Losing my swing........

Question
I am having troubles maintaining a consistent swing. Over the winter I was able to swing a golf club in my high-celinged garage, and it felt like I was making progress towards a more consistent swing/swingplane. However, today I went out to the range for the first time and I could neither stay down over the ball or hit a straight shot. In fact, I hit a few screwy shots I had never been subject to.

My practice swings feel really good and I feel that the nuts-n-bolts of my swing are sound. However, the problem seems to start when I get over the ball. I'm assuming this is some sort of nerves. Got any advice on how to work through these over-the-ball nervous issues?

Answer
Sean:  Start small.  If you are just starting back up from the winter layoff, start real small.  Start with a Pitching Wedge.  Tee up a ball just off the turf, narrow your stance to about a foot apart and make some swings that are only waist high to waist high.  I am talking about your left arm in the backswing and your right arm in the follow through swing.  Small swings, get the feel of the club and the clubhead, get a feel for the weight of the club again.  It's been awhile, so don't make big swings or full swings and expect to hit it good.  Start small, check your grip, make sure to use your hands to turn that clubface into the back of the ball so you can sense and feel the leading edge of the clubface rip out the tee or brush that grass.  Small swings to control the swing, control the size and control the speed.  Develop consistent, solid contact first, then do that for your first 5 practice sessions.  Do the exact same thing and work your way up to a 6 iron.  After 5 practice sessions with small swings, using your hands correctly to get the clubface on the back of the ball and feeling the weight of the club and the clubhead, you should be ready to hit some bigger shots.  You should also be hitting it alot more solid.  If you are not, recheck your fundamentals and basics.  Then start in again.  Pretty soon, you'll be up to making fuller swings.  It's kind of like jogging before running.  You don't want to take off out of your house on day one in a full sprint, you'll hurt yourself.  Your going to walk first, then do some light, slow jogging, then step it up a little bit and pretty soon, you are running.  Same thing applies to your routine leading back into the golf season.  Have fun Sean.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member