How do you make birdies?

[Eeryck]

I think another aspect here to making birdies is to have a realistic expectation of what a birdie hole is for you. If you go out to every hole that you can hit a GIR, it does not mean it is really a convertable birdie opportunity (ie the chance is too small to have a realistic expectation).

What I am getting at is perhaps planning on the holes where you have a 9I or less to the green as holes where birdie comes into play could affect the number made.

If you have more than a 9I to the green, playing for par is the more realistic goal and allow the birdies to come when the putter is hot and they go in from 15-30 feet. This may take some pressure off your scoring game so when you have a 9I or less now it is scoring time since you have been easy on yourself so far.

Similarly, on par 5's unless the hole is set up increadibly tough, there should be a good birdie opportunity, even at my level, if I can hit my second shot leaving me 60 yards to the green (my prefered lay up distance), I have a good chance to put the ball within 10 feet of the hole and a chance to make birdie if the putter is working.

What I am talking about is expectation management. I recently read an article discussing a cumulative effect of bad rubs of the green causing your game to go into a further funk, causing you to play worse.

I propose the same is true of making birdies, if you expect to have birdie puts when hitting a 4I for a GIR, perhaps it is weighing on you so that when you should have an attempt you are not hitting the approach as near as necessary.

FWIW,
-E