What Separates a 90s Golfer from an 80s Golfer

If you consistently shoot in the 90s and want to start breaking into the 80s, you might think the answer lies in hitting more perfect shots. But that’s not where the real difference is.

The jump from the 90s to the 80s isn’t about massive swing changes — it’s about refining your habits, making better decisions, and playing with more awareness.

In this article, we’ll break down the key areas where 90s golfers often struggle and what 80s golfers do differently.

You’ll likely recognize a few of your own tendencies — and hopefully leave with a clear roadmap for turning those upper-90s rounds into lower-80s scores.

1. Course Management: 80s Golfers Play Smart, 90s Golfers Play Hero

One of the biggest differences you’ll see is how players think their way around the course.

Golfers who shoot in the 90s often try to play the “hero shot” — going for a tucked pin over a bunker, trying to reach a par 5 in two, or cutting a dogleg around trees from a poor lie. These decisions feel bold in the moment but usually lead to doubles or worse.

Golfers in the 80s, on the other hand, play strategic, patient golf. They aim for the center of the green more often than the flag. They lay up when risk outweighs reward.

They know where trouble is and make a plan to avoid it. They understand that a bogey isn’t a disaster — but a double bogey can wreck momentum.

Some smart course management habits to adopt:

• Choose targets with margin, not based on perfection.
• Play to your shot shape, not against it.
• If you miss, miss in the right place — short is usually better than long, and left/right depends on the pin.

The 80s golfer doesn’t necessarily hit it farther or more pure — they just make fewer poor decisions.

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.

2. Short Game Priorities: 80s Golfers Get Up and Down More Often

Ask any golfer who regularly shoots in the 80s how they save strokes, and they’ll point to their short game.

It’s not just about how they chip — it’s about how they think around the greens. 90s golfers often waste shots here, either by choosing the wrong type of shot, using the wrong club, or trying to pull off a “perfect” high spin flop when a simple bump-and-run would do the job.

An 80s golfer, however, keeps it simple. They play the highest percentage shot available — the one with the fewest moving parts.

That usually means using a pitching wedge or 9-iron from the fringe, not a lob wedge from a tight lie. And they almost always have a landing spot picked out, with a plan for how the ball will release and roll out.

Here’s how their short game differs:

• Simpler shot selection — low when possible, high only when needed.
• Controlled tempo and quiet hands — less chance for chunks or skulls.
• Speed-focused putting — better at two-putting from 30+ feet and making more from 6 feet and in.

Even a small improvement in up-and-down rate — from 1 out of 10 to 3 or 4 out of 10 — can shave several strokes off a round. If you want to make the jump into the 80s, your wedge and putter need to become your most trusted clubs.

3. Mental Discipline: 80s Golfers Stay Level-Headed

The difference in mental approach between a 90s golfer and an 80s golfer is often night and day.

Golfers stuck in the 90s tend to ride an emotional roller coaster — frustration after a bad hole, pressure mounting when a decent round is going, or panic setting in after a water ball. These emotions often lead to compounded mistakes, turning a bogey into a double or a double into a triple.

80s golfers, by contrast, keep their cool. They understand that one bad hole doesn’t define the round. They have routines to keep their mind clear before shots.

Most importantly, they don’t chase perfection — they focus on consistency and recovery, knowing that smart, calm decisions usually lead to better scores than forced heroics.

Traits that define the mental discipline of an 80s golfer:

• They reset quickly after a bad shot or hole.
• They don’t dwell — instead, they immediately shift to the next shot.
• They stick to a pre-shot routine, which calms nerves and builds consistency.
• They avoid emotional decision-making, even after a string of bad luck.

You don’t need a sports psychologist to play more mentally disciplined golf — just awareness. The next time you hit a poor shot, try responding like a golfer who regularly shoots in the 80s. Stay calm, get strategic, and focus on your next move, not your last mistake.

4. Avoiding Blow-Up Holes

If there’s one major stat that separates 90s golfers from 80s golfers, it’s how often they take a triple bogey or worse.

Many rounds in the 90s include two or more blow-up holes — often the result of trying to recover from a bad shot with an even riskier one. These are the moments when a round unravels.

80s golfers still make bogeys — sometimes even doubles — but they know how to contain the damage.

When they find themselves in trouble, they prioritize getting the ball back in play rather than going for the hero shot. They understand that a bogey keeps them in the round. A triple usually doesn’t.

Key reasons 90s golfers blow up:

• Trying to hit through trees instead of punching out.
• Going for greens they can’t reach from poor lies or bad angles.
• Letting one bad shot lead to frustration and poor decision-making on the next.

Strategies 80s golfers use to avoid disaster:

• Always have a bailout plan — don’t aim at sucker pins.
• Punch back to the fairway when out of position.
• Manage expectations — play for bogey when the odds of par are low.

The next time you’re tempted to go for a miracle shot, ask yourself what an 80s golfer would do. Often, the smart, boring play is the one that saves your round.

5. Putting Consistency: Lag Control and Inside 6 Feet

Putting is where 90s golfers quietly lose the most strokes.

While it may not feel as dramatic as a tee shot out-of-bounds or a chunked wedge, three-putts and missed short putts pile up quickly — often adding four to six strokes to a round without much notice.

Golfers in the 80s have learned two key putting skills: controlling speed on long putts and making more putts inside six feet.

They’re not perfect, but they rarely three-putt because their lag putting leaves tap-ins. And when they do face a tester, they’ve built confidence through practice and routine.

The putting habits that set 80s golfers apart:

• Excellent lag control — they know how to read pace and slope from 25–40 feet.
• Solid technique and routine from short range — they rarely rush or second-guess.
• Clear aim and commitment, avoiding deceleration or jabby strokes.

In contrast, 90s golfers often:

• Focus too much on the line and not enough on speed.
• Lack a routine, leading to inconsistent stroke mechanics.
• Get tense over short putts and change grip pressure or tempo mid-stroke.

To make the jump into the 80s, start tracking how many putts you take inside 6 feet each round — and how often you two-putt from outside 30 feet. Even shaving off one or two three-putts per round and making just one more short putt each nine can transform your scorecard.

6. Practice with Purpose

Golfers who shoot in the 90s often hit the range or putting green with good intentions — but no real plan.

They bounce between clubs, hit ball after ball with no target, and hope that repetition alone leads to improvement. While it might feel productive, this kind of random practice rarely translates to better scores.

On the other hand, 80s golfers practice deliberately. They know what they’re trying to fix, and they focus their time accordingly.

If they’re struggling with short game, they’ll spend a full session hitting bump-and-runs or lag putts. If they’re missing fairways, they’ll work on tempo and face control with the driver. Every ball they hit has a purpose.

The key practice differences:

• 90s golfers:
  • Hit balls to “get loose” with no feedback or structure.
  • Avoid short game areas or putting practice.
  • Don’t track performance or improvement over time.
• 80s golfers:
  • Start with a plan and focus on one or two specific goals per session.
  • Spend more time on the scoring clubs — wedges, putter, mid-irons.
  • Use drills, alignment aids, or video to get feedback and reinforce progress.

Making your practice sessions just 10% more intentional can lead to real gains. If you want to get into the 80s consistently, shift your mindset: don’t just hit balls — train with a purpose.

Conclusion: Upgrade Your Habits, Not Just Your Swing

The difference between shooting in the 90s and consistently breaking into the 80s isn’t about having a prettier swing — it’s about playing smarter, cleaner, and more focused golf.

Golfers who live in the 80s make better decisions, recover from mistakes more efficiently, manage their emotions, and practice with purpose. They don’t eliminate all mistakes — they just avoid letting one bad shot turn into three bad ones.

If you’re hovering around the low 90s and trying to make that next leap, start by upgrading your habits. Ask yourself:

• Am I choosing the right shot, not just the hero shot?
• Do I have a plan around the greens or just wing it?
• Am I practicing with a goal, or just going through the motions?

To help you take those steps, I’ve put together a free guide with 15 proven drills that target everything from contact consistency to short game feel. These are the exact drills I use with students looking to break 90 for the first time — and they work.

👉 Download it here: https://foygolfacademy.com/15-drills/

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
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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor