Golf Tips On How To Score Under 100

Golf Tips On How To Score Under 100

This is a major milestone for amateur golfers and it can take years to perfect your game to this point. However, the average golfer tends to look at this score and assume it’s impossible in their case? Is this true? Is it truly impossible unless you are a seasoned pro with years of professional experience on the PGA tour?

No, it’s certainly possible as long as you apply the tips listed in this guide!

Here are some of the most important tips for golfers looking to better their scores.

1) Begin with Your Technique

Your technique has to be the main starting point when it comes to scoring under 100. Without a solid foundation with your golfing technique, the rest of your game isn’t going to iron out as easily as you want it to. This is why most of your time has to be spent watching videos of yourself and seeing where things are going wrong.

Each golfer tends to have subtle technical issues but it’s the major ones you have to eliminate.

For example, are you keeping your feet a shoulder’s width apart while driving the ball? Are you gripping the club properly or is your grip all over the place as soon as you set up to play a shot?

There are certain technical flaws such as your grip, stance, and swing that simply have to be fixed. Without making these adjustments and reviewing your video, it may become difficult to bring the score down. This is why you want to start by grabbing a golf club and practicing your technique with someone recording in the background. Take the video home and start breaking down your technique frame by frame. Look at online instructional videos to see where your technique is going wrong.

It may not seem easy at first, but over time you are going to start to spot potential flaws in your swing. As soon as you do this, you can start to make adjustments and build a strong foundation. This is the only way to make sure you are heading in the right direction with your golfing technique.

A lot of golfers forget that it’s not just about creating a strong foundation, but also maintaining it. Make this a habit whenever you feel like a plateau has been reached and your score isn’t improving the way you want it to.

2) Play Safe on Your Worst Shots

Each golfer is going to have a set of “worst shots” while playing outdoors.

This is going to vary from golfer to golfer based on what they’re good at. In general, the average person will not be good at keeping the ball straight when it’s time to drive it down the middle. They will start to see the ball curve in the air (right or left) and that leads to a horrible starting point for the rest of the round.

It’s important to play safe with your worst shots if you know they are the ones that ruin your score. Let’s assume you are not going at driving the golf ball. Why not ease up on the power and not go for all-out distance? Why not play it safe and make sure it stays in an accessible part of the course that’s going to allow you to move forward without having to make a miracle shot?

A lot of golfers want to play that miracle shot right away and that’s a mistake. You want to make sure your worst shots aren’t ruining your round. This is how you’re going to start to notice an improvement in your score.

In these scenarios, you have to manage your approach and understand it’s a marathon. You have to build towards a good score and that’s not going to happen if you immediately try to go all-out on your worst shot. Take it slowly, measure your options, and go with the safest possible shot that will set you up for the remaining shots. Until you learn to maintain this mindset, you are not going to score under 100. In fact, this is one of the most common mistakes people make when they are playing.

3) Don’t Blindly Start with the Driver

When you are ready to start, why do you always reach for the driver?

This is a common question asked by PGA instructors when they’re speaking to young athletes and that applies to the average person too. It’s not always about reaching for the driver and simply pounding the ball as far as possible. Yes, this tends to work in some situations but that’s not always ideal for those who don’t play this shot as well as others.

If professionals are willing to make adjustments, why aren’t you?

This is why it is important to think about your options and then start based on what will work well for that scenario. When people start with the driver, they can tend to curve the ball one way or the other. This is not a good situation to be in and puts you in a horrible starting position. Instead, you want to stay focused on using a club that will keep the ball in the middle. This is going to create a strong starting position that leads to improved results later on in the round.

You have to understand the importance of knowing how your game works. If you are someone that pushes the ball one way or the other, why not go with something that will allow you to progress properly? Take out the 7 iron or 3 wood to get started. This will improve your results and allow you to eliminate some of the underlying issues.

4) Prioritize Each Shot

Having a plan is wonderful and it can be a great way to regulate yourself during a round. However, you want to make sure to prioritize each shot and not get ahead of yourself.

You can often end up overextended as soon as you assume something is going to happen. Always walk up to the ball and play your shot with an understanding that this is the only shot you have to care about. If the goal is to get the ball to the green then that is where your focus should be. Sometimes, when you start to think about the overall picture, it becomes difficult to hit each shot on its merit. This is when you start making mistakes and lose focus.

In your mind, there has to be a purpose behind each shot.

For example, let’s assume it’s time to use the wedge to bring it onto the green. In this case, your first and only priority is to get it onto the green. Don’t think about how close it is to the hole or what’s going to happen when it’s time to putt. As soon as you do this, your shot will veer to one direction or another and lead to a horrible spot.

Your goal as a golfer is to focus on following a step-by-step process where the next shot is the most important one. It’s easy to lose sight of this and assume you are going to make certain shots before attempting them. Don’t do this because that’s the reason the average golfer never scores under 100.

Create a simple process before each shot, collect your thoughts, and think about playing a safe shot. This is how you’re going to improve your score and become a better golfer.

5) Practice with a Larger Target for Putting

Putting is an essential component of golfing and has to be improved to score under 100.

If you look at any golfer that has scored under 100, they will have a respectable putting game. If you do all of the hard work to get close to the hole and can’t seem to hit that final shot, the entire effort will go to waste. This is why professional golfers are seen spending hours simply putting and practicing hitting close-in shots from unique angles. When you start to master this part of your game, the other flaws start to slowly disappear. You can quickly start to cover those mistakes by getting those difficult shots to go in.

So, what can you do when it comes to improving your putting?

It’s all about practicing with a larger target. You want to aim to set a small circle around the hole (2-3 feet circumference). When you start, the goal will be to have the ball finish within this practice circle (of course putting it in the hole is best!). You will want to master getting it in that circle consistently.

As you get better, you will reduce the circumference to 1 foot. This means your practice “target” becomes smaller. Over time, you will slowly become a pro when it comes to putting and hitting those challenging shots.

6) Conserve Energy

Conservation of energy is all about understanding how your body works during a game.

Let’s assume it takes multiple hours to complete multiple holes and it’s done under warm conditions. In this case, you will want to stay hydrated and understand the amount of pressure golfing puts on the body. Even the idea of traveling between rounds can be tasking on the body and it’s something to account for.

In general, your physical health and endurance will have a role to play. If you start breaking down and sweating after a few rounds, how are you going to do well as the day goes on? You will quickly fade away physically and mentally. Your performance is going to drop and the score will eventually get ruined too.

Some golfers start well when they’re full of energy and then become lethargic in the later rounds. You have to stay careful and conserve as much energy as you can. This includes reducing wasted practice shots and/or hurried traveling when you don’t have to. It’s these little things that are going to help you over the long-term. Along with this, you should always work on your cardio and create a proper routine (2-3 times per week) to focus on your conditioning.

Otherwise, you are going to be huffing and puffing in the middle of a game.

It’s a lot better to continue working on your cardio whenever an opportunity arises. You will be surprised as to how much of a difference it makes because a fitter golfer is going to maintain their focus over a longer period. This alone can be a game-changer and improve your score significantly.

Too many people get lost in the technical aspects of golf (which are important!) but it’s also about your physical fitness. You need to stamina and endurance to handle a long game with multiple rounds.

7) Create a Set Program

You will need to create a set program when it comes to upcoming practice sessions.

Look at some of the best golfers in the world and their success comes down to hard work. They have spent hours on the golf course working on their game and continue to make tweaks as they adapt. If you are unable to do this, you are never going to get that score under 100. Instead, you are going to be left stagnant and frustrated on the golf course.

The best way to go about this is to create a set program. The idea is to have a program where you are practicing different parts of your game to improve them.

An example of this would be:

• 75% – Putting + Chipping
• 15% – Mid Irons
• 5% – Driving

This is just one way of training and you can make adjustments based on your weak points. In general, you want to spend most of your time on putting + chipping because these are the shots that win you games. If you are unable to seal the deal with these close-in shots, you are never going to score under 100.

For the average golfer, you should at least spent 60+% of your session on putting + chipping. The rest can be used to divide between mid irons and driving based on what you deem needs work.

As soon as you do this, you will add structure to your sessions. It will lead to major gains on the golf course and you will become a better golfer.

8) Understand the Mental Side of Golf

This may surprise a lot of people but golf is often a psychological battle.

You have to fight with yourself to keep going while the pressure is on and the sun is beating down. You will have nowhere to hide and that type of pressure is difficult as the shots become harder and harder with each passing moment. This is why some of the finest golfers in the world start choking under pressure and ruin their scores due to silly mistakes. They become unnerved and don’t understand the psychological impact a moment can have.

So, how do you counteract this type of feeling? How do you stay even-keeled while on the golf course?

It’s always going to come down to your ability to compartmentalize each shot. You will want to head over and play each shot on its merit. Assess the situation, look at the conditions, and play your shot in a calculated manner. Do this and you will start to appreciate the benefits that come along with being psychologically stable.

Too many people don’t pay attention to this and then lose their cool under pressure.

Take the time to settle down, breathe in, and then play your shot. If that means you have to take a step back and reassess in the middle of a shot then that’s what you have to do. Don’t be embarrassed when it comes to making these decisions. They’re all a big part of the game and something you have to master as you become a better golfer.

If you are self-conscious, others are going to beat you during the game and win multiple holes. You have to pay attention to what is going on and start to train your mind to relax in crunch situations. Once you do this, the results will naturally come.

9) Write a Plan for Different Scenarios

Do you have a plan in mind when it comes to possible scenarios?

Golf is all about handling unique scenarios and learning to manage your approach along the way. This doesn’t always come naturally, which is why you want to have a little notebook in hand to follow. Of course, this doesn’t mean you start blindly following the strategy but it can act as a stabilizer, in case, you feel things are veering out of control.

A good example of a potential strategy can include:

1) 3 Wood – 180 Yards
2) 5 Iron – 150 Yards
3) Wedge – As Close to the Green as Possible
4) Putt – Close to the Hole
5) Putt – Make the Shot

You can see the breakdown and how it would be planned out. You write down the type of club, how far the shot should go, and what’s needed to keep you heading in the right direction. During the round, you are going to notice different things happen and that’s normal. You can always adjust the plan as you go but it can help guide you towards a better score.

For a lot of people, the idea of having a little notebook nearby helps with their peace of mind. They may not even look at it but simply knowing there’s a plan in place can be a game-changer. Try this as a potential solution and start feeling in control of your approach on the green. It is going to become a way for you to get closer faster than ever before while playing a round of golf.

10) Learn to Adapt

Adapting is the name of the game because several scenarios can pop up.

The idea of adapting can be based on weather conditions (windy/not windy), where you played the first shot, or what your worst shot is. You want to take all of these variables into account and then adapt. Don’t become blinded by your strategy and assume that is what you have to do. When that’s the approach you take, it’s easy to ruin your score simply because you didn’t have the heart to make adjustments.

Of course, there’s nothing with a little bit of strategization on the golf course. You should be willing to come in with a plan, but adjustments are a part of the sport and something you have to account for. Even the best professionals on the plant have to make adjustments because no one plays like a machine.

You are going to get things wrong and the weather conditions may veer your shot in one direction or the other. There’s no reason to panic because adjustments can be made in all types of scenarios. It’s all about being open to the idea and then adjusting on the fly. Over time, you are going to learn what to adjust and that’s when your score will improve.

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes while adjusting because even the idea of adjusting is a major step forward. You will learn the rest as you go and improve your game.

Final Thoughts

These are the main tips on how to score under 100.

Is it going to be as easy as you want it to be? No, it’s going to take a while to master your craft but that’s the beauty of golf. It rewards those willing to put in the time and that’s what it all comes down to.

Stay patient, focus on implementing these tips, and watch as you become a great golfer in the coming months. Remember, once you start to get the hang of things, you will subconsciously make subtle adjustments that will go a long way in improving your technique. This is when your score is going to keep getting better.