How does one quit this game??
 

I know Yoda quit once. I've paid my dues for the year so I'm going to stick it out for the rest of the year.

I was a good athlete in my younger days, and also a better golfer. Picked up the game again about 12 years ago, but I'm only traveling the frustration highway, and its time to get off.

My wife doesn't think I can quit, so I need some suggestions on how to leave it behind.

Quit?? Not Me!!!

Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

No we did not.

Neither did they

What's Pearl Harbour got to to do with Golf?
Anyways, quitting this game is hard to do. You always reach a stage where you want to quit but there is always something that is at the back of your mind that makes you come back.
The best thing to do is to take a break. Don't touch a club or play golf for a few days/weeks and only take it up again when the enthusiasm returns.
Alex

1941 - The Movie
 

"Over? Did you say 'over?' Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"

- John Belushi

That one threw me mb. But then Trig reminded me of the movie. :D
Come'on...it was the Japanese.

Anyway, enjoy Golf for what it is; A sport that can never be mastered. The game of all games!
Maybe we should start a thread on "What you love about Golf".

Bagger

read this...maybe it will give you some inspiration:

http://www.manzellagolfforum.com/for...?TOPIC_ID=2111

When something isn't fun and you don't enjoy it, it is time for change.

Quitting is rather a drastic step.

You could consider

a. Not keeping score, enjoy the walk, enjoy it when you hit that shot, enjoy the company
b. Change the game, it is your game to play. Play a round with only odd number clubs or only 5 clubs.


I am sure there are other ideas.

Once it becomes fun and enjoyable, once it is golf again, then start back into a process to improve the game.

Maybe you should watch caddyshack again. Sometimes a good laugh is all we need!!!! Good luck been there too many times:?

Quitting
 

Thanks Jim and Martee.

Martee, I used to enjoy just walking and trying different things to see what the ball would do. Golf WAS my stress relief - now it is a stressor!

Jim, I read your post at Manzella's the other day. I don't have access to an AI, can't afford to fly to one and pay their fee.

I've been doing dowel drills, stage 1 and 2 motion curriculum since November. Actually my shortgame is pretty good.

But, I've lost 20 yards with my driver, lost 30 yards with my irons. I know I don't have throwaway, because I use a tac-tic and it doesn't click, tac or tic. My health hasn't changed since last year.

I'm going backwards hard and fast. So, I guess I'm just going to put the clubs away for the next 2 weeks. Have a little 9 hole scramble in 2 weeks. Maybe that will change my outlook.

Thanks for your input!

Sounds like Martee Makeover Challenge #2???

Re: Quitting
 

I hear ya. I'm Hitting my driver, 3wd and hybrid... plenty long and straight. Wedges get nice and close. With my 4-9i, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bucket of balls in an hour and a half. Almost dug up a sprinkler line with a 7i on Saturday. So I want to quit half of the game, or play courses that are driver, wedge, putt. :lol:

Charlie

Kevin Costner in the movie Tin Cup said that golf and sex are two things you don't have to be good to enjoy. I'll throw away my clubs when I join a monastary.

Re: Quitting
 

I've only seen brian twice and he's helped a lot but a lot of what i learned was "found in the dirt" as hogan would say. I was close to where you were not long ago as i said in the post, but i figured it out. I was on the verge of transitioning from hitting, maybe even switting, to more of a swinging motion.

Once i figured that out and TRUSTED it, everything came back.

THEN

Once the confidence came back i allowed myself to swing as fast as i knew i could. I wasn't worried about my flat left wrist, or hitting it fat, or nothing. I think you might be somewhere where i was. Where do you live? Send me an email if you want, i'd love to try and help.

You're 45 minutes southbound on the freeway from me.

If you're interested, I'd be more than happy to try to help you get the wheels back on.

wolfman, where in wisconsin are you?

I'm about 40min from the border, i live in the chicago area. I'd be more than happy to come help you for a little bit.

Send me a PM

Re: How does one quit this game??
 

Wolfman,

Try injuring yourself. I would suggest a really painful, debilitating back injury that: prohibits you from sleeping for a month; causes nerve damage that might result in permanent loss of bowel/bladder function at any time; and requires surgery. Viola! You've quit golf!

Make sure that the injury is scary enough that after you potentially could return to golf after all the rehab (your new hobby), you are afraid enough to stay quit. However, be sure to continue to read you favorite golf forums so that you can read about the truly tragic stories of able-bodied golfers and their unsuccessful attempts to quit.

OR...you can dispense with the self-pity and ask the very supportive folks at LBG the question you really want to ask, "how can I lower my frustration level and enjoy golf more?" I suggest reading "Golf is not a Game of Perfect" by Rotella and "Zen Golf" by Parent.

Lou (who is now removing his tongue from his cheek) :wink:

An injury!!
 

Yeah, thats the ticket!! More excuses.

I'd love to ask the questions, but I'm a visual/hands on type. Reading just gets me lost more - I think.

Maybe, THINKING is actually the problem :lol:

A lobotomy for golfers. Do they sell those on the internet?? Of course if I got one, I wouldn't really care if I could only hit a 6 iron 130, and all would be rosy :wink:

LOL
Thanks

Matt/Jim
 

Matt,

Are you back for the summer? You were talking about playing the Bull in an upcoming tournament. Was that in June? I have a gift certificate for golf at the Bull that I need to use soon.

Have you played it, yet?

Jim,

Maybe, you, me and Matt could get together and play a practice round at the Bull (and any other TGM golfer).

Then, you guys could tell me if I have any potential for a re-build or just take up badmitten!!

I'm back for the summer. Turns out I'm not going to be playing that Bull event for a number of reasons but will still be doing the Wisconsin State Amateur as has become my custom.

We can figure something else out.

Wisconsin AI
 

Matt,

You once mentioned there was an AI you have seen in Wisconsin. Was that you?

If that was true, where is he/she and name, please.

Also, I hit balls today using my old swing from last year. My distances are back, but as inconsistent as always.

I guess I need to figure out what my "type" my old swing is and what I need to do to improve. Any ideas???

You've got a PM.

Quitting???
 

OK, I am still here.

Matt hooked me up with an AI about 45 minutes from me here in WI.

Have had 4 lessons so far.

I've been into TGM for about 1 1/2 years. Read the book 3 times, read almost all of Manzella, Evans, TGM and this website. Watched Tomasello many times, and Manzella and Evans DVDs.

There is no substitute for an AI, even if he is a GSEB.

I had the ideas correct in my head, but I wasn't executing them. By the 4th lesson, we began making some progress. I wasn't understanding what he was trying to get me to do.

Scores since beginning AI: 81, 88, 76, 83, 45, 45, 39, 41, 83. Very similar scores to last year, BUT I am beginning to understand why my ball is going where it is.

Started with basic motion and progressed from there. When I do it right, I hit driver 280 and 5 iron 185. I've had multiple comments lately on my ballstriking.

Thanks all for your comments and support.

Quitting this game...
 

We all have terrible sessions where it seems the ball is completely out of your hands. Only maybe 5 weeks ago I had the one of the most terrible practice sessions. I have concentration in abundance and I was really truely trying my heart out - I gave it my all. Then come in the thoughts - why do I persist playing a game I am still capable of playing really poorly at times and I find that I call myself a failure and I give myself so much pressure on playing well its probably out of hand. But then I think of the good times this game has given me and it just comes down to that I just love this game - I really do....

Golf isn't just a sport, its teaches you to constantly have a desire to improve ones self. Giving up on golf, is like giving up on yourself.

Re: Quitting???
 

If that does not work and you would like to get away from the game. Take two weeks off............................................... .................................................. ........then quit!

Right Matt?

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Randy

Looks like I got lost from the fitness thread but . . . I would recommend doing some alignment work, light strength and stretching. You don't have to lose your health for your spine to change. Most people don't feel or see these changes in the short run. I've had many golfers only work with me a few sessions and begin to regain the game they thought they were losing within a few weeks. Every single testimonial I have says something to this effect. Just make it light and specific in the beginning and see how much you need to to.

If you peruse the thread and can't find what you need feel free to contact me. I can't advise you on your specific golf alignment techniques but I can help with your platform (body) alignment.

Vickie

this game
 

Thanks for the responses. Well. I'm not going anywhere from the game for the time being.

I was in a very bad funk - losing 20-30 yards on shots will do that to you.

Regarding alignment issues. That better not be the case since I'm working with an AI. If it is, then I better be getting a refund!!!

I wasn't losing yards because of strength or flexibility issues. I was losing yards because I was misinterpreting the book and everything else posted in the various forums.

I hate to admit it, but it seems that improvement in golf can only come from finding a teacher capable of teaching you the proper components. This, as we all know, is not an easy task and can be rather expensive.

Now, we have come full circle again on this topic. If you are incapable of finding "that" instructor/paying for the lessons, then you really are incapable of improving. THAT is not giving up on yourself! That is the system surrounding golf failing, and the reason that the game of golf is slowly eroding away and scores continue to hover around 100!!!

IMHO

p.s. 87 Sat, 82 Sunday.

So what have the biggest eye-openers been? What were you interpreting incorrectly? This could be extremely helpful because you probably aren't the only one. It's certainly much easier to demonstrate in person instead of via words as you know.

Two high school friends went on to play US college golf. one of them was captain.

That was almost 10 years ago. Neither of them have played golf for the last 5 years.

Quitting golf is not 100% bad

Mis-interpretations
 

I thought I was a hitter. Been hitting things all my life - baseballs, hockey pucks, construction, chopping wood.

My crossline hip move was actually throwing out my right hip.

My right forearm pickup was way off. But now that I sem to be doing it correctly, I can't put into words what it was that I was doing wrong, and I frankly don't want to be able to describe it. It was evil.

On the downswing my forearm wasn't tracing the approach properly. I was pointing my elbow out or backwards as I was coming down - my attempt, I think, to make sure my left wrist was flat at impact.

I believe that R forearm position is the most important part of the swing. Also, bringing the right shoulder down plane has been very helpful.

I have good hand eye coordination and when my timing was on I could shoot 85, but the next day shoot 95 or 100.

Shot even par for 9 holes yesterday. 1 bogey, 7 pars and birdie on 9 for 36. First time I have ever had even par on that 9. Focusing solely on the right forearm position at the top, and bringing the right shoulder down the plane.

I will be playing 18 Wed, 9 Thursday, 18 Sat and Monday. Those next 4 days will tell me if I'm starting to get it!!!

Re: Mis-interpretations
 

That is great to hear Steve. And that swing thought will take you a long way, so keep it up. Glad to hear things are starting to shape up.