Breaking 90?

[Undr Par]

gaz d sounds to me that your placing alot of pressure on yourself to get over that hurdle of breaking 90.....in fact I'll go out on a flyer and say your head is what's getting in the way for you......(and again that's placing pressure on yourself to do it, your thinking tooooooo much about it while out on the course)...we all do that......

there is alot of GREAT advice.....on this thread in fact so great that even for those who have broken 90 can apply it to their game to lower some strokes from their round....

[gaz d]

yeah it is pretty hard not to think about it. any tips on that?

[gaz d]

so a summary of the tips from the thread so far...
•Keep your ball in play.
•PLAY CONSERVATIVELY
•never keep score
•Avoid aiming at pins
•aim at the centre of the green
•avoid risks and lay-up when needed
•Hit an iron for all second shots on par 5's
•When in trouble add 1 shot to the par and get it back in play
•Take more club on every iron shot
•Eliminate three putts
•Have very specific targets off the tee (away from the trouble)

[Undr Par]

yeah it is pretty hard not to think about it. any tips on that?

sounds to me you have the game to do it, so that's not the issue....(again I'm not Doctor) but have the thought process that you know you can do this.

somewhere in your round of Golf you've made ever shot , just not together....(meaning you've hit a great Driver but followed it up with a bad 2nd shot....or hit a horrible driver, but awesome 2nd shot.....great putt, but terrible chip etc)..... approach ever shot with the mind set that I can do this, think about the shot you want to accomplish when over the ball...if it means taking a few extra seconds to do that...then take the extra seconds......also after a bad shot...clear it out of your head, don't get down (don't allow the thoughts of..great here goes my score, or this is going be a blow up hole etc..)....approach the next shot with the confidence of hitting it sweet..... Also, for me it is looking at my score throughout a round....write your scroe doen and don't look at it again until your done all 18.....don't add you score up after the 1st 9....wait until all 18 are finished. Hang in there, it will come, and when it does, you'll be there for awhile....

[$2 Nassau]

The not paying attention to your score thing is tough for me. I'm kind of a numbers geek at times and the numbers/scores during a round are always running through my head. NOT keeping a scorecard actually makes me think about my score even more, because I'm doing it all in my head after every hole.
I like the advice above, write your score down quickly and put it back in your pocket, don't be staring at the card as you are walking down the fairway or anything.
Also, if you are playing with some friends, play a match...a Nassau or maybe Skins...something were you are playing against other players, trying to win holes but still keeping a total score for yourself. It's a great distraction and helps you focus on each individual shot.

[Mr.Buckethead]

Remove birdie from your mind. Refocus the happiness that you get from a birdie and try to get that feeling from making par. It will help you not shoot at pins that leave you with terrible up and downs or in the bunkers etc.

That is my strategy when I play. So, rather than get that happy feeling once, maybe twice a round, I go out and get it 7-11 times a round because I am pumped up for getting pars. Collect them and you will break 90. The birdies will come.

[Undr Par]

The not paying attention to your score thing is tough for me. I'm kind of a numbers geek at times and the numbers/scores during a round are always running through my head. NOT keeping a scorecard actually makes me think about my score even more, because I'm doing it all in my head after every hole.

that's good advice as well about the Nassau or Skins or Best Ball, best drive.....theres so many things that can devert your attention away from your score....

[beung]

Without seeing you play, so without knowing how you drive, how you strike your iron, how your shortgame is or how well you putt I can offer up some advice since I have 2 friends who are always flirting with 90 - one who usually shoot below 90 and the other who shoots above it.


1) Shortgame around the greens, no matter how good you are the shortgame is the most important part and there is always room for improvement. Hitting every fairway, heck even hitting every GIR has been done many times but I don't recall if anyone has come close to only having 18 putts in a round or sinking every chip. Have a goal of one chip and two putts max per hole, two chips and three putts add up quick. You will also be surprised at how having a good shortgame can take the pressure off of your approaches and how having pressure free approach shots will make driving easier.

2) Never hit a shot to make up for the shot you just hit. If you hit a bad shot off the tee don't use your second shot to try and make up for it. Take your lumps and hit a shot you are capable of.

3) I wouldn't say play conservative, I would say play smart. If you have 240yrds into a par5 on your second shot, what are the chances that you are going to get it on the green? If the chances are high that it's going to take you 2 shots to get it on the green anyways, then why not hit 2 relatively easy shots rather then relying on a really great shot? This goes for laying up as well, it doesn't mean hit it as far as you can with the first shot, it means hit 2 shots within your skill to get the ball to where it needs to go. Which is easier to get the ball 260 yrds and on the green - a 3w+SW or 7i+PW? Is the SW going to get you closer to the hole, probably but how much more reliable are you with your 7i as compared to your 3w?

4) Always use the same balls, no matter if they are cheap balls or expensive ones. Consistent distance and spin are key at any level.

[Mr.Buckethead]

4) Always use the same balls, no matter if they are cheap balls or expensive ones. Consistent distance and spin are key at any level.

Good advice. It is frustrating when you switch balls but forget to take it into account when choosing a club.

[gaz d]

Finally broke 90!!!
shot 84. Had lots of pars, +10 Front 9 and +3 Back
My first birdie on a par 4

[Mhinderaker]

Congrats!

Always nice to completely smash it too, not just shoot an 89.

Always nice to see someone get over this hump.

[getinthehole]

3) I wouldn't say play conservative, I would say play smart. If you have 240yrds into a par5 on your second shot, what are the chances that you are going to get it on the green? If the chances are high that it's going to take you 2 shots to get it on the green anyways, then why not hit 2 relatively easy shots rather then relying on a really great shot? This goes for laying up as well, it doesn't mean hit it as far as you can with the first shot, it means hit 2 shots within your skill to get the ball to where it needs to go. Which is easier to get the ball 260 yrds and on the green - a 3w+SW or 7i+PW? Is the SW going to get you closer to the hole, probably but how much more reliable are you with your 7i as compared to your 3w?

Those two are fantastic pieces of advice. I'm definately going to take them too. Congrats on smashing 90 though Gaz.

[wachesawgolfer]

Play your course as a par 90. This allows you an extra stroke to get on the greens. The extra stroke allows you to avoid trouble and hit it closer to the pin. Practice putting, again and again, especially 5 feet in so no more three putts. One up and down and you break 90, par a few threes and you should be in the mid eighties constantly, soon. Keep practicing the 5 feet or less putts and practice the short putts.

[$2 Nassau]

Great job!! Wow, you creamed it too.

Is there any strategy that you used? Or did you just flat out hit the ball well?

[P3R3]

You went from not breaking 90 to nearly tieing my best 18 score, good job.

[azgreg]

Great job D, I guess the round is on you?

[Shindig]

Finally broke 90!!!

Congrats man! I'm next to break 90 then. Maybe by a month from now.

Seriously, you've inspired me. Very well done. And you smashed 90. You didn't just break it, you destroyed it. What's your next goal?

[Norm66]

Congrats Gaz!

I broke 90 for the second time (89 both times) last night. 8 pars, no birdies though.