Congrats Ernie! I wish I could mind meld 50 years of golf experience to you. My best advice is enjoy the journey. Now is a time for balance. You've put in a lot of work and have expectations but try to detach from outcome and enjoy the game (the good and the bad) . You've come a long way in a year. Remember that. 👍
Congratulations on the wedding. I’m even surprised you have time to do this with everything going on in your life. I’m sure you’re even busy with a new house. I think it’s a great idea that you’re taking a couple of months to play golf and not think golf swing time for you to start developing some trends and see what’s working and what’s not working. Time for you to develop a routine of practice and time in the gym. Time for you to just start having fun out on the golf course.
This video popped up in my recommended list at the right time. I was beating myself up for hitting the ball poorly lately when in the last month or so I've actually somehow been playing kinda consistently. I definitely don't have a good swing but I was making it work and having fun but the past couple of days I've been micro analyzing every flaw in my swing and it's just made me so mad. Reading all of these comments made me realize that I need to go back to having fun and accept that things like this are bound to happen in golf.
I played the best golf of my life this past winter after taking the whole summer off. It was just too hot. I played for a bit, riding that streak, and then started falling out of love with it again, too. Would be so much better playing with friends but the grind with randoms and tourists playing super slow is annoying. My view of golf is now like it’s a life skill sort of like riding a bike. Riding a bike in itself isn’t super fun, it’s more about what you’re doing that the bike is allowing you to enjoy. You can train to climb a mountain but if you’re always training to be the next Tadej Pogacar, when are you riding just to enjoy it?
Like any sport… someone with a decent amount of athleticism or hand eye coordination can get so far, but eventually everyone hits a temporary ceiling. You can’t expect the massive leaps in improvement to keep happening so you have to temper your expectations. The closer you get to being a scratch golfer the harder it gets. Really small things are usually what separates those players, but they are a big deal in the end. Chasing swing perfection can be a fools errand at times. Having a reliable shot shape, good distance control and a good short are all you need… and really good decision making. Hitting ball perfect every time puts too much pressure on your game. Accept it and enjoy playing. You’ll get there once you realize you don’t need a great swing… just a reasonably decent one.
First of all, congrats on your marriage! Secondly, the beauty of using your platform to share the highs and lows of your journey is the supportive community and learning that there are plenty of us that have fallen in and out of love with golf over the years. Having kids will really limit the amount of time you’ll have to practice and play. For me, COVID and my son getting into the game at the time along with all of the great golf TH-cam content has reinvigorated my love for the game to the point of obsession. Like many of us, we want more consistency in our swing which will lead to lower scores, but to your point, playing ‘golf swing’ isn’t golf. I practice far more than I play and I’m hoping to flip that. All of our swings are like fingerprints- all unique but capable of giving us enjoyment and quality scores if we understand what we’re working with and how to work our ways around the course. With my own personal/professional obligations, I’ll stay a mid-handicapper for the near future, but it doesn’t keep me from enjoying a round of golf (casually and competitively) and taking it too serious. Some of my favorite golf moments are the scrambles I’ve been able to play with my son the last few years. I wish you all the best in your journey and look forward to future content!
It’s good to see you again and congratulations on your marriage! I can feel your frustration. I don’t think you’ve fallen out of love with the game, I just think the peaks and valleys can make us question everything we’re doing. Keep grinding away at the things you’ve been working so hard on. It will come together for you. It is a journey and we have to deal with a few bumps in the road. 😊
I know that feeling of playing more “swing thought” than golf and that got me into a rut. What helped me break out of it was not caring to certain degree. You obviously wanna do well but you have to be care free and committed. Hopefully that makes sense but that got me playing better and liking the game again.
Good to have you back! Congratulation to your marriage! Im swedish and have played for three years, 16 Hcp. Parts of my game are for sure singel hcp level, my approach and short game. Golf is something you learn on the course and not the range is the best advice I ever got. Most scratch players I´ve played with can at best be described as bumblebees trying to fly - It shouldn´t be possible. Their swings are highly idiosyncratic and defies all "standard" swing methodology coaches teach. But yet, they get the ball were they want it. Play more and participate in weekly competiotions at your club and get a game that works for your hcp level, master yout short game to perfection and then you can start woring about looking good whilst playing good. It´s also a completely diffrent thing learning to play as an adult compared to as kid, people wont be as understanding and the demands that we put on ourself is on a completely diffrent level. I really enjoy your videos and lessons with Zack and I hope you keep it up. 🧡
Congrats on your wedding, Ernie! The rest of life is more important than your golf. I’m sorry you have not been enjoying your golf recently. It’s hard to grind like you have for the previous year. I hope you can find the right balance of practice, lessons and play to make it sustainable. You have a long term goal which requires a plan and real effort to achieve, but if you aren’t enjoying the process I think you need to adjust to what is enjoyable. With my training for MTB racing, I went through a 2-3 year period where I almost never rode my MTB when I was training because my coach and I thought it was too variable and unpredictable of efforts. My MTB skills are really high but my efficiency on the bike is a limitation so steady state road/trainer rides are physiologically better for me... in theory. Riding my trainer and my road bike made me fitter for a while, but not riding my MTB made me miserable and I was fighting motivation to train. I may not get the most optimal training, but I will stay more consistent and not give up now that I’ve just decided to ride my MTB when I want. I also figured that golf is a healthy diversion which may be robbing training time (I’d stopped playing for the most part), but I’m happier not just doing one thing… maybe your guitar or something else is the same for you. Hope that gives you some perspective which it seems like you are already figuring out.
From ‘Golf in the Kingdom’….“Oh, golf is for smellin’ heather and cut grass and walkin’ fast across the countryside and feelin’ the wind and watchin’ the sun go down and seein’ yer friends hit good shots and hittin’ some yerself. It’s love and it’s feelin’ the splendor o’ this good world.” - Agatha McNaughton
I’m glad you realized that as a coach myself I don’t want to see a client back for at least 3-4 works give them time to really practice and work on the lesson we had also congratulations on your wedding
Thanks man! I use Onform. I think they bough out Hudl which is what I used when I first started playing. It’s a super sweet app. If you record on the app, it’ll record at 120fps and you can see every frame of your swing
Ernie take your time. Golf has no immediate rewards and it is a development over time. Having said that, you have identified that you should be playing golf and not golf swing. Yet half of this video is focused on your golf swing! Get back onto the course, play with buddies and enjoy your time there! Hope to see your next video soon!
Hahaha that’s a great point, but I meant thinking about the golf swing when I’m playing a round of golf! I still want to be working on my swing, but leave the practice at the range and just play golf when I’m on the course!
Practice on the range. Do not take the range to the golf course. Zach has taught you the “why” behind your misses. Self analyze after the round, just play golf during the round.
Congrats Ernie! I wish I could mind meld 50 years of golf experience to you. My best advice is enjoy the journey. Now is a time for balance. You've put in a lot of work and have expectations but try to detach from outcome and enjoy the game (the good and the bad) . You've come a long way in a year. Remember that. 👍
Congratulations on the wedding. I’m even surprised you have time to do this with everything going on in your life. I’m sure you’re even busy with a new house. I think it’s a great idea that you’re taking a couple of months to play golf and not think golf swing time for you to start developing some trends and see what’s working and what’s not working. Time for you to develop a routine of practice and time in the gym. Time for you to just start having fun out on the golf course.
That’s what I’m thinking! Thanks for the support brother!
You have to know there will be ups and downs. Also....you'll feel more energized if you rock that Strat.....a lot!
The ebb and flow of life, I’ve been there. Don’t force it.
This video popped up in my recommended list at the right time. I was beating myself up for hitting the ball poorly lately when in the last month or so I've actually somehow been playing kinda consistently. I definitely don't have a good swing but I was making it work and having fun but the past couple of days I've been micro analyzing every flaw in my swing and it's just made me so mad. Reading all of these comments made me realize that I need to go back to having fun and accept that things like this are bound to happen in golf.
I played the best golf of my life this past winter after taking the whole summer off. It was just too hot. I played for a bit, riding that streak, and then started falling out of love with it again, too. Would be so much better playing with friends but the grind with randoms and tourists playing super slow is annoying.
My view of golf is now like it’s a life skill sort of like riding a bike. Riding a bike in itself isn’t super fun, it’s more about what you’re doing that the bike is allowing you to enjoy. You can train to climb a mountain but if you’re always training to be the next Tadej Pogacar, when are you riding just to enjoy it?
I love that perspective man. I need to get back to that. Thanks for sharing!
Like any sport… someone with a decent amount of athleticism or hand eye coordination can get so far, but eventually everyone hits a temporary ceiling. You can’t expect the massive leaps in improvement to keep happening so you have to temper your expectations. The closer you get to being a scratch golfer the harder it gets. Really small things are usually what separates those players, but they are a big deal in the end. Chasing swing perfection can be a fools errand at times. Having a reliable shot shape, good distance control and a good short are all you need… and really good decision making. Hitting ball perfect every time puts too much pressure on your game. Accept it and enjoy playing. You’ll get there once you realize you don’t need a great swing… just a reasonably decent one.
First of all, congrats on your marriage! Secondly, the beauty of using your platform to share the highs and lows of your journey is the supportive community and learning that there are plenty of us that have fallen in and out of love with golf over the years. Having kids will really limit the amount of time you’ll have to practice and play. For me, COVID and my son getting into the game at the time along with all of the great golf TH-cam content has reinvigorated my love for the game to the point of obsession.
Like many of us, we want more consistency in our swing which will lead to lower scores, but to your point, playing ‘golf swing’ isn’t golf. I practice far more than I play and I’m hoping to flip that. All of our swings are like fingerprints- all unique but capable of giving us enjoyment and quality scores if we understand what we’re working with and how to work our ways around the course. With my own personal/professional obligations, I’ll stay a mid-handicapper for the near future, but it doesn’t keep me from enjoying a round of golf (casually and competitively) and taking it too serious. Some of my favorite golf moments are the scrambles I’ve been able to play with my son the last few years.
I wish you all the best in your journey and look forward to future content!
Thank you for sharing, my friend! I appreciate your support and I think you’re 100% right.
Words of wisdom. Bang on
It’s good to see you again and congratulations on your marriage! I can feel your frustration. I don’t think you’ve fallen out of love with the game, I just think the peaks and valleys can make us question everything we’re doing. Keep grinding away at the things you’ve been working so hard on. It will come together for you. It is a journey and we have to deal with a few bumps in the road. 😊
Thanks Paul!! Hope all is well brother!
I know that feeling of playing more “swing thought” than golf and that got me into a rut. What helped me break out of it was not caring to certain degree. You obviously wanna do well but you have to be care free and committed. Hopefully that makes sense but that got me playing better and liking the game again.
Good to have you back! Congratulation to your marriage! Im swedish and have played for three years, 16 Hcp. Parts of my game are for sure singel hcp level, my approach and short game.
Golf is something you learn on the course and not the range is the best advice I ever got. Most scratch players I´ve played with can at best be described as bumblebees trying to fly - It shouldn´t be possible. Their swings are highly idiosyncratic and defies all "standard" swing methodology coaches teach. But yet, they get the ball were they want it. Play more and participate in weekly competiotions at your club and get a game that works for your hcp level, master yout short game to perfection and then you can start woring about looking good whilst playing good.
It´s also a completely diffrent thing learning to play as an adult compared to as kid, people wont be as understanding and the demands that we put on ourself is on a completely diffrent level.
I really enjoy your videos and lessons with Zack and I hope you keep it up. 🧡
Thank you for sharing my friend! I appreciate the support!
Congrats on your wedding, Ernie! The rest of life is more important than your golf. I’m sorry you have not been enjoying your golf recently. It’s hard to grind like you have for the previous year. I hope you can find the right balance of practice, lessons and play to make it sustainable. You have a long term goal which requires a plan and real effort to achieve, but if you aren’t enjoying the process I think you need to adjust to what is enjoyable.
With my training for MTB racing, I went through a 2-3 year period where I almost never rode my MTB when I was training because my coach and I thought it was too variable and unpredictable of efforts. My MTB skills are really high but my efficiency on the bike is a limitation so steady state road/trainer rides are physiologically better for me... in theory. Riding my trainer and my road bike made me fitter for a while, but not riding my MTB made me miserable and I was fighting motivation to train. I may not get the most optimal training, but I will stay more consistent and not give up now that I’ve just decided to ride my MTB when I want. I also figured that golf is a healthy diversion which may be robbing training time (I’d stopped playing for the most part), but I’m happier not just doing one thing… maybe your guitar or something else is the same for you. Hope that gives you some perspective which it seems like you are already figuring out.
Michael! Hope you’re doing well man. Thanks for sharing that! I always appreciate your support!
From ‘Golf in the Kingdom’….“Oh, golf is for smellin’ heather and cut grass and walkin’ fast across the countryside and feelin’ the wind and watchin’ the sun go down and seein’ yer friends hit good shots and hittin’ some yerself. It’s love and it’s feelin’ the splendor o’ this good world.” - Agatha McNaughton
Such a cool quote!
I’m glad you realized that as a coach myself I don’t want to see a client back for at least 3-4 works give them time to really practice and work on the lesson we had also congratulations on your wedding
Thank you brother!
Congrats on all the life changes E! Look forward to your Friday videos!
Thanks so much!!
Congrats on your marriage!
Also, nice Strat you have sitting over there 🤘🏻
Hahaha thank you my man! She was a nice addition to the aesthetics
Good video
Love the videos and appreciate the honesty. What program do you use to analyze your swing?
Thanks man! I use Onform. I think they bough out Hudl which is what I used when I first started playing. It’s a super sweet app. If you record on the app, it’ll record at 120fps and you can see every frame of your swing
I was wondering where you went ? Welcome back!
Congrats buddy. Welcome back!
Thank you brother!
We’ve missed you Ern and. Zach…..
Congratulations 🎈🎊🎉!
Ernie take your time. Golf has no immediate rewards and it is a development over time.
Having said that, you have identified that you should be playing golf and not golf swing. Yet half of this video is focused on your golf swing!
Get back onto the course, play with buddies and enjoy your time there! Hope to see your next video soon!
Hahaha that’s a great point, but I meant thinking about the golf swing when I’m playing a round of golf! I still want to be working on my swing, but leave the practice at the range and just play golf when I’m on the course!
Good to have you back. I can relate, I’ve had 2 months off injured, returned and have been overthinking, then playing horrendous 😅
Bagger Vance : “What I'm talkin about is a game...a game that can't be won only played.”
Congrats on your wedding.
Thank you!!
Practice on the range. Do not take the range to the golf course. Zach has taught you the “why” behind your misses. Self analyze after the round, just play golf during the round.
You want to play off scratch? The grass ain't greener the wine ain't sweeter.
Golf and marriage are like a hot bath…stay in it long enough, and it ain’t so hot.
After a year of marriage, you’ll fall back in love with golf. Lol.
Frankly, no one really cares.
You're over-analyzing STATIC positions. That's a problem.