That elusive 79...

[MartinVR 182]

What is the best way to break into the 70's? Even to hit a 79 would be such a great feeling. Although my official handicap is 25, I'm hitting mid 80's to early 90's consistently - just haven't played any comps to bring the handicap down. Other than the short game (this is the best part of my game) what would I need to do to finally break 80?

[Stretch]

You have to hit 8 greens in regulation. That's it. Try playing a couple of rounds where this is all you focus on. You might be surprised!

[uttexas]

Break the psychological barrier. Play from the very forward tees until you break 80, then move back to the tees you usually play from.

[DaSportsGuy]

It's this simple...

-8 GIR(Get down in 2 or birdie it)

-1 Scramble

-Bogey all other holes-->Why I have yet to do it. I have a hole that I make a mess of and it always costs me.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by uttexas

Break the psychological barrier. Play from the very forward tees until you break 80, then move back to the tees you usually play from.

I think this is a good idea...I don't remember what I shot the first time I broke 80, but recall that after choking several times and not being able to break 90, my first round under 90 was 85 and my next round under 90 was 82- all on the same golf course (and probably the same tees, IIRC).

I have been told and agree that going from 90 to 80 is MUCH EASIER than going from 80 to 70.  If you have a good short game and keep the ball in play, you can actually break 80 hitting fewer than 8 greens.  To get over the psychological hump, you could also play a course that doesn't have a lot of trouble, particularly those last 4 or 5 holes when an OB or LB can take a round from 78 to 80.

It would be interesting to get an interview with someone like Patrick Cantlay after shooting 60 (or others who have gone incredibly low)...I read Al Geiberger's book, but it was too long ago to remember, but there really might be something to taking it one shot at a time AND NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR OVERALL SCORE IF POSSIBLE.

[MEfree]

Another thought, if you really do have a good short game, then try mentally playing the hole backwards from the tee:

1.  Based on where the pin is on the green, figure out what are the best spots on and around the green for you to be able to make par from- the middle of this area should be your target on your approach shot.  Typically this will mean not short siding yourself and staying below the hole.

2.  Figure out where you need to hit your tee shot (on a par 4) to be able to most consistently avoid trouble and be able to hit to your approach shot target.

3.  Make confident swings to your selected targets.

[ks8829]

Track the following:

1) putts per round

2) up and down or scramble to one putt to save par or even to save a boogie

3) next hole recovery score.  this is to tracking what you do the hole after a boogie or double boogie, do you par the next hole or continue to make boogies?

4) greens hit on regulation

5) fairways hit

Sometime it help to see an overview of your round and and see where during your round you can improve to cut strokes and break 80, 75, Par and finally to shot under par.

If you double boogie a hole what caused the double?  what can you work on to prevent this from happening again.

practice the right things

[Gerald]

I personally am a very happy golfer each time I break 80 ...... at our course SR 73.5 it means playing to my index or just below.......

For a 25 capper ...... about impossible, I agree with Stretch that making a lot of GIR means breaking 80, but I can play around 80 or just below and have only a few GIR.

Best focus :

- Improve your already good short game, get them so close that you make about 50% of the following putts

- Iron 6 and shorter distances, MUST be on the green

- Drives must be in the fairway at least 75% of the time (don't be shy to hit a well placed iron or hybrid from the tee at shorter par 4's)

- Avoid HEROE shots

- As a double bogey is worse than a bogey, just go for a bogey at holes where a par is very hard to make, play conservative, avoid doubles and worse.

- Don't go for pins if the landingzone requires a supershot

Stop focussing on shooting a 79, just make a bunch of pars and some bogeys ....... focus on keep making these pars, don't mind if you loose some.

Don't cut the course in a out nine and a back nine, but play per 3 holes, say to yourself that you did well, +1 after 3 holes and if you had 3 bad holes in a row focus on a new start at the next 3 hole part ...... this really works !

Drink enough water during play, have some snacks available, make sure you are comfortable, etc......

Don't slam yourself at the head, if you make a low 80, you sure had a very good round, be pleased with it !

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by MEfree

Another thought, if you really do have a good short game, then try mentally playing the hole backwards from the tee:

1.  Based on where the pin is on the green, figure out what are the best spots on and around the green for you to be able to make par from- the middle of this area should be your target on your approach shot.  Typically this will mean not short siding yourself and staying below the hole.

2.  Figure out where you need to hit your tee shot (on a par 4) to be able to most consistently avoid trouble and be able to hit to your approach shot target.

3.  Make confident swings to your selected targets.

Sound advise, it is always a great idea to have a game-plan for each and every hole AND stick to it !!!

But if it really works for a 20ish capper ........ most of them hit at least about 10 ""mishits"" per round ?!?!?!???