My cousin Kyle has been trying to break 100 for the past year. Last week we played a round together, where we had to be each others caddies and tell each other what club to hit. Doing so enabled us to play much smarter golf and really evaluate every shot we were taking. He shattered 100 with a 94, and I shot 5 strokes from my personal best, 82. So why did this work so well?
Golf is a Mental Game
One of the biggest roadblocks when trying to break 100 is penalties. Hitting it OB and in the lake are very costly mistakes, especially for average, amateur golfers, so avoiding those penalties is going to have a massive impact on your score. During our round, if there was sand, water, or OB anywhere from 250-300 yards, we were laying up with a 5 wood, 4-iron, or whatever club we needed to use to be sure that we didn’t find ourselves in the hazards. Caddying each other forced us to really analyze the shots we were taking and make much better decisions.
Stress-Free Golf
The ability to recognize your goals and potential problems on each shot, along with choosing a safety club for each shot, makes it really easy to enjoy the round and not feel uptight or nervous about any of your shots. In our round, Kyle hit a lot of pars, and even a birdie, which made the blow-up holes not such a big deal.
Reading the Putts
Having a caddy made me feel much more confident with my round overall, but especially reading putts. I got affirmation of what I was reading, and I attribute that confidence to my 2 birdies on the first 4 holes of the round. It’s amazing how many more putts I sink when I’m feeling in control of my putter and trusting my reads. A lesson that can be taken from this is that even if you are not with a caddy or a buddy, trust your reads and swing that putter confidently. It will make all the difference in the world.
This Strategy isn’t Just for Breaking 100
If you’re at a roadblock trying to break 90 or 80 the same principles can and should be applied. If you don’t want your buddy caddying you, just talk yourself through every shot. Point out the obstacles, potential hazards, and talk about which clubs will most assuredly help you avoid those hazards. I’d rather hit two long iron shots, knowing I may not pure the second and have to up and down for par, than try to blast a driver down a narrow fairway with water on both sides, so I can have a nice cushy 100 yard approach. There’s too much risk and I’m not good enough with my wedges to justify that risk. Neither are you. The risk outweighs the reward on that shot. Lay it up safely.
We all have this fear of leaving our approach shot short, which often causes us to make very poor decisions on the tee. Golf course designers are very aware of this fact and design their courses in a way to entice you to make bad decisions on your tee shot. Don’t make poor decisions on the tee. Don’t be afraid to leave your approach shot short. In that scenario, the worst case is usually a bogey, whereas a poor tee shot that goes into the water means you’re lucky to save bogey.
The average golfer is a gambler, and gamblers always lose. Instead of being the gambler, be Vegas by putting the odds in your favor, and laying up.
The Short Game
When you miss greens on your approach shot, that’s not a big deal. What IS a big deal is if you miss the green on your chip. I’m guilty of this far too often. I see a pin on the very back of the green and decide to be aggressive. End up rolling off the green and leaving myself with an awkward short-sided chip. This is not the smart shot. Instead, when the pin is tucked away in a corner, chip it 15 feet short of the hole for an easy 2 putt and possible up and down.
Putting
This is the other key component in the break 100 equation. I used to struggle with my lag putts big time. Until I discovered a new strategy. This putting strategy feels very uncomfortable and awkward at first, so I recommend practicing it on the practice greens before your round. But the strategy is to stare at the hole when you make your putting stroke instead of staring at your golf ball. I know this sounds strange, and it IS going to feel strange for a while, but you’ll find your lag putts will end up much closer to the hole than previously. Staring at the hole helps your body feel exactly how hard you need to hit it to stop it close. And when you’re leaving the ball within 1 foot of the hole, it’s going to be a lot easier to get that 2 putt.
That’s a pretty brief summary, but if you really focus on the tips I’ve layed out, you will break 100 and get past the other roadblocks you’re currently working on. If you liked this guide and are ready for the next step, here’s a guide on breaking 90!
