BREAKING 80
BREAKING 80
1. Play to Your Shot Shape—Every Time
Don’t fight your natural fade or draw.
Choose lines that fit your consistent miss, not what looks perfect.
Know your shot shape and aim accordingly—even off the tee.
Breaking 80 is about avoiding double bogeys, not hunting birdies.
2. Think One Shot Ahead, Not Just One Shot
Ask: “Where do I want my next shot to be from?”
Don’t short-side yourself. Avoid sucker pins.
Commit to smart misses and wide targets when pressure builds.
Elite amateurs don’t always hit perfect shots—they just miss smart.
3. Fairways & Greens Win the Day
Tee shots: Prioritize position over power—play clubs that keep you in play.
Approach shots: Favor the center of the green, not the flag.
Eliminate penalty strokes. One OB ball can kill a solid round.
Two-putt pars are your best friend when chasing sub-80 rounds.
4. Be Deadly Inside 100 Yards
40% of breaking 80 is wedge game and putting.
Practice:
50-yard wedges
3–6 foot putts
Lag putting from 30+ feet
Track up-and-down %—that’s your pressure stat.
You don’t need 14 fairways—just soft hands and a confident stroke.
5. Stay Emotionally Neutral
Good or bad shot—same reaction. Stay even.
Use a Mulligan Mentality: Let go fast, reset, and refocus.
One bad hole won’t ruin a round—but two in a row will.
The player who controls their thoughts usually controls the scorecard.
Bonus Mindset:
“Breaking 80 is about execution and emotional discipline—not heroics.”
BREAKING 90
BREAKING 90
1. Play for Bogey, Not Par
Trying to “make par” on every hole adds pressure and often leads to mistakes. Instead, play for bogey as your default—that’s 17 bogeys and 1 par. That’s 89.
Make bogey your blueprint. Par is a bonus.
2. Eliminate Penalty Strokes
Penalty strokes from OB drives, water hazards, and lost balls are round-killers. Keep the ball in play—even if it means using a 3-wood, hybrid, or iron off the tee.
A short ball in play beats a long one in the woods.
3. Avoid the Big Miss Around the Green
You don’t need to chip in—just don’t skull or chunk it. Learn one simple, reliable chip shot and use it everywhere. Get the ball on the green and two-putt.
Your short game should be boring, not heroic.
4. Make Smart Club Choices
Know your carry distances, not just total yardage. Don’t automatically reach for driver or try to hit a “perfect” 7-iron. Play the club that gives you the highest percentage shot—even if that means taking an extra one.
Golf is about smart decisions, not just good swings.
5. Build a Repeatable Pre-Shot Routine
Nerves show up under pressure. A consistent pre-shot routine keeps you grounded, focused, and helps eliminate mental mistakes. Stick to it for every shot—especially the tough ones.
BONUS MINDSET:
Routine brings rhythm. Rhythm brings results.
BREAKING 100
BREAKING 100
1. Play Smart, Not Heroic
Stop trying to be a pro.
Lay up instead of going for the green over water. Punch out of trouble instead of risking a miracle shot. Breaking 100 is about avoiding big numbers, not making birdies.
Think: "What's the safest path to a bogey or double—not a triple?"
2. Master the 3 Clubs You Use Most
You don’t need every club to break 100.
Focus on being consistent with:
Driver or a fairway wood off the tee
One go-to iron or hybrid
Putter or basic wedge for around the green
Confidence with 3-4 clubs is better than guessing with 14.
3. Chip and 2-Putt Every Green
Short game = score saver.
Don’t try fancy flop shots—just bump it close and give yourself a chance to 2-putt.
Double bogeys are fine. Triple bogeys kill rounds.
4. Know Your Yardages & Club Distances
Don’t guess. Use a rangefinder, GPS app, or course markers.
Swing within yourself and hit the club you know will get the job done—even if that means a little short is better than long and lost.
Consistency beats distance.