Do you struggle with how to break 80 in golf?
Breaking 80 in golf is something a lot of golfers aspire to do because it means you are getting closer to scoring in the 70s, which also means you are in exclusive company. When you break it down, learning how to break 80 in golf is a lot easier than you think. Now that you are ready to score in the 70s, this article will teach you how to do so. Make breaking 80 even easier by using the lag shot golf training aid today.
To help you avoid being overwhelmed by the prospect of shooting in the 70s, you have to remember that a 79 only requires you to make 11 pars and seven bogeys, which isn’t as difficult as you think.
As long as you can avoid making costly mistakes and don’t overthink things, you will be fine.
>> If you like this, you'll also like: How to Break 90 in Golf in 6 Simple Steps
3 SECRET MOVES I WISH I WAS SHOWN WHEN I FIRST PLAYED GOLF
My three rules
In my past articles teaching golfers how to break 100 and 90, my two rules have been more of a suggestion. In this situation, they are mandatory rules that you need to follow.
The first two rules are to keep the ball in play and don’t three-putt.
The third rule is to avoid committing penalties, better yet, don’t commit any penalties.
More practice
Being able to break 80 requires you to put in some extra time working on your game. You don’t have to waste money on new equipment, but you need to get more out of the hours you spend on the golf course.
This means you have to approach each practice with a plan of what you need to achieve.
Take the time to learn how to practice golf the right way and your scores will drop.
A better understanding of distances and percentages
Since you are currently scoring in the 80s, it is safe to assume that you have some idea about your distances and percentages. If you want to break 80, you need to have a better understanding of these things.
You should know what your average distance is with each club and what your maximum distance is as well.
Your percentages are equally important, which means you should know how often you hit each club perfectly, and how often you are successful in hitting your chosen shot.
80 percent rule
Once you know and understand your distances and percentages, you can apply the 80 percent rule to your game. The rule is pretty basic, it simply means that you should never take a shot on the golf course if you can’t hit that shot 80 percent of the time while you’re practicing.
If you attempt to take a shot you can’t make consistently in practice, your chances of making it during a game are very slim, which could lead to double bogeys or worse, which is something you have to avoid when trying to break 80.
Competent tee shot
When I discussed how to break 90, I recommended that you leave your driver and long irons at home because you weren’t ready to use them effectively at that point. Now that you are scoring in the low 80s consistently, it is time to break out the big guns. To be honest, you don’t need the driver to break 80 in golf because you can still do it using a fairway wood or hybrid club depending on the length and the course.
The key here is hitting the ball far enough while keeping it in play. This means that you need to use a club that can give you the type of distance you desire, and the accuracy to ensure your ball lands on the fairway or green most of the time.
If you can achieve the desired distance and accuracy using the driver, more power to you. If not, you should find a club you can rely on and stick to it.
Have a go-to shot
If you’re trying to break 80, you should have a go-to shot for both your long and short games. The shot should be something you can execute at any time, even when there is a lot of pressure. The shot should also be very specific in the sense that you know exactly how far the ball will go and where you expect it to land.
The same goes for your short game, meaning you need to know the trajectory and mechanics of the shot.
The one thing you need to remember is that your go-to shot may not be perfect for every situation, but you should able to hit it under any circumstances.
Practice your putting
In order for you to break 80 in golf, you have to be able to make a lot of putts, which is why it is important you practice your putting.
While putting several short putts is good for your confidence, you need to replicate on-course putting, which is why it is advisable to use only one ball when practicing.
Using one ball instead of multiple balls forces you to focus more.
Mental skills
Since most people don’t have caddies when they go golfing, they are forced to do all the thinking by themselves when they are on the golf course. Doing so provides you with a mental edge over other golfers who are used to caddies making decisions for them.
Probably the best piece of advice I have ever heard is this.
Play the golf shot you know you can play and not the one you think you should play.
For example, if you know you can hit a great 6-iron somewhere near the green into no trouble, but think you need a 5-iron to get the ball to the hole to a rear pin position .... hit the 6-iron!
Minimize your risk
One thing about golf is that it isn’t a sport that rewards risk-taking, which is something most golfers still don’t understand. Instead of trying to reach the green on a par 5 in two shots, you should play it safe and try to get there in three unless you can do so without adverse risk.
Your patience will be rewarded because the chances of your ball ending up in the trees or getting a rough lie are greatly reduced when you minimize your risk.
Have discipline
This is similar to minimizing your risk because it is all about being patient and not making silly mistakes. Instead of trying to make a tough shot that can put your ball somewhere, you don’t want it to be, take a smart shot by punching out or laying up.
Don’t let your friends, playing partner, or ego get in the way of you breaking 80.
Mental practice
Mental skills in golf are probably the most important thing to have because it is what will prevent you from giving in to the frustration you will experience on the course during your round.
If a shot that should have gone in doesn’t, there is no need to freak out or do something stupid, just relax and try to do better next time.
Here's a great video that outlines even more great tips on how to break 80 in golf.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW THAT DEMONSTRATES EVEN MORE GREAT WAYS HOW TO BREAK 80 IN GOLF:
Be prepared for any scenario
During a round of golf, you are going to have to make some important decisions that affect your final score.
These decisions can become easier if you anticipate them and figure out a solution before you get started.
By practicing what shot to take in different scenarios, the chances of you getting stumped while on the course become smaller.
I hope you enjoyed this post on how to break 80 in golf.
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