Breaking 80?

Exactly in the same position, I shot 84 and then 82 this week. I shot 82 and took an 8 on the 7th hole. That was because I had started so well and knew I was on track to smash 80. I thought about it and not the actual shot I was making at that moment. Here are some things I'm going to try on my next round;

1. Take a playing partner I know well so we can chat about just general stuff to relax me.

2. Don't focus on scorecards just on making the best shot I can at that precise moment and execute.

3. Take the medicine and not trying something heroic in response to a bad shot.  

Congratulations on your consistency!

Now, let's see if we can get you over that hump (or -under- it?) and into the 70s.

Hopefully, you are also tracking your stats on those rounds, and perhaps there is a clue there.  Do you always miss the fairway to the right on #5?  Do you more often than not come up short on your approach to #11?  There may be a strategy/course management fix to breaking that barrier, as well.

On those holes where you -usually- end up with a bogey, instead play to the big safe area of the green, don't get suckered into going for a risky shot and ending up in a trap or short-sided.  Lay up to your number on the par 5s, don't just wail away with a 3 wood 2nd shot when a hybrid or 5 iron to the ideal spot on the correct side of the fairway will get you closer to the hole on your approach than a lob wedge from the rough would. 

Chances are, the issue is going to boil down to this:

When trying to break into the 70s, we all-too-often play FOR our par, (or at least NOT to make bogey) instead of being a little more aggressive on and around the greens, absolutely going for birdie like we deserve it.  Don't be so afraid to make bogey that you DON'T go after birdies.  Scoring well is more than just -not- making mistakes, but also taking advantage of those birdie opportunities when they present themselves.  Assume you are going to make EVERY putt, and go after them, don't just lag them close for a par tap-in.  Be confident that you can make a 3 or 4 foot come backer should your birdie putt slide past.

Ronnie... one of my favorite golfing partners (his name is Ron, too) has been playing for 25 years and just broke 80 this summer.  He broke it by shooting 76!  A few weeks later he broke 80 again on a different course... another 76!  So, all I can say is don't be thinking "79".  Think even par, then accept your 76.

P.S.  I notice you posted your original question last year.  Did you break 80 this year?

I'm an LPGA T&CP-- I also coach high school kids. One of the techniques I use to help them -- and all of my clients, is to think of the course you are playing in terms of 3 holes at a time. Forget the ones already played, don't worry about the ones coming up and don't consider the course as a whole. Consider ONLY 3 holes as a "round" at a time. I'm not sure why it helps reset the brain and attitude, but it helps many people in your position ready for that break-through!! good luck-- you'll get there...

Mary Lu Duffy

Someone wearing my shoes, I to was dealing with this.

As we all no golf is tickal, 1 day 77 ,one day 87.well even the best player in the world do this.it's just that we only watch who's hot on tv,thay never show the guys on the bottom. But u can look for yourself at pga.com.....

Well my friend this is what I did,I quite playing back to back days because my body is just not in shape to play back to back or play 3or 4 days a week.u like me would be 1,2,3,4, shots away.but this has to do with putting to much on your body.TRY TAKEING A DAY OFF BETWEEN ROUNDS,or if your playing a 2 day tourney. You can try not hitting to many balls on range...this is what I have done my last 10 rounds have been in the mid to high 70's

Now I'm trying to break 75..lol go figure. Good luck and always remember by u shooting in low 80's only 10% of golfers do that..good luck on shooting sub80...

Hi Ronnie,

With the scores you're posting, you have the talent to break 80. Keep knocking on the door and it will come. Next time out, don't keep score in your head; just play one shot a time as good as you can and total it up once finished. Good luck to you and embrace where you're at now because once you break 80, the upcoming goals only get harder;)

Work on the short game strokes: sand trap, pitch shots, chip shots, putting.  Work from different lies around the green; uphill, side hill, long and short rough, hard pan etc.  and vary the distances and clubs.  This is the best way to shave three to five strokes per round.  

The old adage make more putts. If your scores are 81,82,83 and you have a total of 24 putts then you are missing too many greens on the other hand if you average 36 putts you will not break 80 until you lower your putting to 28-32 per round

I played in our 2 day club championship last week, went 85-79. I made a bad swing Saturday and my back was a little stiff at the end. I wasn't sure Sunday how it would hold up, so I decided to just take it a shot at a time, don't swing harder but to make good swings. I kept my head down all round and it was my first sub 80 in a tourney. It's hard to try and then not try too hard. Get into the swing, finish the backswing. Keep the objective to make a good shot, not on the result. Good Luck.

Ronnie,

A lot of good advice. The things I work on are as follow:

1. How many blow-up holes, Course management

2. Fairways hit

3. Greens hit

4. Chipping, Up and downs

5. How many putts (avoid 3 or 4 putts)s

6. Concentrate on distance and direction not score

7. Add up score at end

8. Build on the good shots, forget the bad once

Work on these things and you not only be scoring in the 70's but sometimes in the 60's.

Ronnie,

when end you get towards the end of your round focus on each shot and don't think about your final score.  Once you break 80 it will be much easier the next time.

short game short game putting you'll get there, confidenceif you got the time PRACTICE

When I was where you are now, I shot so many low 80 rounds couldn't fiqure out what I had to do. I knew I was leaving 2/3 shots out there every round. What did it for me was to stop looking at the card. You know well enough that you are having a good round. Don't put the pressure on yourself by looking and seeing that if I just par the last 3 , if I can birdie one of the last 2 I'll have it. Forget about it. It will be there sooner than later just let it come.  I would take 5 rounds in the low 80's any week 

Ronnie, Good Luck.  Just let it happen.

John

i'll add my 2 cents....

i try to keep it simple....

1.  manage the course.  i try to understand what holes i can score on and where to make a good miss

2.  chipping and putting.  I carry 3 wedges (50, 54, 58).  i try to understand what club to use around the green.  the most important piece is the putting (Concentrate and read the green)

on a side note, in the back of my mind, i remember 3 basic rules my dad taught me...

1. Fairways off the tee box

2. GIR

3. no 3 putts

i hope this helps.  It has helped break the 80 barrier.

Good luck

#TeamTitleist

As Hank Haney suggests, eliminate three things:

1. Three putts
2. Two-chips
3. Penalty strokes

WW

The barrier is mental.  You set it up, now you have to forget it-- and take 2 or 3 less shots per round.  (However you can make that happen is up to you).  If you forget that barrier and you'll be on your way to lower scores.  

I've only broken 80 4 times in playing for 25+ years.  3 this year and one other time a VERY long time ago. 

One tip I hear often; more GIR, simple as that.  Don't aim for the flag, aim for the center of the green... 

Other then that, work on your short game and putting.  

 It'll come around, trust me.  Just keep grinding away. 

Its all in your short game. Go chip and putt for an hour 2-3 times a week and you will easily drop a few, usually more than a few, strokes off your game. If you are able to get up and down with regularity your scores will drop. Be confident that you can up and down from anywhere and be confident that if you do get a GIR than you can 2 putt from anywhere.