How to break 70

[saevel25]

http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/golf-buzz/golf-tips-how-break-70?cid=pgacomsocial_fb_sf26146268

Quote

“Here’s what you do to break 70,” Labritz said, “it starts with birdieing all of the par 5s. The par 5s are giving you an extra shot. If you’re an above average driver, birdieing all the par 5s is a must. See how long the par 5s are and ask yourself: can I reach the green in two? If the answer is ‘no’ then ask yourself: where do I have to positon myself to have the most comfortable wedge shot possible to get close in three?”

I would amend this,

"If the answer is "no" then ask yourself: How close can I get the ball to the green with out putting myself into trouble"

Quote

With the birdie mindset on the par 5s, Labritz said you have to shift to a par mindset for the par 3s. With ball in hand (on the tee), Labritz said, you should be able to do that.

If you want to par a lot of par 3's then aim for the middle of the green. Par 3's generally have larger greens.

Quote

“The par 4s are funky,” Labritz said. “You birdie the par 5s, par the par 3s and then you pick your spots on the par 4s. Some you can attack. You have to approach it like this – if you have a wedge in your hand on a par 4, it’s a birdie club. You should get it close. When you break down the par 4s, see where you can attack with the driver. Then there are holes you won’t hit driver on. In those spots, put yourself in the most comfortable positon off the tee for your scoring shots. Pick a number you feel most comfortable with and make sure you’re setting yourself up with those clubs.”

For the most part you should be hitting driver as much as possible. The only criteria where I don't take driver on a hole are the following,

1. If my swing is producing abnormally wild shots.
2. There are bunkers in my primary landing area and I am not comfortable trying to clear them.
3. If the hole constricts to the point a good portion of my shot zone is taken up by bunkers, water, OB, and trees.

 

[Grumpter]

Apparently making a birdie on all par 5's is not a must. The 1 and only time I broke 70 I had 1 birdie and 2 pars on the 3 par 5's for that round.

[bkuehn1952]

Got it!  Birdie the par 5's, par the par 3's and make a few birdies on the less difficult par 4's to offset the occasional bogey.  Piece of cake now that I have the recipe.  

[Golfingdad]

Shoot a 69 or better.

[14ledo81]

5 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Got it!  Birdie the par 5's, par the par 3's and make a few birdies on the less difficult par 4's to offset the occasional bogey.  Piece of cake now that I have the recipe.  

I had been trying to birdie all the par threes.  I'll get it now.

[Rainmaker]

1 minute ago, 14ledo81 said:

I had been trying to birdie all the par threes.  I'll get it now.

That's crazy . .I've been trying to make all hole-in-ones.  When trying to find a great player to "model" myself after, I noticed my basic swing-shape and body type looked most like Kim Jong Il so I've tried to adopt his strategies. 

[rehmwa]

Easy - stop playing after 15 holes

[DaveP043]

What a waste of internet space that article is, talk about Captain Obvious.  One bit of advice I DO like is near the end, on conquering the nerves we all get when we have a chance to shoot a "milestone" score.  Play a few practice rounds from REALLY forward tees, and go ahead and shoot some low scores, you'll feel like its justified because of the tees.  Then, when you're at the normal yardage, the low score won't seem so alien to you.  

[Dave2512]

The formula for breaking 70 should start with being skilled enough to do it. The guy that struggles to break 85 or whatever isn't going to suddenly see this and figure out a way to birdie the par 5's and par the par 3's. I can't will myself to birdie any holes it just kind of happens. I do try to hit the best shot possible but it's usually about score preservation not score optimization.

 

[Golfingdad]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

What a waste of internet space that article is, talk about Captain Obvious.  One bit of advice I DO like is near the end, on conquering the nerves we all get when we have a chance to shoot a "milestone" score.  Play a few practice rounds from REALLY forward tees, and go ahead and shoot some low scores, you'll feel like its justified because of the tees.  Then, when you're at the normal yardage, the low score won't seem so alien to you.  

That's why I posted what I posted. ;)

Agree with the last part too.  I remember my high school baseball coach told us after we blew a lead to a really high ranked team that part of it was because the idea of beating a team we weren't "supposed" to beat was too foreign to us that it made us uncomfortable and nervous.  Out of our element, basically.  I think this is the same idea.  We don't want to blow up the last few holes to revert back to our usual scores but having never or rarely been in the position, somewhere in the back of our minds, we might be expecting it, and therefore causing it.

[Dave2512]

My experience was the day I shot my PB 72 I wasn't nervous. I actually felt like I was playing good golf and I expected to score well right to the last putt.

[jkelley9]

The way I see it, shoot for the stars and land on the moon:

So I will be trying to eagle all of the par 5's, par 4's, and par 3's. Done.

[freshmanUTA]

3 hours ago, Rainmaker said:

That's crazy . .I've been trying to make all hole-in-ones.  When trying to find a great player to "model" myself after, I noticed my basic swing-shape and body type looked most like Kim Jong Il so I've tried to adopt his strategies. 

I just shout Kobe then hit it and it always seems to drop right in the hole..

[iacas]

On May 12, 2016 at 1:40 PM, DaveP043 said:

What a waste of internet space that article is, talk about Captain Obvious.  One bit of advice I DO like is near the end, on conquering the nerves we all get when we have a chance to shoot a "milestone" score.  Play a few practice rounds from REALLY forward tees, and go ahead and shoot some low scores, you'll feel like its justified because of the tees.  Then, when you're at the normal yardage, the low score won't seem so alien to you.  

Two guys I know about wrote that in a book a few years ago, too… and it's been written before, too, I'm sure. Good advice two years ago and ten years ago.

The recipe to breaking 70? Get really, really good at golf.

[dove694]

On 5/12/2016 at 11:40 AM, DaveP043 said:

What a waste of internet space that article is, talk about Captain Obvious.  One bit of advice I DO like is near the end, on conquering the nerves we all get when we have a chance to shoot a "milestone" score.  Play a few practice rounds from REALLY forward tees, and go ahead and shoot some low scores, you'll feel like its justified because of the tees.  Then, when you're at the normal yardage, the low score won't seem so alien to you.  

I agree! Playing the forward tees or a really easy course can teach you how to score. My friend played Division 1 golf and his coach made the team play the forward tees in a practice round every so often for this very reason. Great response!

[RFKFREAK]

Some A+ responses ITT. 

[DrvFrShow]

Stop at 9 holes?

[Wally Fairway]

it really isn't hard at all, just play this course (and no it is not a 9 hole course, or a par 3 course)

http://www.hawkhollow.com/woodside-golf-course/