Yesterday, I played a round where I shot 75 and have now shot in the 70s more times this year than I have shot in the 90s. I feel like I am starting to turn a corner in the consistency of my game, more often shooting in the low 80s and now in the mid 70s. So, I wanted to sit down and share how I have been able do this.
First and foremost: your driver is a WEAPON. Learn how to use it. While it is good to be accurate off the tee, dead center of the fairway accuracy is NOT required. Having a shorter second shot unequivocally leads to a better score compared to being 200 yards from the green every hole for your second shot. I had a wedge in my hand on HALF my shots where a GIR was in play. The closer you get to the hole in fewer shots, the better your score will be.
Second: Become dialed from 100 yards and in. This means ending up on the green from 100 yards and in. You don’t have to be 10 feet every time. Scratch golfers are roughly within 25 feet of the hole from 100 yards on average! Becoming proficient with your wedges is one of the easier things you can practice and will help you recover from wayward tee shots while also being able to attack friendly pin positions.
Third: Putting. In general, I would say eliminate any three putts. I think this is broad, though. To hone in on this concept, I recommend getting better at lag putting. This means controlling speed more than anything. For example, if you have a 30 foot putt, the goal should be to have a 3-5 foot second putt. The average tour pro roughly has 2.5 feet on their second putt from 30 feet, so 3-5 feet would be a good goal if you are trying to break 80. Focusing practice on making five footers will also help you shave strokes.
Honorable Mention: Iron play. Don’t get me wrong, iron play is very important. You need to be able to make solid contact from an iron play perspective to be able to break 80. The issue I have here is that I believe a large part of the golfing world spends time beating balls with their 7 iron when their scoring clubs (wedges, putter) gather dust in their bags. Plenty of strokes can be saved by focusing practice time more on wedges and driver, rather than a 7 iron for an hour of range balls.
At the end of the day, it really just comes down to working on the parts of the game that actually move the needle. Hitting driver with confidence, getting solid from 100 yards and in, and avoiding those dreaded three putts can make a huge difference in your scores. I’m not saying irons don’t matter, but I’ve definitely seen bigger improvements by putting more time into wedges and the putter. If you want to start breaking 80 more often, shift your practice to those areas — it’s been a game-changer for me.
Mark Roberts Golf 