Shooting lower scores doesn’t require you to overhaul your golf swing.
The truth is we’re always working on our swing – whether it’s grip, takeaway, transition, or downswing. But the good news is that you can still lower your handicap by improving your short game and course management skills.
Keep reading to learn more easy golf tips that can help your game today.
Key Takeaways
- Shooting lower scores in golf isn’t about always working on your swing, as it’s constantly evolving.
- To set yourself up to play your best, it’s important to have the right equipment and attitude heading into the round.
- Additionally, you need to have plenty of discipline to play it safe at times and avoid hero golf if you’re out of position.
- Paired with regular stat tracking and the mental tips below, you’ll play more consistent golf than ever before.
1. Never Set a Score Goal
The first way to shoot lower scores every round is to avoid setting score goals before the 1st hole. Too many golfers put an intention to break 90, break 80, or shoot par thinking it will help. Newsflash – it won’t, it’ll only add more pressure to yourself.
As you know, every day of golf is very different; sometimes the game feels effortless and easy for most of the day. Sometimes it’s a bit of a roller coaster and other times it’s a flat out struggle.
Instead of setting score goals, start setting process goals. Focus on having a good pre-shot routine, not letting anger or other negative emotions get the best of you, and be grateful for being on the course.
2. Don’t Judge a Slow Start
One of the biggest mistakes that so many golfers make is thinking a slow start will lead to a bad round. Remember, golf is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t need to get off to a hot start to play a good round of golf.
Instead, focus on staying patient and disciplined with your approach to each hole. Sometimes your best stuff won’t happen until the middle or later part of the round. Keep the faith in yourself!
3. Club Up on Approach Shots
Did you know that most of the trouble (water, bunkers, etc.) on the golf course is short of the green? Yet, most golfers end up short because they don’t know their club distances and/or don’t take enough club.
By simply clubbing up, you’ll give yourself more birdie chances and make shooting lower scores a lot easier.
4. Spend More Time on the Putting Green
Before the round, don’t be like most golfers who either:
a) Show up right before their tee time and skip the range.
b) Spend most of their warm-up time on the range and skip the putting green.
Spend more time on the putting green getting your speed dialed so you can have a solid day on the greens. Fewer putts will make it easy to shave shots off your scorecard fast.
5. Play One Shot Shape
While the fade vs. draw debate will likely rage on forever in the golf world, I challenge you to pick one and stick with it. One of the biggest mistakes I made in my own golf career was trying to hit different shots based on the design of the hole or pin location.
For example, if the hole dogleg right, I’d try to hit a fade. If the pin was back left, I’d try to hit a draw. However, when you try to hit all types of shots on the course, it’s easy to double-cross some and have some big misses. Which tends to lead to more double bogeys (or worse).
Instead, play one stock shot on all holes, regardless of pin location or hole design. When you do, it’s easier to pick targets, swing with confidence, and hopefully play a lot more consistently.
6. Only Hit Shots You Practice
If you can’t hit a shot in practice consistently well, don’t try it on the golf course (yet).
For example, if you have never practiced a stinger and you’re hitting into the wind, don’t attempt it on the golf course. This is a unique shot to begin with and takes some time to learn how to hit it. The better option is to tee your driver slightly lower for a lower trajectory and be okay if the wind knocks it down.
The same thing if you’re short sided behind a bunker. While the shot might require a flop, if you’ve never worked on it in practice, don’t try it on the course. Instead, hit a normal pitch shot, accept a longer putt, and take double bogey out of the equation.
Play within your capabilities so you don’t have a big miss that leads to blow up holes. Then, in practice spend time learning new shots and once you’re confident on the range you can test during a round.
7. Play it Safe From the Trees
Missing fairways is part of golf, but how do you react when you’re in trouble? Do you try to play hero golf or play it safe with a punch out?
If you’re like most golfers, you try to hit a miracle shot. While it might turn out well sometimes, a lot of times it leads to unforced errors and big numbers.
When you are out of position, make it a goal to get the next shot back in play. Hopefully you can still hit on (or near) the green, have a look at par, and settle for bogey at worst.
Learn more about hitting from the trees here.
8. Forget The Flagstick
If you want to give yourself more birdies, forget about the flag and focus on the middle of the green. This is easier said than done and takes a lot of discipline for amateur golfers.
But you have to remember that golf is a game of misses and shot dispersion happens. The longer the club you’re hitting, the wider your shot patterns. If you try aiming at tucked flags once you’re at mid-irons or longer, you’ll likely leave yourself some tough chips.
Which will lead to more bogeys and sometimes worse. Play a few rounds where you don’t aim for anything other than the center of the green and see what happens. I bet you’ll be shocked at how many more birdie putts you have, and probably a lot less doubles too.
9. Track Your Statistics
One of the easiest ways to shoot lower scores every round is to track your statistics. When you learn your stats, you can identify your weaknesses with objective data. Using the power of strokes gained, you can compare your game to other handicaps and learn how to improve.
For example, let’s say you’re a 15-handicap but have a goal to get to a 10-handicap. Use a program like Arccos to track your rounds and analyze the data. In their intuitive dashboard, you can easily see how each part of your game stacks up against a 10-handicap.
This type of data makes it clear what are your strengths and weaknesses. When you have this data, you can share it with a coach or make a plan yourself to address those issues in practice.
Finally, don’t forget to track all rounds – not just the good ones. To get the most accurate data, you need to have a large sample size, not just the days when you hit it well.
10. Keep Your Emotions in Check
The mental game is such a big part of golf and playing more consistently. If you have incorrect expectations and anger issues, good luck shooting your best. Sadly, this is something I had to learn the hard way.
The first way to keep your emotions in check is to have the right expectations in golf. Too many of us think we should hit 10 fairways, 12 greens, and never 3-putt. When the PGA Tour average doesn’t put up those types of numbers.
Having the right expectations is half the battle, but the other half is keeping your emotions in check. If you blurt out negative things to yourself, throw clubs, and pout during the round, good luck playing your best.
11. Play the Right Equipment
The final way to get the most out of your rounds is to use the right equipment. If you play with clubs that aren’t right for you to swing, it’s only going to make this game even more difficult.
Two clubs specifically to focus on are your driver and putter, as they’re used so frequently regardless of golf course. Make sure that your driver is right for you and consider a custom fitting.
Your putter is equally important, as it’s responsible for 30% or more of all shots during the round. Consider a custom putter fitting to check the putter length and figure out if the putter is the best option for you.
Make sure to read the biggest equipment mistakes here.
My Experience
Shooting lower scores more often than not is about developing a picturesque swing. It’s about building a game that travels well, having a solid short game, and the right attitude. Paired with proper course management skills, you’ll be much more steady than most golfers.
I can’t stress enough point number 10 – a sharp mental game can do wonders for your score. Don’t forget that golf is a game and a privilege to play – avoid getting overly emotional (easier said than done, I know) so you can get the most of your potential.
Final Thoughts
When you incorporate these strategies into your game, you will have more consistency and hopefully lower scores. Not to mention, probably have a lot more fun.
Don’t fall into the trap of always working on your swing in your quest to shoot lower scores. A lot of times this leads to playing golf swing (too many swing thoughts).
Instead, spend more of your practice time on your short game. Here are some helpful articles to help build a reliable short game so you can scramble more effectively.
