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I took up the game in August, play and practice quite a bit, took 6 lessons from a pro, and found myself after 3 months breaking 100 most of the time.

Then 2 weeks ago..

I was not happy with getting shots in 150 yard range (too much for my 7 iron, too short for my 7 wood)
SO I dedicated about a week on my 5 iron and getting my woods straight. All went so well. my mid irons were going long, even working on my 3.

My warmup each day took me from my wedge up to my 5. And I was hitting better than ever before.
Then I notice my pitching became terrible, I could not stop from hitting fat. Then it spread to my 9, and so on..
Last 3 days, I cannot hit an iron for the life of me. My driver and woods are better than ever. consistent, straight. But anything more than a chip, I hit way fat, or top, or shank.

I think now for sure I have a mental block. Plus, how much does fatigue enter in to it? (I have spent 1 to 2 hours a day at the range for the last 16 days in a row.)

Anyone recognize the symptoms?

You are off to a good start in golf breaking 100 this quickly. However, it would be most unusual for you to have "grooved" a swing in this amount of time. There is a good chance that your practice sessions now are reinforcing errors and keeping you tense. Perhaps a change of pace would be beneficial. When this sort of thing hits me, I have used a simple fix over the years (I've been playing for six decades). I go to the range and start hitting 8irons with about a 3/4 swing while consciously keeping my wrists from breaking. The shorter swing will help keep your shoulders on an even keel and along with "no wrist" you'll keep your arms and shoulders relaxed. After a couple of dozen 8irons, progress to the 6iron and then the 4iron. Then bring your longer clubs into the session, hiting with the same "relaxed" swing. If this works for you on the range, take it to the course for 9 holes and see what happens. Then you can gradually add power. You might want to back off the intense practice and work in some short game drills. A good balance for practice is to devote as much time to practice putting, chipping, sand shots, etc. as you do to the irons and woods. If your club has a PGA Teaching Pro, his help with your game would prove invaluable. He would be able to see what's wrong and help you in a way those of us at GR cannot over the 'net. Hope this helps and I wish you well with your game.

Thank you for your help. I am pretty sure I developed a mental block, I am positive on each swing I will ***** up. On the otherhand, I am so confident on my woods, I am hitting them longer and straighter each day. Today I did the drill you suggested. My mental block, frustration and tension with my irons has me tweaking something each swing. Good thing I have another set of lessons coming up on Tuesday. Or go back to mountaineering/ rockclibing and racing bikes.. Easier relaxing things.

Absolutely go see your Pro and tell him exactly what you told us.

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Its very common, especially when getting started to have a problem such as yours. You get one thing going good...the woods and something else goes wrong, the irons, starting with the short irons or some other similar permutation. I am thinking you have worked so hard on your longer clubs that you have grooved that swing plane which is more rotational and less vertical. Now, you have let that creep into your iron swing and it would be much more apparent with your short irons.

Take a PW, 8i, 5i, and 3i and assume a stance with them lined up in the middle and arrayed outward from short to long. You can readily see that if you attempt to swing the PW on the same swing plane as the 5 or 3i you are in trouble. Incrementally, from your long irons to your short irons each swing's plane is slightly more vertical than the one before.

Your Pro can hook you up on this with a review of posture and set-up. You're right golf can be as nerve racking as racing a bike or rock climbing; but, with little adrenaline to assist.
Cheers,
Bob

***Update***

Had my sessions with my pro today. Problem fixed (most of the time)
Somehow during my long iron and driver sessions, I developed tension, strong right hand.
Using the strong right hand, causing the hitting fat.
Had me do a whole bunch of one-arm drills. I was also hanging back, not getting my weight forward. After 30 min or so, hitting my 9 iron well again (straight, 100-120 yards)
I still have too much tension over all in my arms, and not letting the club swing, but at least I am back to where I was, plus a little better

Ahhh the right hand.....wait till you get better and develope a hook.....you will love that right hand evenmore :D