What am I doing wrong?

So new to this game, honestly liked it in the beginning always loved zombie themed stuff Loved World War Z, never played the original dead island. But man I'm on the part where I have to find Michael and this is challenging, every zombie takes like 6 hits to kill even my weapon (upgraded machete, Brass Knuckles and I think a crowbar and now a builders hammer) is sufficiently leveled up as soon as more then 2-3 pile up I'm basically dead wo medkits. How tf do I play this and win without just running and using baits?