How do you make birdies?

**ScottyCameron** · May 17, 2009

So I have been analyzing my game and comparing it to others at my handicap level and better. Heres the thing, I make a ton of pars. I will have a round with 14 pars, but compared to others at my skill level, I don't make as much birdies as them. I will make 1 to 2 birdies a round but its pretty rare for me to make alot of birdies. I know making alot of pars is really good to shoot low scores, but I think for me to go on to the next level to a scratch golfer I thing I need to be making more birdies. Any tips on how I can archive my goal of being scratch?

**CalBoomer** · May 17, 2009

Although I'm not as good a player as you are, the answer to this question seems reasonably obvious. You need to sink more first putts. So you need to improve your putting or your iron play (to have shorter putts) or both. According to Peltz, even pros on average make less than 15% of putts beyond 10 feet. When I see pros making a lot of birdies, either they are sticking their approaches close to the pin or they are preternaturally hot on the longer putts.

**deafheaven** · May 17, 2009

Wish I had this problem. Out of curiosity... how are you for greens in regulation and in number of putts in a round? I imagine the issue lies in the short game somewhere.

***iacas*** · May 17, 2009

I make a lot of pars too. Either practice your 20-footers or hit the ball closer to the hole when you've got the chance. That's about all there is to it.

**RocketSauce** · May 17, 2009

So I have been analyzing my game and comparing it to others at my handicap level and better. Heres the thing, I make a ton of pars. I will have a round with 14 pars, but compared to others at my skill level, I don't make as much birdies as them. I will make 1 to 2 birdies a round but its pretty rare for me to make alot of birdies. I know making alot of pars is really good to shoot low scores, but I think for me to go on to the next level to a scratch golfer I thing I need to be making more birdies. Any tips on how I can archive my goal of being scratch?

you are in the same boat as i am. i will make 1 or 2 (if im lucky) birdies per round, but mostly pars & a few bogeys thrown in for good measure. the last round i played i had 9 birdie putts, but only made 1 (about a 20 footer)

**ScottyCameron** · May 17, 2009

Wish I had this problem. Out of curiosity... how are you for greens in regulation and in number of putts in a round? I imagine the issue lies in the short game somewhere.

My GIR on par 3's is 67.2%

My GIR on par 4's is 45.6% My GIR on par 5's is 76.1% I am averaging 30-32 putts a round.

**Kcas77** · May 17, 2009

My GIR on par 3's is 67.2%

Seems like the problem is the putting even tough 31 putts is good. Practice more on your putting and you should be on your way to becoming a scratch golfer.

**ScottyCameron** · May 17, 2009

Seems like the problem is the putting even tough 31 putts is good. Practice more on your putting and you should be on your way to becoming a scratch golfer.

Thanks, I think if I practice putting more that will help.

**denver_nuggs_15** · May 17, 2009

My GIR on par 3's is 67.2%

That looks pretty good to me (it's about 57% overall right?). If you are too far away on those greens, though, it's going to be tough to 1-putt. Approach shots could be closer, I'm sure, so maybe practice that. If it's between practicing approach shots or 20-30 footers for an hour, I'd say approach shots IMO. (If it's approach shots vs. putting that's a different story).

Also, do you miss long/short or left/right of the pin. If you are always right at the pin, but short/long, that's a distance control issue. If you are pin high, but 20 feet left of the flag, that's more accuracy. Just something to think about.

**Hoovedawg** · May 17, 2009

Im the total opposite. The other day I played 18 holes, shot an 88 and had 4 birdies, 6 pars, 4 bogies, 2 double bogies, 1 triple bogey and 1 +5 (8 on a par 3).

Im really inconsistant, but when im on i can relatively easily drive 280 and dont have too much trouble hittin real close from 150 out. When I'm not on, Im really bad. Like the other day when i was playin a 225 yrd par 3. I topped a 3 wood, chunked a 5 iron, hit another 5 iron 25 yards over the green, bladed a wedge across into a bunker, hit onto the green, then 3 putted for an 8.

I usually get my birdies from either a long putt or a bombed drive that leaves a wedge to the green. But I guess thats how most people get their birdies.

**ScottyCameron** · May 17, 2009

That looks pretty good to me (it's about 57% overall right?). If you are too far away on those greens, though, it's going to be tough to 1-putt. Approach shots could be closer, I'm sure, so maybe practice that. If it's between practicing approach shots or 20-30 footers for an hour, I'd say approach shots IMO. (If it's approach shots vs. putting that's a different story).

I consider my iron game pretty strong. I am going to be working on my putting, both 20-30 footers and inside 10 feet.

**DaveLeeNC** · May 17, 2009

I consider my iron game pretty strong. I am going to be working on my putting, both 20-30 footers and inside 10 feet.

Getting better at 20-30 foot putts probably won't buy you much. Even really good putters (REALLY good putters) don't make that many.

Either you are a poor putter from inside 15' (by your low handicap standards) or you aren't hitting enough approach shots inside 15'. I saw/see the same thing in my game. The key for me is that I both need to putt better from inside 15' AND I need to improve my approach shots from inside 120 yards (where inside 15' is achievable on a semi-regular basis). For me this means that I have to get rid of my tendency to pull short irons and wedges - WAY too many of them end up 25' left of my target. dave ps. One thing that I get out of my stats database is 'birdie opportunities' (which is birdie putts from 15' or less). You might find that info useful to you.

SteveSimp · May 18, 2009

Approach shots are huge. Probably the most under-rated aspect of golf in terms of difficulty-to-importance ratio.

**Parker0065** · May 18, 2009

Putting is a big key of course to making birdies, but hows your wedge game from 120 yds and in? Also if your a short hitter then gaining 10-15 yards off the tee will put a shorter club in your hand for the aproach and get you closer to the hole to make birdies.

3 keys to making more birdies.

1) Increase distance off the tee to get the ball closer to the green

2) Develop into a good wedge/short iron player to get the ball close to the hole

3) Put in a lot of practice time on 10-15 foot putts

***iacas*** · May 18, 2009

Getting better at 20-30 foot putts probably won't buy you much. Even really good putters (REALLY good putters) don't make that many.

I disagree. If you hit 12 greens and have 12 20 footers for birdie per round, and you can double the number you knock in, you'll shave one or two strokes off your handicap instantly.

The "really good putters" probably make 3x as many 20 footers as this guy (or me). Scorecard tells me my average GIR first putt is about 22.8 feet . If I can start more 20-footers on the proper line (speed's rarely an issue), I can make one or two more putts per round. P.S. A 20 footer that's off by more than 0.5° has NO CHANCE of going in the hole. Well, unless you mis-read the putt.

**right handed phil mickelson** · May 18, 2009

My GIR on par 3's is 67.2%

That is not that bad for average putting, but it's not that good. Golfers with good scores have average putts per round at about 22-26 putts per round. My average is about 28 putts. That shows that my work is not in my short game but in my iron play and ball striking. What I'm saying is work on putting- around 15-30 feet. Thats obviously where you are hitting your shots since you have good ball-striking ability. Build on that, and the birdies will come.

**HSip** · May 18, 2009

My GIR on par 3's is 67.2%

Those are some pretty good numbers - Congrats. It looks like putting is where you could improve your # of birdies and as we all know PRACTICE is key (both putting and reading greens). Keep up the good work - you'll get there.

**Fat Slice** · May 18, 2009

I make a lot of pars too. Either practice your 20-footers or hit the ball closer to the hole when you've got the chance. That's about all there is to it.

Yeah, you can't expect to chip in for birdies.

Hit the green in regulation and make the putt. The closer you get with your approach shot, the easier the putt. The better you are at putting, the more birdies you will make. Stick it close and knock it in. Most rounds I won't get any, some rounds I will get three or four.

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How do you make birdies?

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