15 Golf Tips for Breaking 90 (What 10-Handicaps Do Differently)

Why Breaking 90 Is More About Decisions Than Swing Mechanics

Most golfers trying to break 90 chase swing fixes, not score fixes. They think one perfect move will suddenly drop their scores, but the truth is, breaking 90 is about decisions, not mechanics. You don’t need to hit it 300 yards or have a tour-level swing — you just need to play smarter and manage mistakes.

The difference between an 85 shooter and a 95 shooter is rarely talent. It’s how they think on the course. Players who break 90 know when to attack, when to lay up, and how to recover without compounding errors. These 15 tips will teach you how to think like a 10-handicap and finally break through that scoring barrier.

1. Play to Avoid Double Bogey, Not to Make Birdie

The biggest mindset shift for breaking 90 is simple — stop trying to make birdies. Instead, focus on avoiding doubles. If you play a round with 18 bogeys, you shoot 90. That means every par or occasional up-and-down just gets you under.

When you stop chasing birdies, you naturally start making better decisions. You’ll aim for safer targets, avoid hazards, and play each hole with patience. Golf rewards consistency far more than aggression. Keep the big numbers off your card, and 89 will come sooner than you think.

2. Club Up and Swing Smooth

If there’s one thing that ruins scoring rounds, it’s coming up short. Most golfers choose the club that might reach the green if they catch it perfect. Instead, start clubbing up and swinging at 80% effort. Smooth swings make cleaner contact, and cleaner contact adds distance and control.

The pros call this “controlling your stock shot.” When you take more club, you free your body to swing with rhythm. That rhythm keeps the club on plane, your contact centered, and your shots pin-high more often. It’s one of the easiest ways to cut out three-putts and wasted chips.

3. Use Your Favorite Club Off the Tee More Often

Breaking 90 doesn’t require driver on every hole. In fact, it’s often the reason golfers fail to break 90. Instead, find your fairway finder — the club you hit straight most often — and use it whenever accuracy matters more than distance.

This could be a 3-wood, hybrid, or even a 5-iron. The goal is to keep the ball in play. When you eliminate penalty strokes and lost balls, you immediately save multiple shots per round. Fairways bring predictability, and predictability brings lower scores.

4. Lay Up to Full Wedge Yardages

Stop leaving yourself awkward half swings into greens. A half 65-yard wedge is far harder than a full 85-yard swing. Instead, plan your layups so your next shot is a full wedge distance you trust.

This means thinking ahead before your second shot. If you’re 210 yards from the green, don’t just grab your longest club — hit something that puts you at your best distance. It’s how smart players build rhythm, because they play from positions of comfort, not guesswork.

5. Putt for Par, Never for Miracle

When you’re trying to break 90, every hole doesn’t need to be a highlight reel. Once you’re on the green, focus on two-putting everything. Lag your first putt to tap-in range, and stop forcing long ones to drop.

Miracle putts create unnecessary three-putts. Instead, practice speed control and distance awareness. Even if you miss your read, great pace ensures stress-free tap-ins. Pars will happen naturally, but bogeys with no doubles is the real formula for success.

6. Focus on Solid Contact, Not Power

Most golfers trying to break 90 swing harder than they should. They equate distance with improvement, but distance without control is useless. What actually lowers scores is center-face contact — even a slightly slower swing that hits the sweet spot goes farther and straighter than a wild one.

Next time you’re on the range, ignore how far the ball goes and focus on how it feels. Smooth rhythm, balanced finish, and that solid “click” at impact — those are the signs you’re swinging efficiently. Clean contact produces repeatable distance, and repeatable distance leads to consistent scores.

7. Practice Your 100-Yard Wedge Until It’s Automatic

If there’s one distance that defines the difference between breaking 90 and not, it’s 100 yards. You’ll face this shot constantly — after layups, on short par 4s, or when recovering from trouble. A 10-handicap doesn’t guess from this range; they expect to hit it on the green.

Find your go-to wedge and practice that 100-yard number until it’s second nature. Work on trajectory, landing spot, and distance feel. When you can stick your wedge inside 25 feet from this range, you’ll give yourself easy pars and stress-free bogeys. It’s the ultimate scoring weapon.

8. Chip with One Club Around the Green

Trying to chip with three different wedges creates inconsistency. Instead, pick one club — like your gap wedge or pitching wedge — and master it for all basic chips. By using one loft, you simplify setup, tempo, and feel.

Once you’re confident with that club, you can adjust trajectory simply by changing ball position or shaft lean. Great short games aren’t built on variety — they’re built on repetition. The fewer options you have to think about, the more consistent your contact becomes.

9. Learn to Read Lies Before You Swing

The lie dictates the shot, yet most golfers ignore it. A buried ball in rough needs a steeper swing, while a tight fairway lie demands precision and bounce usage. Always read the lie first, then choose the shot that matches it.

If the ball is sitting down, expect less spin and more rollout. If it’s on hard turf, prioritize solid contact and shallower strikes. Adjust your setup accordingly — open face for fluffy lies, square face for tight ones. When you let the lie guide your choice, your misses shrink dramatically.

10. Always Pick a Precise Target — Never Just “The Fairway”

Vague targets lead to vague swings. Every shot you hit should have a specific focus point — a tree trunk, a bunker edge, or a blade of grass. The smaller your target, the more your brain narrows its precision.

When you simply aim “down the fairway,” your body has no defined plan. Instead, lock onto something small and visualize the ball starting line and finish line. This clarity improves your swing path and helps eliminate fear. Every great round starts with precise intention before every shot.

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11. Have a Go-To Shot for Pressure Moments

Every golfer needs a “fairway finder” swing they can rely on under pressure. It doesn’t need to be long or fancy — it just needs to keep you in play when the nerves kick in. This could be a smooth 3-wood, a punch hybrid, or even a knockdown 7-iron.

Your go-to shot should be something you’ve practiced enough to trust without thinking. When the round gets tight, go to that shot automatically. Confidence under pressure doesn’t come from taking risks — it comes from having a backup move you believe in.

12. Use a Pre-Shot Routine That Never Changes

Routines create comfort, and comfort builds confidence. When you use the same pre-shot process every time, it signals your brain that you’re in control. That mental consistency keeps your swing tempo steady no matter how much pressure you feel.

A good routine is short and repeatable: pick a target, take one practice swing with intent, set your feet, and pull the trigger. The key is doing it the same way every time. Consistency in your process produces consistency in your results.

13. Accept Bogey as Part of the Process

The biggest barrier to breaking 90 isn’t skill — it’s frustration. Many golfers make a bogey early and start pressing, trying to make up for it. That leads to rushed swings and poor decisions. Instead, embrace bogey as progress.

A bogey means you’re still on track for 89. Stay patient and play for the next fairway, not the next miracle. The players who break 90 do it by managing expectations and keeping their emotions level all round long.

14. Track Fairways, Greens, and Putts After Every Round

If you don’t measure your performance, you’re just guessing why you’re not improving. Start a simple stat tracker with three numbers per round — fairways hit, greens in regulation, and total putts. Those three metrics reveal everything.

Low fairways? Work on driving accuracy. Few greens? Improve wedge distance control. Too many putts? Focus on speed drills. The data shows you exactly where strokes are hiding so you can practice with purpose instead of frustration.

15. Visualize Each Shot Like a 10-Handicap Would

When a 10-handicap stands over the ball, they see the shot they want — not the hazard they fear. Visualization builds belief, and belief drives execution. Before every shot, take a moment to see the ball’s flight — the start line, curve, and landing.

Once that image is clear, commit fully and swing to match it. The mind leads the motion. Every good shot starts long before the club moves, and visualization is the bridge between confidence and execution.

Break 90 by Thinking Like a Pro, Not Swinging Like One

Breaking 90 is less about power and more about patience. When you manage your game with smarter decisions, better contact, and calm mental focus, the results follow. You don’t need to hit perfect shots — you just need to avoid the big ones.

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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor