COLUMN: Sometimes rest is the only thing for the weary

Saturday, July 6, 2013

I recently took a break from golf, more than a day off that is, and no it wasn't because of poor weather or that I couldn't get to a course ... I just did it because I needed to.

My last column I discussed the impact a poor mental game will have and one of my tips was to take a break. So I tested that theory.

It was something I probably should have tried after about a month into my problem and I probably would have saved a bunch of headache and money wasted on all the fees that golf can bring, especially when your golf game is bad (i.e. tournament entry, hotels, balls ...).

My biggest problem came when I began doubting myself. I would stand over a ball not sure if I was going to hit it long, short, left, or right ... And that makes it a little tough to play. I'm sure everyone would agree with that.

It was as if I was a freshman just beginning to play all over again. I felt as if I didn't have a clue what to do on a course. It was like walking into your own home after any period of absence and not being able to find where anything is or knowing what certain rooms are used for.

The worse I played, the more I hated my time on a course. It was getting to the point that I was losing all sense of enjoyment and barely found the motivation to go practice because I assumed that no matter how much I worked, it wasn't getting better.

You cannot play golf like this I decided and so I figured it was time to try the only thing left on the list ... stop playing and give your head time to rid itself of all negative thoughts and bad shots, and let your body forget all the technical swing thoughts that were holding you back.

The first time I held a club in eight days happened to be while I was on a course on vacation.

What better way to end a break than while you're on a break?

The best part was that I could ensure I would be relaxed and just enjoy my time on a course rather than feel any rush or pressure I had felt in any of my rounds over the past couple months.

Of course, it was about a week that I took off and I expected a little bit of a stiff start, but quickly my game was back.

I didn't go into any situation unsure about whether or not I could hit it or questioning whether or not my swing was going to fail my this time. I didn't think about all the misshit shots I had blasted before I took this break or all the bad rounds I played.

I went out there and enjoyed myself. Played for fun and realized that I was very happy I took the time off that I did.

When I started my break, after my first day off, I really wanted to get back out on the course the next day, but I knew I needed to take off the time I had set for myself or else all the benefit would have been wasted and I'd have taken two steps back.

I know I used a Bobby Jones quote in my last article but I have to again. "I never learned anything from a match that I won." This series of bad swings and bad rounds has caused me to fully believe in this.

I would have never worked on my short game as much as I have while my problems on the course were getting worse had everything been going great.

I learned that your short game can save you more strokes than anything. I also learned that I am capable of getting burned out, something I didn't ever plan for, and that a break isn't really that bad of an idea.

So if you are continuously having problems, day after day ... take a break. It definitely can't hurt.

Email any questions you would like answered to GoForeItBG@gmail.com.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: