How to Break 80

Crossing the barrier from low 80’s to high 70’s is a very challenging yet achievable thing to do.  Once you do it, you come to the realization it is possible and that you should shoot for even lower scores.  But that itself is no easy task.  The average golfer shoots around 97 for 18 holes so it might be crazy to think they could break 80.  But for those close to doing it, let’s explore how to make the jump. 

Just Tap It In

 A big piece of the puzzle comes down to putting.  From experience, low rounds I’ve shot are rounds where my putting is solid.  You can’t expect to make every putt but if you eliminate or minimize 3-putts, that can go a long way to a good score. 

The leader in putting on the PGA tour averaged 27.7 putts per round in 2014.  It is no question they can shoot low scores.  Set a goal to have less than 30 putts in a round and with good iron play, you will have a chance at a low score.

You can’t miss the short ones.  The tap-in putts need to go down on the first try.  You cannot expect to give away shots like that and still shoot well.  While making the short ones is a must, I believe another key to going low is to make one or more longer and more unexpected putts.

Minimize Mistakes

Next it is important to not give away shots.  Eliminate penalties and stupid mental mistakes.  By keeping the ball in play and dry is crucial to scoring.  To help do this, reduce risk and play smart.  For example, if you have a tucked pin with water a few yards off the green, maybe it is best to go with the safe shot at the middle of the green where par is a good option and move on to the next.

At the end of the day you just simply need to execute and have fun.  If you can get hot with the putter and keep the ball in play, you should have a good chance at breaking 80 given your tee-green game is alright. You do not need to be perfect in every part of your game, just good.  79 is, in a lot of cases, 7 over par and that certainly is not perfect.

I think it would be beneficial to check out Breaking 80 as the article dives into more of the actual swing tips to assist in your quest at breaking 80.

Breaking 80 is a very rewarding feeling that may not be able to be reached by all.  However, plenty of us can.  You can too. 

Preparing for Tournament Golf

Golf tournaments are a very good way to measure your game up against other quality players from around the area.  They give us a feel of where our game really is and how it stacks up in competition.  Preparing for a golf tournament takes a little bit more than one might think.  I would like to explain some ways to get prepared for a golf tournament.

Know the Golf Course

My first piece of advice for tournament golfers is to know the course where the tournament is held.  Look at overhead pictures of the course and scorecard to get an idea of how the course looks.  Pictures are definitely no substitute for the actual course but you can at least get an idea.  With that being said, it would be wise to set up a practice round at the course maybe a few days to a week prior to the tournament.  You can gain a lot of confidence and it will help you greatly knowing the course during the tournament.

Practice, Practice, Practice

After you go and see the course for yourself, you should practice up until the tournament.  Visualize shots that you will need to hit under pressure and practice them at the driving range.  Go through the bag and feel comfortable with all your clubs.  Clean them up and get them ready to go.  Make sure your bag has enough golf balls.  You do not want to be that guy that runs out of golf balls in the middle of the round.

Don't Forget the Short Ones

Make sure your short game is sharp as it is needed to score well in tournament golf.  What might usually be a “gimme” in an average Saturday round with your buddies may be a missed putt in the tournament as you need to hole everything out.  Practice those short putts that you may not usually worry about as they come up big in tournament play.

Enjoy the round.  Tournaments allow you to play with players you would never have played with otherwise.  Many times, you can even learn something from them.  It may be a tournament with pressure and all but at the end of the day it is just a round of golf and you can make some friends in the process.  So go out and enjoy the day and just maybe post a low number. 

Playing in Bad Weather

Golf is a game played outside and with that is inconsistent playing conditions day-to-day.  There is nothing a golfer likes more than a beautiful 80 degree day with the sun shining and calm winds.  However, this is not always the case.  I will offer tips to perform your best when the conditions are less than ideal.

Proper State of Mind

To start off, my first tip is to have the proper mindset when playing in tough conditions.  If you get to the tournament with pouring rains and heavy winds, it is truly important to have a good attitude and how you look at the upcoming round. 

A huge thing to remember is that the conditions are the same for everyone.  Everybody in the field has to deal with the sub-par circumstances.  If you get down on the round because of the weather around you, then you are already behind.  The key is to take it one shot at a time knowing it isn’t just you dealing with it, but it is everybody.
 

Playing in the Wind

Wind plays a huge part in a round when it comes to club selection, distance, and directional control.  Heavy winds can make it tough to execute an otherwise straightforward shot you are used to on a nice calm day.  One thing to remember in the wind is tone it down a tad.  I always remember to “swing easy when it’s breezy”.  The reason for this is because swinging easier will aid in making solid and crisp contact which is crucial in the wind.  If you swing out of control and make poor contact, the wind will affect the ball flight to a much greater degree than if you made good contact by swinging easy. 

Take advantage of down-wind holes where you may need to use less club and also holes that are into the wind where it becomes easier to stop the golf ball. By using the wind to help in cases can offer an advantage.

 

Playing in the Rain

Nobody really enjoys playing golf in the rain but it is something we all do at some point.  The biggest thing to worry about when playing a round in the rain is to keep your equipment dry.  Carrying extra towels and and umbrella can turn out to be a lifesavor.   In the rain, store more towels in your bag so you can replace damp ones when necessary.   This can save you many shots over the course of a round. Check out Playing Golf in Bad Weather: 4 Keys to Going Low as he offers excellent, alternative ways to combat the rain.

Learn how to play in bad weather and you will be better off in good weather.  Or let’s hope anyway.

Common Characteristics of Good Golfers

There is no questioning that great champion golfers of our time all share common traits that separate them from their competitors.  Many of the times it is not exclusively physical ability but rather mental strength that propels them to victory in the heat of battle.  Tiger Woods is a perfect example.  Besides being more talented than any other golfer of his time, he still maintained a serious edge of the field just because he was unshakable and had the strongest mental game golf had ever seen.  With that being said, I want to cover common non-physical traits all good golfers possess so that maybe you could too.

Mental Toughness

As mentioned before, having a strong mental game is greatly important.  Many championships could have ended differently if the players in contention were more mentally prepared.  Physical talent and ability will only get you so far and to be a complete golfer you need to have mental strength.  Being mentally tough on the course helps greatly.  It starts with not letting prior bad shots and blunders affect the rest of your round. 

Forgetting mistakes quickly is a must.  You cannot let those previous missteps hold you back. Once they happen, then they happen and believe me, they will happen so when they do there is nothing you can do about it but let it go.  Short term memory is key.  One bad shot should not send your round into a downward spiral.  I have seen this happen plenty of times to plenty of players I have played with throughout the years.  Mistakes happen to everybody. Shake it off, let it be and go play golf in confidence the way you know how.  
 

Confidence

Great players and champions all have a strong confidence in their abilities.  They know that is reason they are where they are and believe they can always win if they’re in a position to do so. They sort of have a swagger to them.  You can tell what they intend to do and it offers them an advantage on the field.  When you are coming down the 18^th with a one shot lead, you may have a “go-to shot” (high cut, low draw, etc.) and enough confidence to execute and close out the round with success. Without confidence, you are already behind.  And behind is no place of a champion. 
 

Work Ethic

Finally, all good golfers have a desire to get better.  A never ending quest to become the best they can possibly be.  Realizing hard work is the key to success, they will not settle for good enough.  They want to be the best.  So should you. Have a drive to get better each and every day you lace up the spikes.  Each day is another opportunity to build on your game and improve. Make the most of your time as developing a solid work ethic is critical on and off of the golf course as you go through life.  Go out and get better.  There is nothing holding you back.

 

Becoming a good golfer is more than owning the perfect swing.  There is more to it. In no other sport is there as much time to think about your game as during a round of golf.  That is where the problems arise if you are not mentally tough.  Positive thoughts boost confidence.  A good attitude can take you long way.  So please develop one, for the sake of your game and your playing competitors.

Start 2015 the Right Way

With the weather warming up and the snow melting, a new golf season is upon us and with that comes new expectations.  Whether you're a 30 handicap or a club champion, every golfer wants to get off to the right start in 2015.  In this post, I hope to offer some useful tips to shake the rust early and begin to make this season your best one yet. So let's get started.

Get a Feel

First, start regaining a feel for all the clubs throughout your bag especially the scoring clubs like your short irons, wedges, and of course the putter.  Take some time to stroke some putts and hit some chips before you head to the tee in excitement.  This careful preparation will give you more confidence when you need to actually perform which in turn can save you some shots early on in the year.

Strike It Right

Making good solid contact is critical in any success on the golf course and I believe it is equally, if not more important early in the season as ever. With conditions and weather that isn't the greatest, it is crucial to make solid contact.  Courses tend to play longer with the rain and wind that comes early on.

My advice would to see a PGA professional and set up a lesson or use it as a tune-up for the season.  This way you get a feel for the correct way the contact should be.  Too many times players head out there without touching a club and end up chunking and shanking easy shots left and right. Nothing is worse for your confidence as a golfer than the bad case of the shanks.  Without good, crisp contact, you'll end up with some sore hands and likely, a score well over par. That doesn't sound like too much fun to me.

Have A Plan

Another significant thing to remember is to always set goals.  Prior to the season is a perfect time to set specific goals for yourself.  Recall areas of your game that need improvement and dedicate time to make a real effort to get better in those areas as the season goes on to reach the goals. 

As for the goals themselves, they can be seasonal goals or ones of individual rounds because it is crucial to always have something to aim for and motivate yourself throughout the year.  When you make goals, make sure they are very detailed and specific.  This way you know exactly what you are shooting for and how you need to accomplish them.  Do not stop until you achieve the them.

Stay Positive

If things don't come easy out of the gates this season, you should remember not to get down on yourself or your game.  Golf, as you know, can be very challenging at times to the point where you question why you are even playing the game in the first place.  Take some time off  (couple days) if you're not up to your expectations as sometimes a break from the game really is the best medicine.


Taking these thoughts into consideration will help to get the year get started smoothly.  It is always good to prepare well in anything you do and golf should be no exception.  Please don't hesitate to leave a comment about any goals you've set and acheived.  I would love to hear back.