Breaking 80 in Golf: Your Ultimate Guide to Lowering Your Score
So, you’ve set your sights on that elusive "breaking 80" milestone. Let’s face it—cracking that scoring barrier is like finally landing that promotion you’ve been dreaming of. It’s tantalizingly close but just out of reach. But hey, you didn’t click on this article to just stare at the goal; you want to crush it!
The Stats Behind the Magic
We teamed up with the number crunchers over at Shot Scope to dig into what sets the 70s shooters apart from you 80s folks. And spoiler alert: It’s not some secret fairy dust or raw talent. It all boils down to consistently doing a few things better than you’re doing now.
Through analyzing millions of game rounds—yeah, you read that right—Shot Scope uncovered six areas that we need to tackle if you want to get rid of that pesky 8 in front of your score. Ready? Here’s your roadmap to golfing glory!
The Shot Scope Six
- Tee shots in trouble
- Greens in regulation (GIR)
- Multiple shots inside 70 yards to hit the green
- Three-putts count
- Missed putts inside five feet
- Driving distance
Let’s zoom in on the three key stats that’ll help you hack down that score. Nail these, and you’re already on your way!
Key Stat No. 1: Hit More Greens in Regulation
First off, let’s talk about greens in regulation (GIR). This is your bread and butter for scoring. To start seeing those scores dip into the 70s, you absolutely need to be hitting more greens.
Fellas shooting in the 70s average about nine GIR per round, while those of us still in the 80s are scraping by with just five on average. That’s a huge gap! And guess what? Hitting more greens means fewer tricky chips and risky up-and-down attempts—basically, less stress on the course.
Why It Matters
When Shot Scope says golfers in the 80s fail to get up and down 60% of the time, believe it. If you miss a few greens, you’re likely dropping multiple strokes trying to salvage par. This means you’re giving away strokes to the golf gods for practically no reason at all.
Pro Tip: Aim for the middle of the green instead of chasing the pin. I know it’s not a thrilling strategy, but trust me—it works! Get comfortable with your club distances and choose wisely. No more guessing between a hard 8-iron and smooth 7; you’ve got to know your game!
Key Stat No. 2: No More Three-Puts
Once you’ve scaled Mount Green, your next mission is to avoid three-putting like the plague. If you’re still mired in the 80s, you might be averaging about 2.5 three-putts per round. But guess what? You can break 80 with just one fewer three-putt per round. That’s right, just one!
The Three-Putts Dilemma
The main culprit here? Poor lag putting. If you leave your first putt somewhere between "makeable" and "what have I done?" you’re just asking for trouble. From long range, aim to leave your first putt within three feet of the hole—that’s golden!
Based on the Shot Scope data, even a 25-handicapper can sink 88% of putts from inside three feet. So, get your lag putting sorted, and you’ll see those three-putts vanish.
Think of it this way: Three-putts are the equivalent of double faults in tennis—they’re super avoidable and just plain frustrating. Avoid that embarrassment by honing those lag putts!
Key Stat No. 3: Get the Ball on the Green From Inside 70 Yards
Let’s face it, you might not be as good from inside 70 yards as you think. Golfers in the 80s average around 2.7 instances per round where they need multiple attempts just to hit the green from this distance. Yikes!
For guys breaking 80, that number dramatically drops to just 1.6 tries. What does that mean for your score? A potential full stroke saved per round, folks!
Shift Your Mindset
Lower your expectations a notch. Your primary aim should be getting the ball on the green, even if it’s not rolling in for a birdie. Remember, a two-putt from 30 feet is way more appealing than a duffed chip followed by—what?—another chip and two putts.
Sometimes boring golf is winning golf. Embrace it, and you’ll watch your scores improve.
The Complete Picture
Let’s break down the broader picture based on Shot Scope’s metrics. Their data reveals how various aspects of your golf game contribute to scoring successfully:
- More GIR = Better chances for lower scores
- Fewer three-putts = Less stress on your score
- Hitting greens from inside 70 yards = Save a whole stroke
The Bottom Line
If you’re itching to break 80, here’s the checklist you should be aiming for:
- Hit at least nine greens in regulation (double what you might be hitting now).
- Keep it under two three-putts (that’s just one less than your current average).
- No more than two holes requiring multiple shots to hit the green from inside 70 yards (because let’s not make this harder than it needs to be).
Sure, these three stats are crucial, but don’t forget the other components of the Shot Scope Six. Improving across all these metrics will help you break through that 80 barrier.
Final Words
Breaking 80 doesn’t mean you need to become a golf prodigy. You just need to cut down on those silly mistakes, which in turn means:
- Hitting more greens
- Avoiding three-putts
- Making sure you hit the greens from close range
Do those three things, and soon you’ll be the one signing scorecards with a glorious 7 leading the way.
If you’re ready to take your game to the next level, check out Shot Scope’s performance tracking products. From GPS watches to rangefinders, they can help maximize your potential.
Now, quit reading, grab those clubs, and get out there to practice that lag putting. You got this!
