The Secret to Break 100 in Golf
To the seasoned golf players out there, 100 might not look like a tough score to beat. But for the amateurs, it’s a massive achievement. If you’re one of them and you’ve been struggling to make 100 in golf, this post is just for you.
In our post today, we’re going to look at a systematic approach to lower your score. The key is consistency and determination. Let’s get started.
Evaluate Yourself First
Before you set outrageous goals for yourself, it’s important to find out where you are first. Are you scoring 120 or 105? It might not look like much on paper but in reality, there’s a huge difference between the two scores.
If your score is on the higher side, you need to make more realistic expectations and work on your short-term goals. You can’t jump to 99 from 120 overnight. You need to work your way to 115 first. Then 110. Then 105. And finally, you can break into the magical 100.
On the other hand, if you’re right on the edge of the 100, let’s say between 105 and 107, the goal is much nearer for you. The fact that you’re reading this post means you’re still struggling to break into the 100s.
But there’s nothing to worry about. Just stay with us and read the entire post carefully. Who knows, you might pick up some new insight about your game as well!
Learning from Your Mistakes
According to the layout of the majority of the golf courses, you can go 27 over par to score a 100. It means you have quite a lot of headroom for mistakes. So, there’s nothing to rush about. Take your time and learn from your mistakes.
Speaking of mistakes, there are certain things that you might be doing that are keeping you out of your game. Let’s see what those might be.
Changing Clubs and Other Equipment Too Often
It’s a very common mistake for rookie players who still haven’t figured out the nature of their game. You might be changing the brand of your club or the specifications constantly to lower your score.
But in golf, consistency is key. Consistency and changing your clubs often don’t go together. You need to allow yourself time to get acquainted with the right driver, fairway wood, irons, and putters to master them.
If you change the size or other specifications of your clubs, you’re essentially hurting your growth. Your body won’t get used to any of the equipment.
The same is true for other accessories like gloves, shoes, and hats. If you change them too often, you won’t get to be in your element. If you notice closely, you’ll see that most professional golfers stick to the same brands and the same specifications for all of their equipment.
Resource: Step by Step Golf Practice Routines + Training System
Skipping the Fundamentals
When players first start with golf, they usually need to sign up at the local driving range for practice. There are certain elements like the grip, the posture, the setup, the understanding of clubs, etc. that you need to master first if you want to shine in golf.
Many players tend to skip the fundamentals because they can’t wait to hit the course. They want to hit 200-yard tee shots on their first day!
The thing with any sporting skill is that you can’t master it overnight. Especially when you skip the fundamentals. You can’t write full sentences without learning the alphabet and grammar first.
So, if you happen to have skipped a few fundamental lessons in your early days, completing them now would help you get closer to the magical 100 score.
Not Focusing on Alignment
Alignment is another crucial factor for success in golf. Your body, your club face, and the target need to be aligned according to your playing style if you want to lower your score. This is a slightly complex concept so it’s harder for new players to grasp.
Focusing on alignment during your practice session is a surefire way to improve your distance and control. If you want to learn all about alignment and the impact of ball flight paths in golf, you can check out this guide.
Wrong Ball Position
Ball position refers to the placement of the ball on the ground in relation to your stance. Different shots require different ball positions. You can’t expect to get the same results by keeping the ball position static for all clubs.
The standard rule of thumb is that the longer the club, the forward the ball. So, for drivers, the ball should be right on the inside of your front foot. And for putters, the ball should be right below your sternum.
Resource: How to Score in the 70’s Golf Training Plan
How to Improve Your Score to Break 100
As we’ve said earlier, breaking 100 in golf is not as hard as you think it is. In fact, if you follow a few simple steps, you’ll be hitting 99 in no time!
Use the Right Equipment for the Right Shot
As obvious as it may seem, it’s a pretty common mistake. Different golf shots require different clubs. You can’t go wrong with the choice of drivers and fairway woods because these clubs have specific applications.
The problem arises with irons. Irons are numbered through 1 to 9 and all of them are different in their own way. If you play 4-iron where you’re supposed to play 5-iron, your score will take a hit.
For irons, the rule of thumb is that the shorter the distance you want to cover, the higher the number on the iron. 3-irons are often used by veteran players instead of a driver. Every step up in the number usually drops your distance by 10 yards.
The number is going to vary a lot from player to player. But it’s a good place to start experimenting.
Evaluate Your Swing
The complete swing sequence you follow is the ultimate make or break for you to getting into 100. The swing is the most important action for a golf player. If you haven’t considered evaluating your swing before, it’s time you do it.
A standard golf swing is divided into three sections. The backswing, the downswing, and the follow through. When put together, the three sections feel like one motion.
To lower your score successfully, you need to nail all three aspects of the swing. First, you should record yourself from different angles. Then, you can use the clip to analyze where you might be going wrong. You can take help from the internet to see how the professionals do the swing.
If you look hard enough, you’ll definitely find out the discrepancies in your swing. Until you record yourself, you don’t even know what you might be doing wrong!
So, the next time you hit the driving range, take a buddy with you to record your swings. If you can’t, you may want to invest in a phone holder to do the recording for you.
Resource: Get the All Access Pass. Learn about our training programs with step by step practice drills, weekly schedules and routines to follow so you can break 90, break 80 or scratch golf. Plus access our video lesson library in addition to following the practice plans.
Work On Your Short Game
The short game is the real deal in golf. You may get away with full swing shots from the tee and the fairway, but you can’t run away from your mistakes in the short game.
A short game requires a lot of fineness and control when compared to full swings. And this is where the majority of the players struggle to lower their scores. You can go 250 yards with your driver to land your ball in the 50-yard zone from the ball. But if it takes you 10 shots to hole the ball, what’s the point of that explosive driver shot?
So, work on your short game whenever you’re at the driving range. You can even practice drills indoors if you don’t have the time to visit a driving range. We have many putting and chipping drills on our website that you can check out!
Use Forgiving Clubs
If you’ve covered everything we’ve said so far in this post, you should be very close to the magical number. To put the last nail in the coffin, you should opt for some more forgiving clubs. Golf club technology has come a long way in the last few decades and they have become more forgiving than ever!
If you look hard enough, you’ll find many beginner-friendly clubs like divers with high offsets, hybrid clubs, mallet putters, and so on! While they might make it harder for you to switch to non-forgiving clubs in the future, it’s a great way to break into the 100 as soon as possible!
Wrapping Up
Golf is a game of fineness and determination. While brute force might show results for a short period, you will suffer in the long run if you don’t master the basics. And when you have a graceful understanding of the game and its mechanics, your scores will improve automatically.
So, if you’ve been struggling to break 100 in golf, follow the steps we’ve covered in this post. There are hundreds of other ways to improve your game as well. But you need to get the basics out of the way first.
Golf Practice Plans to Follow
- How to Score in the 60’s Golf Training Plan
- How to Score in the 70’s Golf Training Plan
- How to Score in the 80’s Golf Training Plan
- All Access: Get Every Practice Plan (Lifetime Membership)
Thanks for reading today’s article!
Nick Foy – Golf Instructor
