Are you interested in finally breaking 100?
Follow the steps below and start breaking 100 on a regular basis.
TIP #1 – Basic fundamentals
Be sure you possess the basic fundamentals of the putting, chipping, pitching, bunkers and full swing. Visit our video learning center to review all the fundamentals. Building consistency in your game requires a solid foundation.
TIP #2 – Practice your short game
Breaking 100 can be very easy if you have a decent short game. Having the ability to chip the ball on the green and 2-putt from anywhere is a recipe for success. The 30-50 yard pitch shot onto the green will also be a shot you should be capable of.
TIP #3 – Ability to hit your short irons
Do you struggle with your short irons? If so, it’s time to hit the driving range and practice exclusively in this area. Practice using your SW-PW-9I-8I-7I. You should be capable of hitting these clubs relatively solid most of the time.
TIP #4 – Play from the proper tee
In many cases, golfers tend to play from tee boxes that are not suited for them. Be sure you are playing from tee boxes that fit your level. A rough test is to multiply the distance you hit your 5 iron by 36. This gives you the approximate yardage you should be playing. Example: If you can hit your 5 iron 160 yards…multiply that by 36…you should be playing from the colored tees that are around 5760 yards.
TIP #5 – Don’t use your driver
Using the driver is the biggest reason for high scoring. Unless you can regularly hit 100% of your fairways with the driver, don’t even put it in your bag. If your goal is to shoot lower scores then avoiding blow-up holes should be a priority. Tee off with the longest club in your bag that gives you the best chance of hitting the fairway. In most cases it should be a hybrid or mid-iron.
TIP #6 – Stay clear of water hazards, bunkers, and OB
This seems obvious, but you need to be well aware of your surrounding. If the club you’re using might bring a hazard or OB into play, you should re-think your strategy. Going into a hazard or hitting your ball out of bounds is a great way to ruin a good score. Play it safe when dealing with holes with water hazards, bunkers, and OB.
TIP #7 – Solid Strategy
If you’re playing off the correct tees, you should be able to hit the green or get somewhere near the green in one shot. Great opportunity to score some pars or bogeys.
Long par 4’s should be treated as 3 shots to the green. Lay-up in the fairway off the tee. Lay-up in the fairway on your second shot. This will give you a clean short shot into the green. Think of these holes as par 5’s and you’ll be putting for birdie more often than you think.
Divide the hole yardage by 2 and use the same club for both your tee shot and fairway shot. Example: A 300 yard hole…using your 150 yard club off the tee puts you 150 yards from the green. Use the same club to approach the green. At worst, you should be somewhere around the green after your second shot, giving you a great chance at bogey or possibly a par.
Par 5’s are typically blow up holes for most people as they like to “go for it”. Don’t fall into this category…be more strategic. The best strategy here is to play smart and only play low stress shots – “Shots you know you can pull off.” Getting off the tee is at a premium here, so be sure to use a club that guarantees success. Remember, 3 shots of 160 yards is 480 yards. That will reach most par 5 situations. Playing this strategy will give you plenty of par opportunities.
TIP #8 – Smooth Swings
Do not try to kill the ball. Swing within your capabilities. Most players struggle in this area because they try to hard and force the golf swing. You’d be surprised how far the ball goes when you swing the club more smoothly. A good rule of thumb is to swing the club at around 80% effort…never 100%. This will help you smooth out your swing and avoid the over swing. Also, you should only use clubs you have confidence in. Uncertainty, will lead to poor swings, poor shots and high scores. Keep your swings rhythmic and smooth and start watching your scores start to drop.
If you follow these tips and stay disciplined, you’ll be breaking 100 in no time.