- Admin
- #1
After the winter layoff or just taking time away from the game, are you rusty or do you spring right back into action?
Long Layoff: Rusty or Back in Action?
Usually doesn't take too long to get back going
If I take a month off or more, I usually play great for 1 or 2 rounds and then I go down hill fast until I can get back in the groove.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2010
- Messages
- 19,618
- Reaction score
- 4,085
- Location
- Liberty Lake, Washington
- Handicap
- GHIN 7.1
A little rusty. Mostly with the long irons, but a couple of rounds and range sessions and I'm good to go.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2009
- Messages
- 7,102
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- 212
- Location
- Stockholm, New Jersey, United States
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- 17
I'm usually rusty after the winter lay-off. It takes me 4-5 times at the range and then another 4-5 rounds of golf to get comfortable again.
It'll take me a round or two to get back into it, usually just going to the range once or twice before a round of golf helps a lot as well.
Must be an upstate NY thing. I usually play very well for my first few rounds of the year before I show signs of rust. I think it has to do with swinging easy and concentrating on making solid contact.
rust sets in for me with only a few weeks of a layoff. I am thankful that I live in year round golf.
- Staff
- #11
I have no norm in this area. There are years where I pick up a club and I'm playing what I would consider normal. Then there are years where it takes me as much as a month to get back to feeling good in all aspects of the game. Driver and short game are where I really see the rust when its there.
This is me, exactly. I think it's because those first 2 rounds i'm not thinking at all, I'm just glad to be out golfing again. Once that 3rd or 4th round comes along, I know what needs improvement so I'm over thinking that aspect of my game, and something won't be working until I get back in that groove.
It takes a bit to knock the rust off & get back into the groove & not go back to the bad habits that you broke the previous season.
I've been hitting the sim once a week trying to hold off the decay, I'll see if it paid off next week when I get back on to a real course.
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Generally back to good form after a round or two.
What winter break? In Texas, winter is the best golfing weather all year long.... it's 75 outside today
my game is usually WAY better. probably because I dont expect much and play with a clear mind and free swing. once I start thinking about playing better thats when it all goes down hill.
I usually seem to spring right back into it, pun intended, for whatever reason I usually play pretty decent after a layoff
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
- Messages
- 11,500
- Reaction score
- 19,182
- Handicap
- PBR
It's weird. I feel like my first time out after a winter break is usually one of my best. Then after a few rounds, I see the rust. Not sure what that's all about.
Maybe all the adrenaline and high of being back on the course helps my game a bit at first and then reality sets in.
Maybe all the adrenaline and high of being back on the course helps my game a bit at first and then reality sets in.
I can golf good or really crappy no matter whether I’m playing a lot or haven’t played in months. A couple of my best rounds ever have been after long layoffs. Sometimes if my only swing thought is “don’t miss the ball” I play really well. I’m not trying to press or thinking I can pull off low percentage shots, just looking for solid contact.
Conversely I’ve played really bad after a lay-off as well.
The golf gods giveth and they taketh. You never know what’s coming.
Conversely I’ve played really bad after a lay-off as well.
The golf gods giveth and they taketh. You never know what’s coming.
This is my first New England winter and while it’s been quite mild (allegedly), I find ways to keep my swing in check.
In fact, I just discovered a covered driving range near my work that has heated bays and is open year round. Keeps me from getting rusty!
In fact, I just discovered a covered driving range near my work that has heated bays and is open year round. Keeps me from getting rusty!
I get rusty pretty fast I think. My swing still doesn't feel very natural to me, and seems to require a good bit of maintenance.