Whether you just started playing the game or you’re looking to break that coveted 90 for the first time these tips will hopefully help you break 90. When I first started playing golf I didn’t even think about breaking 90 but when I started to get better I wanted to shoot the best score I could.
Breaking 90 is easy if you keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things,
1) Eat before the round
Breaking 90 starts well in advance. You should eat before your round to give yourself the best chance to break 90. If you’re going to walk you burn roughly 2000+ calories during a round of golf (roughly the same if you’re using a push cart or carrying) and roughly 800 calories if you’re riding. That’s a lot of energy. Make sure to eat a well-balanced meal before you hit the links.
2) Loosen up and hit the range
Picture this, you head out of the office (or home if you WFH) and to the golf course. Depending on how long it takes you to get there you sit in traffic and head to the first tee. No swing, no stretch, and your first drive slices right out of bounds.
Now I get it, times are tough – we all get busy. But the best thing for you to do is to get to the course a few minutes early (preferably 30 to 1 hr before your round) to at least stretch and get your body warm. Try to hit a small or warm-up bucket of balls to see where the ball is going that way you can carry that to the first tee.
Another great thing to do is hit a few putts. What I love to do is hit a few lag putts to get the distances right and few short putts to see a few fall into the hole.
3) Keep the ball in play
The number one tip I can give you is to keep the ball in play. Yes, I know that’s easier said than done but keeping the ball in play keeps you from those blow-up holes. Now how can I keep the ball in play? You need to find your “fairway finder”. This might look like keeping your driver in the bag and sticking to your 3 wood.
One thing that can help is having a pre-shot routine. A pre-shot routine helps you get in the zone for the next shot. This may look something like taking a few practice swings behind or beside the ball. Lining up to the ball and target and hitting your shot.
4) Use a range finder
Knowing how far your target is can help you save a few shots. A few shots over the course of a round can be the difference between 90 and 89. Use a rangefinder to help you navigate around the course.
5) Hydrate, snack up, and avoid alcohol
Now remember when I said eat before your round? You should also eat during your round. Think snack food. Trail mix, granola bars, gatorade, jerky, protein bars. My go to on the course (if I don’t stop and grab a hot dog on the turn) is a PB&J. It’s easy to pack, doesn’t weight anything in your bag (definitely helps if your carrying) and it’s packed with protein.
No matter what you pack just make sure you’re prepared for a day out on the course.
6) Lag it close
This one is one of the most important tips if you are trying to break 90 for the first time. Your ability to lag your long putts to within 3-4 feet is crucial for scoring low. One of the best tips I can say is during your practice putts look at the hole and really try to feel the distance. In Tiger Woods’ book “How I Play Golf” this is one of the things he talks about when trying to lag long putts. When in doubt look at the hole when trying to feel out distances.
7) Mental check-up
A round of golf can be long. Sometimes 6 hours if the course is busy and your playing behind slow players (please don’t be one of these). Make sure your not always “locked in”. Chat it up with your playing partners. Take in the scenery. Scroll through your phone (if your not playing in a competition). And when it’s time to play a shot lock in and focus. Remember it’s just a game, don’t take it too seriously.
8) No blow-up holes
This is a crucial tip if your trying to break 90 and really if you want to get better at the game. NO BLOW-UP HOLES. Now if you’re trying to break 90 your going to get double bogeys but please keep it to that. When I say no blow-up holes this means no triple plus bogeys. These scores will kill your round. Try to navigate your way around the golf course. This means setting your self up for success to hit the green in regulation.
9) Gotta save a few pars
No missing the green is a definite thing when playing golf. This means being able to chip and pitch it close to the hole when you miss the green. There’s a lot of helpful tips in terms of technique. One thing that has helped me is grip pressure. I try to keep my grip pressure as light a possible when close to the green.
10) Have fun!
This is the most important tip. Have fun! There’s a weird phenomenon, the less you care about your round the better you play. Keep it light, you never know the last time your going to get out on the course. Enjoy every moment.
Breaking 90 in golf isn’t as hard as it sounds. Following steps like these can put you in the right direction. With practice and patience, you’ll be on your way to breaking 90, 80, and maybe 70!
