Taking a Break

Whether you are new to golf or been playing for years, one this is clear…it’s a very frustrating activity. Sometimes things just aren’t going your way, sometimes you pick up bad habits in an attempt to quick fix your swing, and sometimes you might just get the yips. Now the answer isn’t to just give up altogether, but what can be very beneficial is to take a break. This is especially good for newcomers. If you haven’t had any lessons yet then there is a good chance you are learning from friends or people you just met on the course – non pros, and this can be harmful.

I was guilty of this when I started playing, it seems logical to see someone who hits the ball well and is playing better than you, to try and mimic what they are doing, or listen to their advice. Not to say their advice will always be wrong, but there is a good chance it’s not what you need. If you are mid-round and slicing everything into the woods, then make a small adjustment per the advice of someone else and you hit a few straight ones…sure it might help you score a little lower that round, but it also could be forcing you to develop that habit, and if its not correct then it will be that much harder to break moving forward.

Taking a break from golf might be your best bet. This isn’t to say stay away from everything, you can always watch videos, go to the range and videotape yourself, and take some lessons. But going out and playing round after round and cementing your bad habits will only cause more problems. Before you develop those bad habits, take a couple lessons and learn the correct way. By taking some time off you will forget some of that improper footwork, that strange looking swing, and get back to basics. Pair this up with a couple lessons from a pro and you will feel like a whole new golfer. Usually after a few weeks or a month you can shake off those minor tweaks you made that helped you at the time, but are hurting you in the long run. So don’t keep forcing yourself into those bad habits! Step back, correct, and then come back stronger than ever!