Lost my shot?!?!

I was playing in a tournament on Monday and in the middle of the round something odd happened. I hit my 7-iron about 30 yards to the right just a dead slice. Ever since I have been having lots of troubles. I have gotten it back to where I can hit my driver and 3 and 5 woods again, but my irons are just awful. I started out coming out of my iron swing so I would top it every time. Now I get the divot, but the ball just goes 20 yards or slices dead right only 40 yards. I've tried playing the ball up in my stance and it is not working. I've tried a slower backswing, but I still cannot figure out what is going on? This game is frustrating.

Raider,

Have you had the chance to look at yourself on video?

Get back to basics. Check your grip, set up, posture and alignment. Trust your swing. You know you can do it. Remember to accelarate through the shot.

Get to the practice range and hit the 7 iron - build confidence.

If you have coaching go and talk it over with him. Perhaps go over old notes of your lessons.

Perhaps you should read the post below titled: (Immediate cure for coming over the top)Immediate cure for coming over the top. Even if you're not coming OTT, this may help you. I just recently started to shake off some ugly swing demons myself{knock wood} and I found that I was hitting at the ball as opposed to swinging the club through the impact-zone. In addition, this may assist you with squaring up the club face and getting it back on plane. Keep it simple and RELAX, when I was pressing, I was tighter then a drum! Good luck my friend!

What I always suggest to students who have 'lost their swings' is to go to the range with a 7 or 8-iron and hit shots with thier feet together to build up a rhythm, to build up the balance and some confidence.

Put your feet together, turn them slightly to the target and hit 3/4 swings focussing on balance. If you come out of it, you'll lose your balance. If you come OTT you'll also notice it because you're balance will be out. Don't concern yourself about the result of the shot, just focus on building up some balance and rhythm.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

I have found this to be one of the best things to do. It just seems to tie everything together.

I had something similar happen a few months ago. I was on a par 3 and hit a wicked slice perhaps 40 yards forward and 40 yards to the right. Since then, I cannot hit my irons. Instead of a nice, relaxed swing, I am all tension, I think subconsciously fearing the malicious slice again.

My irons used to be my strong point, with a nice in-to-out swing which often produced a nice little draw. Every once in a while I would come OTT, but I would work it out. Now, it's OTT all the time. I guess my body is trying to pull the ball so that I won't slice it. In my mind, I know what to do. At least I think I do. Doing it, though, is another matter.

Going to an instructor is out of the question. I'm not sure there's a qualified one close by, and, if there is, I have other financial priorities.

So, I have to find out how to work this out or give up the game. For me, giving up the game is even harder than working this out!

Bill

This has nothing to do with your mechanics. Nothing. Graham hit it on the head. Forget everything, take it easy, go to the range and have fun hitting easy pitch shots with an 8 iron. Just think about being smooth and balanced. Have fun, most of all. The moment you stop thinking about your swing, it will come back. Forget all this over-the-top stuff. Avoid video and anything else that will make you overanalyze yourself. Your swing is still there, you're just suffocating it with technical mumbo jumbo. Relax. Free your mind. Have fun. Stop reading.

This happened to me a few years ago. Started taking lessons. Saw too many teachers and read too many books. Went from a 2 handicap to a 16 . Could not hit a bull in the butt with an ironing board.

After a year or so of that, I went back to basic fundamentals. I hit lots of half shots with short clubs and gradually worked my way up through the long clubs.

Now I do my best when I just look at the target and hit it. I still work on mechanics but not so much any more. No one can develop an absolutely perfect swing from start to finish. Least of all me

But, I can get it around the course and break 80 almost all the time and occasionally break par. Good enough.

One of my good buddies once told me after I had a series of lessons that I needed to take 2 weeks off, don't even pick up a club during this time, and then QUIT!!!!!!!


On a serious note though, one lesson, or video may be helpful just to check certain mechanical problems with set up and takeaway. Anything else seems to just cloud up the mind and paralyze your swing.