7 Ways to Break out of a Golf Slump
A golf slump can make you want to throw your 5-iron in a lake (just ask Rory) or light your golf bag on fire.
Well, maybe most of us would not go that far. However, a golf slump is one of the more frustrating parts of the golfing journey. It often leads to utter confusion on the range, frustration on the course, and sometimes it feels like the slump will last forever.
If you’re in a slump right now, just know you can break out of it sooner than you think.
Plus, don’t feel like you’re alone as it’s happened to even the best players (remember when Tiger Woods had the chipping yips?)
Here are seven ways to break out of your golf slump and get back to your normal game.
1. Objectively Assess Your Game
The first step to getting out of your slump is assessing your game from an objective viewpoint. If you’re in a slump, chances are it’s just one or two parts of your game that are holding you back, not everything. When Tiger had the chipping yips, he was still contending thanks to all other aspects of his game.
When things are feeling hopeless, it’s easy to say, “My game is off” or “I just can’t score” but that blanket statement is holding you back from improving.
Instead, diagnose the biggest area(s) that are killing your scores. Once you’ve recognized the weaknesses of your game, then you can make a plan to start improving.
2. Play More, Practice Less
All it takes is one round to snap out of a slump and get your confidence back. If you’re feeling burnt out with your game, it’s time to mix it up.
You can do this one of two ways…
- First, play a fun round at one of your favorite golf courses. Get your best golfing buddies together and go out there with one intention - have fun. When you’re having fun at a favorite course, with your friends it’s easy to play relaxed and likely better.
- The other way to get out of a slump is to play at an easy course; think of it like a “slump buster.” Find a shorter course with flatter greens so it’s easier to score well. If you can’t find that type of course nearby, play up a tee box to see a better number on the scorecard.
3. Stop Thinking About Mechanics
While training aids and drills are great, using them too much makes it hard to play golf well on the course. Limit your technical sessions to 20% of your total practice time.
Instead, go out there and just hit shots without thinking of mechanics.
One of the biggest reasons people get into slumps is from playing their golf swing vs. playing golf. This can happen from watching too many YouTube videos, reading too many technical golf articles, and constantly tinkering with your swing.
Instead, go to the range with one goal: learn about your game. After every shot ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Don’t react to shots (unless they’re positive emotions) and instead, learn from them. Also, take time between shots and rest after every 10 swings for five minutes to record your learnings.
4. Create a Highlight Reel
Off the course, find your best swings from practice and playing so you can create a highlight reel.
Dave Stockton talked about this in his book, Unconscious Putting. He was struggling on the greens and had a highlight video of making putts from 5-50 feet. As he said, “Watching the video helped get me back in rhythm, and it made me mentally start seeing success and the ball going into the hole.”
5. Work on Your Short Game
If you’re having trouble scoring well, spend time on your short game. Having a solid short game can help hide less than perfect ball striking and make good rounds, great ones.
Here is a practice session you can try out to help your short game.
6. Take Time Off
Another strategy to get out of a golf slump is to take some time away from the game. While it’s not always the easiest thing to do, it’s usually a great way to fix your swing and mental game.
During this downtime, hit the gym, bang out some cardio and do some stretching. The golf swing isn’t ideal on the body so make sure to take care of it so it’s not holding you back when you’re ready to tee it up again.
Taking time off can not only do the body good but it can clear your mind as well. Since golf is such a mental game, it’s easy to overthink things and get in our way.
I’ve found that anytime I take some time off, I come back refreshed and have a clean slate mentally too.
7. Connect With a Golf Coach
The final strategy if the first four haven’t worked is to connect with a golf coach. I think this should be a last resort, not a first option so you can learn more about your swing and game. But if things are bad no matter what you try, sometimes getting a little help isn’t a bad idea either.
Remember, a slump is temporary and you can overcome it with these seven tips. Persevere so you can come back an even better player than before.
