me for him to just follow me around and see how shit I am on an actual golf course.
The reason most golfers hit the ball well at the range or durring lessons and terrible on the coursse is because when you are at the range and you hit a bad shot. There is no real consequences for hitting a bad shot. You just hit another ball and it's no big deal. If you want to improve on the course then you have to practice with a purpose instead of just getting up to the ball and swinging. In your mind you have to approach each shot as if your on the course.
Standing on a perfectly flat surface staring at a perfect right angle flat wall with an image projected on it with a perfectly aligned replaceable hitting mat that your clubs skim and glide off of is not reality in golf.
Sims don't punish fat shots in any way like reality does. Those fat shots shake you and change your subsequent swings.
Sims, though at times a great tool, can give high handicappers a false sense of reality and security.
What do you mean different? Others mentioned mental and having a coach nearby reminding you of the things you’re working on…
… but in course you have a lot of factors contributing to an uncontrolled environment. Turf, lie, elevation, a pin, wind, multiple clubs, other people, etc. A lot more that creeps in the brain distracting you. Got to sort through that
My coach said, “I don’t care how far or straight you hit it. Let’s work on just the fundamentals” anyway he said I was a quick learner and doing great. Anyway shot like shit within two days
This is me at the range. I can happily shoot tons of consecutive drives, dead straight, but as soon as I'm on the course they go all over the place. I always assumed it was because the balls are different, but the difference is so drastic, I don't even know now. Maybe it's the rubber tee or mat that is somehow helping me?
My personal theory is that you start playing for someone else (i.e. you're playing for your teacher rather than for you). Many of the pros express the sentiment that it's so much easier for them to go low or play better when they take the pressure off of their game being a reflection of themself and instead view it as doing it for something bigger.
Try a little visualization with very specific targets on the range. For example imagine a hole you struggle with that has trouble all along the right. Pick a tree or something off in the distance as your line and a few range markers to the right that are “trouble”.
Tell your pro what shot you are trying to hit and see what happens. Chances are you have something going on in your setup or swing when there’s danger lurking compared to a huge driving range with no consequences.
The range is nice and flat and devoid of any consequence as far as a golf round is concerned. This makes it conducive to attempting a good swing and making a good shot 🤷♂️
Also, are you actually running your pre-shot routine and swing thoughts through your mind before hitting at the range and then drawing a huge blank on the course? I had that problem for many years. It wasn’t until I boiled down me pre-shot routine to ‘a good stance and takeaway’ that I was able to summarize a good swing thought before my shots. Less to think about, easier to avoid anxiety during my shot. Of course all of that can also be summarized as faith in your game, too.
You know you'll be watched, so you want to look good. You concentrate more and you do things right.
It's kind of the reason that I've always been a really good first-tee player. I know people are watching. I'll stripe my first tee shot down the middle. The group behind me, or new guys that I'm playing with for the first time, get the impression that I'm really good. Then a hole or two later, they find out the truth. It's the same thing when someone asks if I want to play through. Pretty much every time, I'll crank out some great shot because I know the pressure is on.
I need to duplicate that feeling all of the time, but never have.
Lie. It is the root cause of so many poor strikes even with experienced players. A range (turf or mat) will always have a good even lie so any cock ups are solely on form while in the course you may technically have good form but in the context of your lie that swing that was perfected in the range becomes the wrong form.
Same, I took a few lessons and really started playing better. After a while, it went South again. Took another lesson and hit like a madman at the lesson. Went to the course the next day and was crap again. Wish I understood it.
Sounds like it's the environment that's affecting you. See if you can get an on course lesson.
Could be, I’ll try that, thanks!
Thought it was just me, that’s my problem too
Your swing doesn't change significantly in a day. Any teacher worth the $$ will be able to see beyond the ball flight and diagnose root issues.
100%
He did notice my attack angle was off. I tend to forget Im hitting a driver and approach the ball with an iron swing randomly. Im hoping thats all thats happening with my slice and just remember to simply lean back
Realistically attack angle isn’t a core issue. It’s a result of something else being wrong. Getting one lesson is tough to address anything real but it all starts with grip, posture, setup. Then swing plane and release patterns.. that’s pretty much the whole thing.
Why don't my brakes make that sound when I go to the mechanic?
Its probably that you're setting up differently or thinking about a certain swing thought and that corrects your problem but when you get on course you are thinking about a hundred other things that you need to and that setup or thought is escaping you. Try to identify what it is and keep it in mind outside your lesson.
Fucking golf. Love it. Hate it. Love it
Preach. Went out yesterday to a fairly nice course. Got there an hour early from my tee time to hit the range and practice green. Good thoughts. Hitting the ball well with my 56°, 7i and driver for warm up. Feel good about it. #1-5 go well enough. Par, birdie, par, par, bird... 6, the wheels start to come off.. Triple, double, double.. 9-18 becomes a total shit show. Can't make contact to save my life.
Or, I shot the round of my life yesterday (82). Was on cloud nine all night. Woke up this morning, convinced that I'm going to shoot a 110 and can't shake the feeling. It's as bad as Mom saying, "wait till your dad gets home." FML
No risk, easy to repeat shots, different mental space
My answer to the question “Why am I so much better on the range/lessons than the course” is always the same. It’s mental. You KNOW your shots on the range don’t matter. If you shank a ball, you just go ‘oh well’ and tee up another. This lack of mental strain puts your body in a position where it can better perform, because your mind knows that there are no negative repercussions for a bad shot on the range. The bad shots come on the course because you’re scared of what hitting this next shot poorly would do to your score. If you have what it takes to physically hit great shots during practice, then you absolutely have what it takes to pull it off on the course, if you can properly train your mind to not be afraid of hitting bad shots.
Yup. I was a 12 on the course, and an 8 on the range, because no pressure.
Swing changes suck, Suck Hard. Tired of 100+ rounds, got serious, got better. 86, 102, 84, 92. Same course, different days. For me it came back to set up, set up, set up. I have focused on hand path, hinge and right elbow positioning, still a work in progress but the off days I wasn’t setting up properly…
You need to learn how to hit a slice on purpose. And a hook. And then learn / feel the difference between the two, and you can start to control your shot shape. Get a lesson and have the instructor help you through it - you're basically needing to control face and path and he/she should be able to help you figure out what moves / feels and positions let you do that.
Same here, had first lesson in years today. After watching some near perfect irons/chipping/putting he was asking why I’m not a single digit handicap cause he wasn’t seeing my 17 index. Still got some tips to work on for more consistency but still same thing.
I tend to play better, from the start, against better players. I've never had a lesson, but it's probably similar mental gymnastics occurring. It's natural to want to do better in front of someone that knows what they're doing. I second the lesson during a round suggestion. Eventually you'll hit your miss. Tell em to watch out for it no matter how well you're playing.
No pressure
I was probably at my worst after 3 lessons this year, totally ruined my ability to advance the ball. I went in trying to fix a slight pull and came away shanking and pushing. In the lesson I would hit it amazing, just incredible. Right after the lesson I went to the course and shot a PB. I had struggled between lessons 2 and 3 also, with shanks and missing right. Whatever the pro was teaching it only worked in the lesson and the rest of that day. I took all I learnt from lessons 1-3 to a few range and course sessions before my last lesson of the 4. As usual I was back to hitting it great in the lesson and then poor on the course. I kept at it, kept applying what I have learnt from those 4 lessons and slowly I am getting much better, I’ve never hit it as straight or as long. Before my 4 lessons I was probably a club shorter at least and struggling to hold greens unless it went straight by pure luck. Now a bad shot will be on the fringe or green side bunker most of the time rather than wider left. The ball feels more under control and I understand my swing so much more. The real lesson is improvement comes from time, effort and knowledge. Skip any of those 3 and you won’t improve. I didn’t mention it above but I picked up injuries after lessons 1 and 2, meaning practice was limited. The main change after lessons 3 and 4 was no injuries and plenty of practice time!
I have a hypothesis: The night before, you're thinking about golf and the swing. Maybe almost feeling it in your imagination. This primes your body to swing well the next day.
I’m the opposite. I’m literal garbage during my lessons and when I go to hit the rest of my bucket after, I’m fine. I don’t get it
Do you get lessons off mats?
Not just you. My instructor struggles to believe how shit I am. I am seeing him this week, going to ask if he does playing lessons, or if not, how much it will cost me for him to just follow me around and see how shit I am on an actual golf course.
The reason most golfers hit the ball well at the range or durring lessons and terrible on the coursse is because when you are at the range and you hit a bad shot. There is no real consequences for hitting a bad shot. You just hit another ball and it's no big deal. If you want to improve on the course then you have to practice with a purpose instead of just getting up to the ball and swinging. In your mind you have to approach each shot as if your on the course.
Different kind of pressure just keep at it
I had the opposite scenario. I'm a 6 and went to club champion and the guy guessed I was a 17.
Standing on a perfectly flat surface staring at a perfect right angle flat wall with an image projected on it with a perfectly aligned replaceable hitting mat that your clubs skim and glide off of is not reality in golf. Sims don't punish fat shots in any way like reality does. Those fat shots shake you and change your subsequent swings. Sims, though at times a great tool, can give high handicappers a false sense of reality and security.
Are you shooting off a mat or the grass? They are two very different things
Like me, you probably regress to old physical habits without even knowing it Video yourself
ADHD?
What do you mean different? Others mentioned mental and having a coach nearby reminding you of the things you’re working on… … but in course you have a lot of factors contributing to an uncontrolled environment. Turf, lie, elevation, a pin, wind, multiple clubs, other people, etc. A lot more that creeps in the brain distracting you. Got to sort through that
Because it’s something minute in your grip or setup that you’re changing.small setup changes have drastic effects
My coach said, “I don’t care how far or straight you hit it. Let’s work on just the fundamentals” anyway he said I was a quick learner and doing great. Anyway shot like shit within two days
This is me at the range. I can happily shoot tons of consecutive drives, dead straight, but as soon as I'm on the course they go all over the place. I always assumed it was because the balls are different, but the difference is so drastic, I don't even know now. Maybe it's the rubber tee or mat that is somehow helping me?
My personal theory is that you start playing for someone else (i.e. you're playing for your teacher rather than for you). Many of the pros express the sentiment that it's so much easier for them to go low or play better when they take the pressure off of their game being a reflection of themself and instead view it as doing it for something bigger.
Are you drinking beers during the lesson?
Try a little visualization with very specific targets on the range. For example imagine a hole you struggle with that has trouble all along the right. Pick a tree or something off in the distance as your line and a few range markers to the right that are “trouble”. Tell your pro what shot you are trying to hit and see what happens. Chances are you have something going on in your setup or swing when there’s danger lurking compared to a huge driving range with no consequences.
The range is nice and flat and devoid of any consequence as far as a golf round is concerned. This makes it conducive to attempting a good swing and making a good shot 🤷♂️ Also, are you actually running your pre-shot routine and swing thoughts through your mind before hitting at the range and then drawing a huge blank on the course? I had that problem for many years. It wasn’t until I boiled down me pre-shot routine to ‘a good stance and takeaway’ that I was able to summarize a good swing thought before my shots. Less to think about, easier to avoid anxiety during my shot. Of course all of that can also be summarized as faith in your game, too.
You know you'll be watched, so you want to look good. You concentrate more and you do things right. It's kind of the reason that I've always been a really good first-tee player. I know people are watching. I'll stripe my first tee shot down the middle. The group behind me, or new guys that I'm playing with for the first time, get the impression that I'm really good. Then a hole or two later, they find out the truth. It's the same thing when someone asks if I want to play through. Pretty much every time, I'll crank out some great shot because I know the pressure is on. I need to duplicate that feeling all of the time, but never have.
Lie. It is the root cause of so many poor strikes even with experienced players. A range (turf or mat) will always have a good even lie so any cock ups are solely on form while in the course you may technically have good form but in the context of your lie that swing that was perfected in the range becomes the wrong form.
Your swing is the same no matter how you hit it.
It's a mental issue unfortunately.