How to break 85 - 3 goal method

[virtuocity]

my 3 steps,

1 Consistency from the tee both length and direction
2 On or around the green in regulation
3 No more than more 3 shots when near the green

Good list. Green in 3 is absolutely fine. If you can manage that EVERY time, spend 75% of your practice time on chipping and putting.

That means bogey at worse. Sometimes you'll get on the green in 2, meaning par. Sometimes you'll get on in 3 but hole the putt.

First things first though- keep that damn ball in play off the tee (as per breaking 100 method).

 

[Fyldewhite]

You will almost certainly need to improve your course management. Just 2 or 3 bad decisions in a round could cost 6/7/8 shots so try to eliminate the unforced errors. Keep the trouble out of play where possible....eg 400 yard hole, 220 yard drive, a 6 iron to 20 or 30 yards short will more or less guarantee a par/bogey where a 4 iron or hybrid may bring all sorts of trouble around the green into play. When it goes wrong (and it will), accept the poor shot and get back into play. Always be realistic and play within your ability.

 

[guest100718]

It really isn't. I knew somone who couldn't hit it further than 160 yards and they played off 2.

Yeah yeah, everybody know somebody who only hits it 150 yards but chips and putts the liights out.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Long game is everything. Get as close as you can to the green and you'll score better.

It really isn't especially at the OP level. Going for everything brings all the hazards into play as well as the risk of carving it left or right into rough. Playing a strategic game, using shots where applicable and working on a decent short game is a far less risky approach which will bring the desired scores on a far more regular basis.

 

[Deano23]

It really isn't especially at the OP level. Going for everything brings all the hazards into play as well as the risk of carving it left or right into rough. Playing a strategic game, using shots where applicable and working on a decent short game is a far less risky approach which will bring the desired scores on a far more regular basis.

I totally agree. I'm on or near every green, but still struggle to break 80 these days. Only people who think putting is easy say that long game is everything!

 

[guest100718]

It really isn't especially at the OP level. Going for everything brings all the hazards into play as well as the risk of carving it left or right into rough. Playing a strategic game, using shots where applicable and working on a decent short game is a far less risky approach which will bring the desired scores on a far more regular basis.

WHo said go for everything? Come on, no one uses thier shots, who in their right mind is going hit 2 wedges from 200 yards out if they have decent lie.

 

[Stuey01]

I totally agree. I'm on or near every green, but still struggle to break 80 these days. Only people who think putting is easy say that long game is everything!

BUT, you are on or near every green in reg, so your long game must be decent.
A short game is only any good to you if you are there or thereabouts to use it. Chipping your 4th shot every time is not going to lead to good scores.
I totally agree that chipping and putting is important, you can save so many shots in this area. But you have to be in position to use it or it's worthless.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

WHo said go for everything? Come on, no one uses thier shots, who in their right mind is going hit 2 wedges from 200 yards out if they have decent lie.

I wish I had

Stood on the 18th tee having taken 80, lowest round ever by miles. Lovely driver down the middle, 190 yards out, 5 iron. First ball hooked left OOB, dropped, second ball sliced into water hazard. Walked off with an 8.

Wish I had hit two wedges, two putts and shot an 85

 

[guest100718]

I wish I had

Stood on the 18th tee having taken 80, lowest round ever by miles. Lovely driver down the middle, 190 yards out, 5 iron. First ball hooked left OOB, dropped, second ball sliced into water hazard. Walked off with an 8.

Wish I had hit two wedges, two putts and shot an 85

As does Jean van de velde I bet...

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

As does Jean van de velde I bet...

Hindsight is 20/20 eh! Of course the better option would have been a lovely 5 iron in to the green, and sunk the putt for an 83!

 

[Stuey01]

I wish I had

Stood on the 18th tee having taken 80, lowest round ever by miles. Lovely driver down the middle, 190 yards out, 5 iron. First ball hooked left OOB, dropped, second ball sliced into water hazard. Walked off with an 8.

Wish I had hit two wedges, two putts and shot an 85

Sounds like you need to work on your long irons

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Sounds like you need to work on your long irons

And my mid irons, and my putting. But yes, my irons are not on fire at the moment, it's safe to say!

 

[HickoryShaft]

I don't disagree with the original concept but one thing that has been said to me recently when I mentioned I wanted to get down to 14 handicap was dont aim so low - push yourself and aim to get to 10 .

If you analyse your game and look at how you can drop 10 shots (5 in my case) then you will have the main fundementals of getting to sub 85 every round even if you drop a few along the way.

Now - its clearly easier said than done but I started on this track last year and it really helped but then lost my way.

I am now back on the putting green and chipping area practising hard as I reckon I loose 4 - 6 shots a round from makable shots and relatively easy putts (I am not talking about Hail Mary shots either - ones where you would expect a much better result but duff them in one way or another) whereas hitting it slightly longer or slightly straighter will only save me 1 or 2 a round. I could work at hitting it longer all day that may save me a shot or two on a round and with a simple error on another shot still not achieve a lower score.

I have a game plan for my course and while I have to adjust for wind conditions or a poor shot every now and then (or more frequently some rounds!) it really does help knowing up front what strategy for the hole is going to get you the best result for your game.

So starting point for me is analysing your own game and looking at where you drop shots and where your strengths are.

Like I said - easier said than done but this is where I would concentrate.

 

[davidy233]

WHo said go for everything? Come on, no one uses thier shots, who in their right mind is going hit 2 wedges from 200 yards out if they have decent lie.

I hit a driver 190-200 - I don't hit any club 200 yards from a fairway consistently - Anything over 200 yards I'm going to hit 6 iron (goes 135-145) and whatever club I need to get close from where it ends up.

Played back nine of an Open final qualifying course last night (Monifieth Medal) in 41 (six over gross) - sixes at the 10th, 12th and 17th (two three putts and a visit to a bunker) - the other six holes I was one under par (gross) - got up and down from over 100 yards twice - the best score I've had on the back nine and never once in real trouble - was out marking a card for someone so didn't finish every hole of front nine - but I'd guess I'd have shot around 85 (or seven under my handicap) - I've never been near that on this course thrashing a three wood or similar for second shot on 400 odd yard holes.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Learn how to turn double bogeys into bogeys.

Don't play Holywood shots when in trouble, don't take on too many 50/50 shots, concentrate on the next shot (not the last).

 

[Deano23]

BUT, you are on or near every green in reg, so your long game must be decent.
A short game is only any good to you if you are there or thereabouts to use it. Chipping your 4th shot every time is not going to lead to good scores.
I totally agree that chipping and putting is important, you can save so many shots in this area. But you have to be in position to use it or it's worthless.

I agree, but you can get on or pretty near most greens talking a hybrid or long iron from the tee. Don't get me wrong, I love hitting driver and recommend everyone hit it as often as possible simply because they'rte so damn easy to use these days. The only caveat is that I recommend a driver no longer than 44.5". With the big heads that length is perfect.

 

[Sweep]

I am in the position of trying to consistently score under 85. I know I will usually have a good number of pars and an occasional birdie n most rounds, the problems are the double bogeys and worse.
My aim for the season s to have a competitive round with nothing worse than a bogey, I have done it once but in a team event, so that doesn't count as t wasn't a qualifier.
I know I will still hit a duff shot now and again, so its important to try to get up and down from near the green and certainly not take more than 3 shots as opposed to taking more than 3 which I used to do a lot and still occasionally do.

I am right there with you trying to hit consistently under 85. like you I hit a good number of pars and the occasional birdie, but consistency is a big problem and the doubles and worse kill it for me. This is an excellent approach.

 

[sev112]

.

First things first though- keep that damn ball in play off the tee (as per breaking 100 method).

Spot on ..... But
Even th pros can't manage to do this, so it is a good philosophy but no guarantee

So, take out the clubs that hit you ball into the cackoff the tee
Then, if you are in cack, get out and make sure you get out, even if it is 20 yards; soooooo many lost shots when people try to play optimistic shots out of heather


THEN , attack the green if less than 160y
attack the green up to 180 if not much trouble , but on the safe side
Attack the green up to 200y if no trouble and you can hit a 5 wood almost every time without topping it.

I never hit over a bunker from more than 165 y out. Always find the safe way in.

Practise your putting indoors

Learns to chip using my BobMac's Implement.

 

[Cityfanbrian]

I am in the position of trying to consistently score under 85. I know I will usually have a good number of pars and an occasional birdie n most rounds, the problems are the double bogeys and worse.
My aim for the season s to have a competitive round with nothing worse than a bogey, I have done it once but in a team event, so that doesn't count as t wasn't a qualifier.
I know I will still hit a duff shot now and again, so its important to try to get up and down from near the green and certainly not take more than 3 shots as opposed to taking more than 3 which I used to do a lot and still occasionally do.

This is me too ! Last week I shot 79 off the yellows but my goal is to shoot a double bogey free round in a qualifying comp!

 

[davidy233]

This is me too ! Last week I shot 79 off the yellows but my goal is to shoot a double bogey free round in a qualifying comp!

I've done that once - bogeyed every hole - was second round of our 36 hole club championship (at previous club) and I was one off the lead of the handicap after first round - went out with philosophy of hit everything straight at the flag and it'll be very good or very bad - it actually ended up very mediocre without ever trying to hit a safe shot or lag a putt.