What makes breaking 80/90/100 easier once you've done it?

[vmsea]

I used to never ever break 90.. then last month, i shot 89.. first time ever.
last week i shot 87.. this past weekend, 87 again.

Still having the 95/98 rounds, so my handicap isn't dropping significantly, but why is it once you do it once, you can suddenly do it again.. like a dam is broken kinda thing.

looking forward to breaking 80.
(i guess that's why they call it BREAKING... )
:)

[Tugglife2]

Confidence.

[Dave H]

I'm not sure why but I'm experiencing the same thing, although last year I couldn't do it. I shot 85 once last year and they came close to breaking 90 a number of times but couldn't do it. This year, my last 6 rounds have gone like this: 87, 89, 104, 85, 43(9). Take the one exception away and shooting in the 80s has felt relatively easy...ha. I always say golf for me is at least 50% mental and I think I've just broken a mental barrier this year which has allowed me to play better golf as of late.

[vmsea]

I'm not sure why but I'm experiencing the same thing, although last year I couldn't do it. I shot 85 once last year and they came close to breaking 90 a number of times but couldn't do it. This year, my last 6 rounds have gone like this: 87, 89, 104, 85, 43(9). Take the one exception away and shooting in the 80s has felt relatively easy...ha. I always say golf for me is at least 50% mental and I think I've just broken a mental barrier this year which has allowed me to play better golf as of late.

That's errily similar to mine

89, 90, 87, 103, 87, 90 were the last 5. how did the 103 get in there.. :)

[Dave H]

That's errily similar to mine

Funny.

how did the 103 get in there..

Yeah. I can tell you how that 104 got in there for me...new course, 95 degree heat, too many beers.

I don't generally drink while playing but it just happened to be the company I was with that day...you know.

[ChipShot]

I agree that confidence is a big part of it and also I'm guessing that if a player is dropping their scores and breaking these barriers they are likely playing and practicing more often and improving their game. I used to play pretty infrequently and always shot around 105-115 and since I've started playing much more than I used to I am seeing consistent scores in the mid to low 90's. I now have goals that I try and achieve when I play a round and I practice much more than I ever had before. I am on the verge of breaking 90 and I would have already but of course there are always those one or two blow up holes that kill me.

[double_j]

It's the general practice and improvement in game that happens as you play and practice - the confidence will stem from that. Actually, it's not as much confidence as it is the removal of fear about something that you were worried about before.

I know when I was first starting I was horrified of forced carries like most beginners, even if it was only 100 yards. Now that I've been playing for a while, they don't really bother me - the 100 yard carry only requires a wedge after all.

You'll eventually pick up that feeling for many shots, whether it be a 4 iron off a tight lie, a 3 wood off the turf, or driver off the tee.

Your game will get more consistent over time (if you play enough or practice well, that is) and you'll naturally lose those score killers that might be holding you back now.

[TourSpoon]

Confidence.

Yes, it's the confidence to pull it off again, especially with the eternal optimism that flows through a golfer's veins. How many times have you heard someone say, "I broke *blank* but if I made that one putt and would have not hit OB it would have been *blank*. I left six shots out on the course."

[Jay-Bird]

Playing the course intelligently and courageously, with perfect harmony of both.

Knowing you can. Understanding that scores are not mythical.

[melchior]

Also not stated is that you clearly have the ability to play to that level now. Your golf game is never static (until possibly you reach an upper ceiling of your ability), and therefore you're always improving. Since you are always improving, it's only natural that you keep posting similar/slightly better scores relatively consistently.

[oneoverwrx]

I think it is all mental. When your trying to break a number you are so concertrated on doing it. For example...."I can go bogey, bogey for an 89"....youll go bogey bogey. After the special number is broken for the first time you are trying to score better. So lets say you are going for 85.....and you have already taken 83 strokes prior to 18, you shoot your par or whatever for another high 80 round.

When you start shooting in the low 80s and high 70s it begins to get much harder. A bad hole early in the round could be the difference.

[chef35ca]

Confidence & course management both improve.

Good shots breed confidence & vice versa.

[dbuck]

Confidence & course management both improve.

+1

Once you do it, you know you can, then it becomes course management and focus. And learning to play one swing at a time. On the course I play most often, I have legitimately parred or birdied every hole on the course--just not in the same round,LOL! But I know I can if I focus and make enough good swings.

[double_j]

I think it is all mental. When your trying to break a number you are so concertrated on doing it. For example...."I can go bogey, bogey for an 89"....youll go bogey bogey. After the special number is broken for the first time you are trying to score better. So lets say you are going for 85.....and you have already taken 83 strokes prior to 18, you shoot your par or whatever for another high 80 round.

Keep in mind that the barriers are all relative to your skill level. I honestly didn't think that breaking 80 felt much different from breaking 90 the first time I did it. Since your game will be at a different point for each benchmark, the relative difficulty of each milestone tends to feel the same.

E.g., whereas a bogey golfer might say "I just need a bogey and a par to break 90", the single digit handicap will say "I just need a par and a birdie to break 80", and these achievements are both realistic & achievable for that player's skill level. You won't notice the gradual improvement but it'll happen with the right practice and playing time.

[PooN]

Here's what I've found:

99-90: Still learning how to hit the ball. Quite a few shots will be offline, duffed, topped, etc. Lots of OB penalties. Putts aren't even a thought until the ball reaches the green. Fear is an issue at this level... because the ball somewhat rarely goes where it is being aimed.

89-80: Figured out how to hit most shots pure. Driver starts to get under control. Less OB penalties and duffed/topped/offline shots. Putts become a forethought on approach rather than just something you have to do with the ball once it reaches the dance floor. One mental issue: I've found that anger sets in on bad shots in this range. This can make the difference between an 83 round and an 89+.

79-72: Ball striking is no longer an issue. Irons are pure, driver is mostly online. FIR & GIR become HUGE. Course management becomes main focus. Mental game is completely different. Of course, it helps that where you aim the ball is where the ball goes (mostly). That comes from going through all the above ranges/handicaps and practice practice practice.

Scratch+: This is an art form. I can't even imagine what it takes to change from the 79-72 level.


As most have said, it is more of breaking through mental barriers. Overcoming the fear during the learning process, keeping your cool during the level where you know you can make the shots but sometimes hit it bad, then playing a game of chess with the course, where making good decisions to keep the score down becomes the focus because the ball striking is no longer an issue.


Making the putter get the ball in the hole always helps too.

[SVTGolfer]

I think for me it was a little bit swing, but more so mental. When Im playing well Im ok, and when I start having a bad round my mind gets in the way and I just fall apart. Knowing that I can actually do it has changed everything for me...
All I needed were some lessons!

For me, ive been trying to just stay consistent @ under 100 and I was happy with shooting 97's. Although I really wanted to get better and break 90, its been my goal for at least the past 6 months. I haven't even been playing for 2 years yet, but I seemed to pick up the mechanics of the game easily? but for some reason I just couldn't get under 90. I was dealing with some swing issues, and was hitting OB a lot and being forced to take penalty strokes, and every time I added them up, I was right there on the verge of breaking 90. Finally I went to go get lessons, and WOW, what have I been doing waiting!!! Wthin two lessons I shot an 89, then an 87, then another 89, then I played in a tournament and shot an 80!!! (some people were not happy haha) but all I needed was some posture changes to keep the ball straight and consistent, and walla... I consider myself a golfer now. =D

[vmsea]

89-80: One mental issue:

I noticed that too!! Before i broke 90, i was the easiest going player out there.. hit OB.. laugh it off.. hit an approach into the water - shrug.. smile.. walk over to drop

Now - i get frustrated even practicing in the range b/c my ball flight isn't what i want. ?!?! better playing = less enjoyment?? :(((((

[Fourputt]

I used to never ever break 90.. then last month, i shot 89.. first time ever.

I can't say that it's any easier if it remains the low end of your scoring ability. I first broke 80 in 1989, but I still don't find it easy. I've had just 2 rounds in the 70's this year out of 60 some total. This weekend I played quite well in the Senior Club Championship and still shot 81-83 (40-41 and 41-42), which is very consistent for me. To break 80 I have to play my best golf and still get a bit lucky with a long putt or 2, or hole out a chip.... something out of the ordinary.