We've launched the new forums! Read more here

Days You Just Don't Have It...

Papa 3-Putts

Papa 3-Putts

It’s not just a name - it’s a lifestyle.
Albatross 2025 Club Albatross 2026 Club
Joined
Jan 11, 2025
Messages
2,407
Reaction score
2,760
Location
Bristol, Tennessee
Handicap
8.8
No matter your golf skill or experience, we all have rounds where it's just not there - whether it's one piece like driving or putting...or maybe everything seems to be a dumpster fire.

I had one of these rounds on Sunday. No matter what I did, I couldn't get my round...really any single hole...on track.
  • Do you stay with the approach you had coming into the round before the wheels started coming off, in hopes you'll suddenly get back to normal?
  • Do you try and mitigate the damage and change things mid-stream?
  • Do you just suffer through it and try to enjoy your day?
 
Definitely happens to all of us. I try to focus on just making the next shot. Look for something positive each hole. I also always try to enjoy the round no matter how good or how bad.
 
I usually suffer through it and try not to ruin anyone else's day. I probably get more frustrated about it because I get out so few times compared to many others, but that doesn't mean others should have a bad time because of it. If it gets real bad I try to enjoy the positives of being outside with a group of friends for a little bit.
 
I try to fight through it by not overdoing it. Take easy conservative lines, take extra club, focus on lagging putts. Sometimes that works. I am still trying but just in a more conservative and less taxing approach.
 
Recognizing this can be a huge reflection on how good of a golfer you are.

Of course it happens, but it can be great to draw you back to the basics and just hit simple shots.

When that isn't working there are two ways I have found that help. One- get to the range and just work till you get it sorted or two take a break.
 
I typically just keep playing and hope I figure it out before the end of the round..
If things never get figured out I’ll do what I can either at home into the net or at the range.

It can be incredibly frustrating, I have sort of reset and got a Skillest lesson in situations like this.
 
Papa 3-Putts said:
No matter your golf skill or experience, we all have rounds where it's just not there - whether it's one piece like driving or putting...or maybe everything seems to be a dumpster fire.

I had one of these rounds on Sunday. No matter what I did, I couldn't get my round...really any single hole...on track.
  • Do you stay with the approach you had coming into the round before the wheels started coming off, in hopes you'll suddenly get back to normal?
  • Do you try and mitigate the damage and change things mid-stream?
  • Do you just suffer through it and try to enjoy your day?
Click to expand...
Usually when my rounds fall apart like that it's my tee game that causes it. When it first starts then I'll try a quick swing thought change to see if that can help while I stick with the approach I came into the round with. If that doesn't work i'll try to adjust my approach and try to pick safer clubs off the tee and just deal with longer approaches and needed to chip more.

If the putter is failing then I will try to adjust my aim based on how i'm missing but it's more of a just suffer through thing.

Through it all and no matter what is going on i'll still try to suffer through and enjoy the day while making some self-degrading jokes about my game.
 
I slap duct tape and bailing wire on it.

Go to the happy club, which everyone should have, and just get it around while minimizing damage:
 
Just suffer through it sadly lol
 
I have those days and it’s frustrating when I’ve been playing well throughout the day and then have a blowup hole. That’s usually the point where I have a decision to make, that next hole is usually the hardest hole of the day because that’s where I can prevent my entire round from going sideways. I’ve worked hard on course management, but I think also part of that course management is staying mentally in the moment and moving on when bad things happen. I think that’s one of the strong points of my game.
 
For me, nothing I do seems to change a bad round, so I just do my best to get through the round and make the most of it. I just have to shake it off because I know it is just a bad day of golf. I can have a bad round and the next day shoot a great round. Sometimes that defines golf :)
 
Suffer thru it and enjoy the day.

Try to clear the head, get rid of any swing thoughts, and play the game..............it always comes back
 
Jman said:
I slap duct tape and bailing wire on it.

Go to the happy club, which everyone should have, and just get it around while minimizing damage:
Click to expand...
Yep - this is my approach too. Find anything that’s working and stick to it
 
I had one on Saturday. I questioned my sanity and swore a bit more.
 
Just drop back and punt. If I’m teeing off a par 5 with a 5H, it’s been a day. Picking up at triple bogey can save some strokes. 😂
 
If there is a day that just feels off and I can’t get it together I’ll just roll with it. Try to keep things simple and minimize big numbers.

I rarely try to “fix” anything mid round because I’ve found that makes it worse
 
I guess, middle fairway and middle green isn't a wild approach but pin hunting isn't usually conducive to me playing well. Knowing what usually causes issues for me and recognizing trends on the day helps make changes quick. Implementing those quick changes is the hard part.
 
All of the above ;)

Depends how much I really care that particular day. First ...I will try & change things up, adjust something after the wheels have come off. Try & analyze what the hell I'm doing wrong. If that doesn't work, I'll try just one more fix & see if any of the wheels come back on the track. If it does, great ... continue with course of action. If it doesn't .... screw it, try & enjoy the day without completely embarrassing myself.

My father used to aggravate the hell out of me. If I started to hit the ball bad, he would just let me try & work it out myself, not giving me any advice the entire round. Basically letting me suffer if I didn't fix it. Then on 18, he would finally say, "Can I tell you something?" "Do this." And boom .... fixed my problem instantly. Then I would get mad & say "Why the hell didn't you say something to me earlier in the round?" His reply ... "cause you didn't ask me." He wanted me to try & fix it on my own, as if he wasn't there. Just to get me prepared for any time I have to do it when it counted ... matches, tournaments, etc.
This is why I haven't ever taken any formal lessons. My father was the only one who knew my swing & my tendencies. He could fix it instantly. I don't know why I'm this way. I know that there are PGA Professionals that could fix it most likely, but ... they aren't my father. :cry:
 
TWright said:
Usually when my rounds fall apart like that it's my tee game that causes it. When it first starts then I'll try a quick swing thought change to see if that can help while I stick with the approach I came into the round with. If that doesn't work i'll try to adjust my approach and try to pick safer clubs off the tee and just deal with longer approaches and needed to chip more.

If the putter is failing then I will try to adjust my aim based on how i'm missing but it's more of a just suffer through thing.

Through it all and no matter what is going on i'll still try to suffer through and enjoy the day while making some self-degrading jokes about my game.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty much the same...if it goes off the rails, it's usually going to be off the tee. If it's the putter, I can sort of mitigate that.

What got me on Sunday the most was the in-between - approach and around the green.

So yeah, you just suffer through it and make fun of it....because if you're someone who plays a lot and you know the round is out of character, you just sort of have to sit back and laugh about it.
 
club selection gets a bit more focused on what I know is working the best.

Mindset changes from scoring to having fun.

Not sure there is a perfect solution for me. I hate it when things go weird.
 
Jman said:
I slap duct tape and bailing wire on it.

Go to the happy club, which everyone should have, and just get it around while minimizing damage:
Click to expand...
Sunday had me thrown for a loop because it was mostly the scoring clubs that completely failed me...and that's usually the strongest part of my game.

Usually if something goes off the rails, it's the long game...and that's why I will probably always have a 2 iron in the bag.

I mean...at some point, I guess I'll be too old for a 2 iron and it will have to become a 2 hybrid or 2 wood or something. :ROFLMAO:
 
Canadan said:
Not sure there is a perfect solution for me. I hate it when things go weird.
Click to expand...
I don't think there is for anyone, really - especially when the whole thing goes to ****.

It's just such an odd feeling, to be a decent player and feel like nothing you do works on a particular day.
 
golfinnut said:
My father used to aggravate the hell out of me. If I started to hit the ball bad, he would just let me try & work it out myself, not giving me any advice the entire round. Basically letting me suffer if I didn't fix it. Then on 18, he would finally say, "Can I tell you something?" "Do this." And boom .... fixed my problem instantly. Then I would get mad & say "Why the hell didn't you say something to me earlier in the round?" His reply ... "cause you didn't ask me." He wanted me to try & fix it on my own, as if he wasn't there. Just to get me prepared for any time I have to do it when it counted ... matches, tournaments, etc.
Click to expand...
It's funny because with my son, I'll point out what he's doing wrong...he'll get pissed off and ignore what I'm telling him and will keep doing the same thing for a hole or two. Eventually, his pride fades and he actually makes the adjustment I told him to make - and it works.

And then we go through the same cycle next time. :ROFLMAO:
golfinnut said:
This is why I haven't ever taken any formal lessons. My father was the only one who knew my swing & my tendencies. He could fix it instantly. I don't know why I'm this way. I know that there are PGA Professionals that could fix it most likely, but ... they aren't my father. :cry:
Click to expand...
Same. My Dad taught me the game, he's the one who could identify what I was doing wrong. Now I'm at a point where I'm sure a professional lesson or two could be a plus, but I worry that it will blow up what I've built since I was 10 years old.

So I've gotten really good at self-addressing any issues during range sessions.
 
blugold said:
I guess, middle fairway and middle green isn't a wild approach but pin hunting isn't usually conducive to me playing well. Knowing what usually causes issues for me and recognizing trends on the day helps make changes quick. Implementing those quick changes is the hard part.
Click to expand...
I think what made my round so rough on Sunday was there wasn't really anything to mitigate. I only hit two bad tee shots the entire round...I only had one 3-putt.

It was everything in-between that got to me. It was really weird.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top