Did you know that the average distance per stroke from tee to green that you require to break 90 on the average course measuring 6,200 yards is less than 120 yards if you can 2 putt every green?
Even if you three putt half the greens in your round it is still only 140 yards/ shot....
Yet, why are more than 65% of all people who play golf who can easily exceed these distances not able to break 90?
It all comes down to the fact that they are not using a golf strategy that matches their skill level and scoring goal for each hole, or one that promotes "consistency" with their swing.
Lack of swing consistency is the score killer - throw in a few miss hits during the round and the average distances/stroke ramp up considerably.
It also comes down to the fact that they are not playing their round to "avoid the short game. What I mean by this is that they are wasting valuable strokes around the green, when a simple change to their "approach shot strategy" to the green would eliminate these problems all together.
Distance versus Consistency
The figures above clearly show that you do not need distance to break 90- what you need is swing consistency.
Yet many high handicap players feel that a lack of distance is the biggest problem with their game.
It is this "belief" of inadequacy that drives the whole golf industry in new equipment sales.
Before you rush out and buy the next new driver that is going to add another 20 yards to your game, I am going ask you to use your "golfing mind" instead of your hard earned cash to lower your scores. Consider this:
To break 90 on a par 72, you need to shoot a 17 over par. That means you have a scoring goal of 1 over par on 17 holes and you need to get a single par on any one hole.
The biggest cause of wasted strokes around the green is due to a missed approach shot. That is usually because each approach shot is coming from too far out to guarantee any accuracy.
That being the case, design your game around a short approach shot to improve you chances of getting on the green. This cuts down on the need for a good short game which is where most people scoring in the 90/100's have a difficult time.
How can you afford to have a short approach shot? Quite simple. You have a scoring goal of 1 over par on every hole but one. Design your game around taking 3 shots to get to the green on the par fours and four shots to get onto a par five - which still leaves you with two putts to get down to meet your goal.
Design your strategy from the green back to the tee rather than tee to green. Start with the approach shot. Select say a 65 yard wedge shot that you know you have a good chance of executing with a high degree of accuracy.
Now select your "set up" shot which is the 2nd shot that will put your ball in position for the 65 yard approach shot - that may only need to be about 155-165 yards. The yards that remain to the tee are for your drive.
What you will find is that your drives will need only be in the 170-190 yards distance range -even on long par 4's using this strategy.
On the par 5's you obviously have an extra shot from tee to green. Again, use the same short approach shot and work back from the green to the tee selecting shots that you know you can execute well.
The net result of this thinking is that the distances you require for every shot from tee to green are "shortened" considerably. This makes each shot easier to execute which improves your swing consistency and reduces miss hits.
The short approach shot also has a much greater chance of getting safely on the green, which eliminates the short game and the wasted strokes that normally come with it.
Here's the big factor though. If you can reach the green safely in 3 and 4 for the par 4 and 5's respectively with this strategy, your first putt on every hole is going to be for a par!
Not only do you simplify your game from tee to green, you will also give yourself at least 14 chances at par.
Compare that to how you are currently strategizing your game...
Good luck!
Les Ross is author of "Breaking the Distance Barrier" http://www.breakingthedistancebarrier.com and owner of "Highlander School of Golf" http://www.highlanderschoolofgolf.com
Highlander School of Golf specializes in providing personal "live" online technical information that is flexible for the student and cost effective. If you would like learn more about the techniques to break 90 and to try out the online seminar experience. Register for our seminar "How to Break 90" at: http://www.highlanderschoolofgolf.com/Howtobreak90reg.htm
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