Ten Simple Golf Tips To Break 100; Expert Advice
Intro
Most, if not all, golfers aspire to break 100. In this guide, we'll explore ten essential areas of your game that you must focus on to reach this sought-after goal.
We'll cover conquering your drive, knowing your clubs and fairway woods, and mastering your mental game, among other things.
By improving these fundamentals and embracing the challenge, you'll be well on your way to breaking 100 and achieving consistent results.
Ten Simple Golfing Tips To Break 100
If you're struggling to improve your golf score and are looking for tips to help you break 100, this guide is for you! As a pro coach, I'll share some simple but effective strategies from my comprehensive practice library that can help you achieve your goal.
These tips are suitable for golfers of all levels, whether you're a man or woman, a senior or a junior. Remember specific change adaptation skills like swing changes, take between 4-6 weeks to set in, so be patient. PGA Tour coaching packages can cost a fortune, but these tips are not only effective but free of charge.
Let's look at tip number 1.
1. The Tee Shot
During my coaching journey, I've come to accept that preparing for a round of golf can be nerve-wracking, but there are ways to ease your nerves and set yourself up for success.
- Build healthy habits like taking deep breaths to calm yourself and focus.
- Spend 15 minutes on the practice range with each club, especially the one you'll use on the first tee.
- Prioritize the basics, such as tee height and stance.
- Assess your ball-striking before teeing off and make necessary adjustments.
Skipping pre-round practice is a common mistake that many golfers make. If you're serious about breaking 100, prioritize pre-round practice to set yourself up for success.
2. Yardages
Golfers on the PGA Tour and LIV golf constantly monitor progress, including their yardages. Whether it is a fairway wood, pitching wedge, or short irons, they know their distances.
Understanding your club distances is important in golf, particularly if you aim to break the 100 mark. Several factors can affect your yardage, such as:
- Skill level
- Body size
- Experience
- Weather and the
- Type of shaft you are using and even areas such as precision nutrition.
Monitoring your yardages, particularly as your skills improve, is a good practice maintaining consistency. Additionally, it's essential to consider weather conditions like wind and course difficulty when selecting your clubs.
Focusing on your club distances and making informed choices can enhance your game and help you break 100.
3. The Mental Game
Golf requires both physical and mental strength, and even players like Tiger Woods seek nutrition coaching. Simply put, though, gone are the days of just "bombing the golf ball away."
It's important to manage your expectations, recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and adapt to changing weather conditions. Prioritizing decision-making can help you avoid pitfalls, and playing conservatively can make it easier to achieve your goal.
Remember that success on the course begins with the right mindset
4. Play Conservatively
If you want to break 100 in golf, avoiding making double bogey, triple bogey, or even quadruple bogeys is essential. These "big numbers" can quickly ruin your round, as evidenced in last year's Players Championship.
Ask talented players, and they'll tell you the key is to play smart, be patient, and take fewer risks. While trying a "miracle shot” from the rough may be tempting, it's often better to play it safe for the next shot. Yes, you might lose one stroke hitting back onto the fairway, but you’ll also avoid making more mistakes and losing more strokes.
Tiger Woods was well known for planning ahead. He often said, "Sacrificing one stroke now can save you from losing four strokes later on."
5. 100 yards In
Most amateur golfers spend more time practicing their driving than their putting - this is a common mistake that can hinder their progress. If your goal is to break 100, focusing on your short game and second shot is paramount.
To improve your game, it's important to spend just as much time practicing from 100 yards in as you do on your long game. This will help you balance your skills and improve your entire round.
Why is the short game so important? Because high-handicappers often lose valuable strokes around the greens. By improving your skills in this area, you'll be able to lower your scores and break 100.
6. Practice
To improve your golf game and break into the 90s, I've given you access to my "done for you resources" in order to help you lower your score and your handicap.
- Shift your practice strategy to deliberate practice.
- Identify areas of your game that need improving and focus on them.
- Spend extra time refining your short game.
- Address your weaknesses rather than solely relying on your strengths.
7. Know All Your Clubs
If you want to improve your golf game and break through the 100 barrier, it's crucial to practice using each club in your bag.
Many golfers rely on the clubs they’re most comfortable with, which can limit their progress on the course. However, by dedicating equal time to each club, you can build familiarity and confidence while being better equipped to tackle any challenge on the course.
To see improvements in your game, I recommended incorporating this well-rounded approach into your practice routine at least once a week.
8. Practice Putting
Focusing on your putting is key to improving your golf score. By creating drills and personal challenges, you can make putting practice more enjoyable and avoid the dreaded two-putt.
For example:
- Try making 10 putts in a row from 3 feet before moving to 5 feet.
- Set a goal of sinking 100 three-footers in a row before ending your practice session.
Remember that putting is a crucial part of the game that requires consistent training. Dedicate enough time to perfecting your putting skills, and you'll see your scores drop on the course.
9. Practice Chipping
Most golf and country clubs have practice areas where you can hone your chipping skills. You can also set up markers on the green to improve your distance control.
If you are a high-handicapper:
- Aim to stop the ball within 3-5 feet of the pin for chips around the green, and
- 10-15 feet for bunker shots.
By refining your chipping game, improving your distance control, and gaining confidence, you can achieve better results on the course.
10. Controlling Your Emotions
In golf, staying calm under pressure is vital. It's easy to get frustrated, but keeping a cool head is key to performing at your best. Instead of getting caught up in your emotions, focus on the present moment and the shot in front of you.
Creating a set routine before each shot can help anchor your mind and control your nerves. This will help you execute your shots with confidence, even when others may be losing their cool.
The Final Hole
As you begin your journey to break 100, focus on improving your driving, putting, and mental game. Breaking 100 requires both skill and mindset. Remember to stay composed, patient, and focused. With dedication and practice, you can soon start breaking into the 90s.
Keep practicing and swinging!