Every standard golfer has the same goal – how to achieve a better score! Whether you are an aspiring novice who has just started the game, or perhaps you are a seasoned player who is ready to take your game to the next level and break par, everyone is looking for ways to improve their score on the golf course.
According to data collected by the United States Golf Association (USGA), less than 1% of golfers break 70 consistently. Just over 20% of golfers break 80 frequently, 73% achieve a score of 90 or better, and 95% regularly break 100. While this data only accounts for individuals with recorded handicaps, it does help put into perspective the challenges every golfer faces as they look to take their game to the next level.
Bob Rotella spoke the infamous words, “Golf is not a game of perfect,” but there are fundamental characteristics of a golf swing that every standard should be following. Dependent on your level will determine precisely which areas you should focus on. Here are some of the best tips to follow for each standard of golfer, and hopefully, following some of these will help you achieve a personal best score when you next visit the course.
How to Break 100
For those visiting the golf course with aspirations of breaking 100, here are a few tips you should follow to help you achieve your goal of a better score.
1. Don’t worry too much about the par for the course on the scorecard. Add one shot to each of the pars on the scorecard to create a more realistic target. For a par 72 course, that changes the par to 90 and gives you additional strokes on the more difficult holes.
2. Find a club you have confidence in hitting straight and use this on the tee box. Don’t always immediately pull the driver out of your bag. While you may hit this further, unless this is your straightest club in the bag, it may frequently send you further away from the fairway. The key to breaking 100 is avoiding large numbers on your scorecard, and certainly, missing hazards and focusing on staying on or relatively close to the fairway will help your score.
3. Focus on putting while you are practicing. If you develop a solid putting stroke and are confident on the greens, this will frequently save you several shots on the course. Remember, a putt from 3 feet is the same number of strokes as a 300-yard drive!
How to Break 90
When you are ready for the next step on the course and start breaking 90, you will need to focus on different areas that will allow you to start scoring better.
1. Work on your short game within 100 yards. Your wedges and putter are your scoring clubs, so it’s critical that you are comfortable within this range. At this level, you will still miss several greens in regulation, so being able to chip effectively from around the edge of the green is essential.
2. It’s inevitable that the temptation of your driver will see you hitting more of these around the course. While you may stray off the fairway, developing your range of recovery shots will enable you to get back on track and avoid those big numbers.
3. Develop a pre-shot routine that will not only put you in a good place to break 90 but will stay with you as you continue to score even lower. When you watch golfers on the PGA Tour, you will notice they have a repetitive routine. This allows you to focus on the fundamental aspects of alignment, stance, grip, and posture.
How to Break 80
When you frequently shoot in the eighties, the next step is taking yourself from a recreational golfer into the realm of performing at an extremely high level. To break 80, a few tips that are worth following include these.
1. Breaking 80 does not mean that you need to have PGA tour abilities. However, having a solid mental game will undoubtedly put you in a great position to achieve this frequently.
2. Playing out of bunkers should not be considered a significant hazard for golfers at this standard. Once you overcome your fear of playing out of bunkers by mastering a basic sand shot, this will put you in a favorable spot to break 80.
3. To consistently score below 80, you need to be really good at something or have a solid all-around game. If you have solid ball striking and accuracy off the tee, you can make up for a less-than-stellar short game. On the contrary, if you are a magician on and around the greens, that will help you achieve your goal of breaking this threshold.
How to Break 70
Very few golfers can even contemplate breaking 70. Still, if you are willing to put the hours of practice in and already have the fundamental basics of the golf swing in place, you may have the opportunity to achieve an excellent score.
1. Take advantage of the par 5s. As a low-handicap golfer, you must look at the scorecard and figure out the best place to make birdies. The par 5s are frequently the best place to achieve this. With two solid shots, you will likely have a good chance at making a birdie or perhaps even an eagle.
2. A frequent misconception is that to break 70 means that you are ready to become a professional. The big key to achieving this score is cutting out those terrible shots because you cannot afford to waste any strokes. It’s hard enough to make birdies in a round, but for every bogey you make, that’s one extra birdie you need to achieve.
3. Putting is critical to breaking 70. If you are consistently putting yourself in a position to break 70, you need to be able to consistently hole mid-range putts from inside 15 feet. Spend time before and after your round on the practice green, as this part of your game will definitely make or break your dreams of breaking 70!
