Glad to see a hackers thread!!
I had, and still sometimes have, a tempo/mental problem that I have been fighting the last year or so.
I would try to force the club into the ball on every shot, even though I knew that technique would not work....doesn't matter, I did it anyway.
I just had to force the shots so I could get the perceived extra distance needed to get on the greens in regulation.
Then one day during a practice round, I decided the way to break my habit of forcing the shot was to lay up short on most all shots. Then make a 70 yard or shorter shot onto the green with a putt stroke type chip. My thinking was if I take it easy, I would get less penalty strokes and at the same time, if I learned to two putt, I would be able to get a bogey on most holes. Someone earlier said it best; nine bogeys and 9 doubles = a 99.
It became obvious to me if I played this kind of game, I would have to get good at the 80 yard and in shots..So practice it was,.... everything from a wedge to a 7 iron using a putt stroke chip shot (for me , it was easier to control this kind of shot than a partial swing type shot). The idea was to be able to make these shots onto the green without any stress, then 2 putt for a possible bogey.
I tried this technique for most of last season (2013) and out of 38 rounds recorded, 12 were under 100 (about 33%).
My usual score prior to this was around 115, with 0 scores under 100 in 2012 and years before.
This year (2014) I am at 10 out of 20 rounds under 100. I think I can do even better this year; if I get my tempo issues ironed out (pun intended)
So for me, what I did works!! I call it playing within my means. It's not pretty, and certainly not macho, but it seems to get the job done.
Hope if you try this idea it will work for you as well.