How to break 90 in golf?

By HotBotUpdated: October 1, 2024

Answer

Breaking 90 in golf is a significant milestone for many amateur golfers. It signifies that you're moving from a beginner to a more advanced level of play. Achieving this goal requires a combination of skill development, strategic play, and mental fortitude. Here’s an in-depth look at how you can break 90 in golf.

Understanding Your Current Game

Before you can break 90, it's essential to understand your current strengths and weaknesses. Keep track of your scores, but more importantly, pay attention to specific areas where you lose strokes. Are you struggling with your drives, approach shots, short game, or putting?

Track Your Stats: Use a scorecard or a golf app to track fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per round, and up-and-down percentages.
Identify Weaknesses: Analyze your stats to identify patterns. Do you miss fairways to the right or left? Are you consistently short on approach shots?

Improving Your Driving

Your performance off the tee can set the tone for the rest of the hole. Here are some tips to help you improve your driving:

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Focus on Accuracy: Hitting fairways is more important than length. Use a club that you can consistently control, even if it's not your driver.
Work on Your Setup: Ensure your stance, grip, and alignment are correct. A solid setup can lead to more consistent drives.
Practice with Purpose: During practice sessions, simulate on-course conditions by hitting to specific targets and varying your tee shots.

Mastering Your Iron Play

Approach shots are crucial for breaking 90. Consistently hitting greens in regulation will give you more birdie and par opportunities.

Club Selection: Choose the right club based on distance, wind conditions, and lie. Avoid trying to hit a club beyond your comfortable range.
Solid Contact: Focus on making clean contact with the ball. Work on drills that help you compress the ball and take a divot after impact.
Distance Control: Practice hitting shots at various distances with each club. Understanding your yardages will help you make better decisions on the course.

Enhancing Your Short Game

The short game is where you can save the most strokes. Improving your chipping, pitching, and bunker play can drastically lower your scores.

Chipping: Use a consistent setup and focus on a downward strike to create a clean, crisp chip. Practice different types of chips, such as bump-and-runs and flop shots.
Pitching: Develop a feel for distance and trajectory with your wedges. Use a smooth, controlled swing and practice various lies and slopes.
Bunker Play: Learn the fundamentals of bunker shots, including stance, ball position, and swing technique. Confidence in the sand can prevent high scores.

Improving Your Putting

Putting can make or break your round. Becoming a proficient putter can significantly lower your scores and help you break 90.

Green Reading: Learn to read greens effectively. Pay attention to slopes, grain, and speed. Practice on different types of greens to gain experience.
Consistent Stroke: Develop a repeatable putting stroke. Focus on a smooth tempo and solid contact with the ball.
Distance Control: Work on lag putting to reduce three-putts. Practice putting to different distances to improve your touch and feel.

Course Management

Strategic play is essential for breaking 90. Making smart decisions on the course can help you avoid big numbers and keep your score manageable.

Play to Your Strengths: Know your strengths and weaknesses and play to them. If you're more comfortable with a hybrid off the tee than a driver, use it.
Avoid Hero Shots: Play within your abilities. Trying to hit a miracle shot can lead to disaster. Take your medicine and avoid big numbers.
Manage Risks: Assess the risk and reward of each shot. Sometimes laying up or aiming for the safe part of the green is the better play.

Mental Game

The mental aspect of golf is often overlooked, but it's crucial for breaking 90. Staying focused and maintaining a positive attitude can help you perform better under pressure.

Stay Positive: Avoid negative self-talk. Focus on the next shot and stay confident in your abilities.
Routine: Develop a pre-shot routine to help you stay calm and focused. Consistency in your routine can lead to more consistent results.
Stay in the Present: Don't dwell on past mistakes or worry about future shots. Focus on the shot at hand and take it one shot at a time.

Physical Fitness

Physical fitness can impact your golf game more than you might think. Improving your strength, flexibility, and endurance can lead to better performance on the course.

Strength Training: Focus on exercises that enhance your core, legs, and upper body strength. Stronger muscles can lead to more powerful and consistent swings.
Flexibility: Improve your flexibility through stretching and yoga. Greater flexibility can lead to a more fluid and efficient swing.
Endurance: Walking 18 holes requires stamina. Cardiovascular exercises like running, cycling, and swimming can help you maintain energy throughout your round.

Practice Routine

Effective practice is essential for breaking 90. Develop a practice routine that addresses all aspects of your game.

Structured Practice: Devote time to each area of your game. Spend time on the range, short game area, and putting green.
Quality Over Quantity: Focus on the quality of your practice rather than the quantity. Practice with a purpose and work on specific drills to address weaknesses.
Simulate On-Course Conditions: Practice under conditions similar to those you'll face on the course. Play practice rounds and simulate pressure situations.

Equipment

Having the right equipment can make a difference in your quest to break 90. Ensure your clubs are suited to your game and that you have the proper gear.

Club Fitting: Get fitted for your clubs to ensure they match your swing and body type. Properly fitted clubs can lead to better ball striking and consistency.
Ball Selection: Choose a golf ball that suits your game. Factors to consider include spin, distance, and feel.
Gear: Invest in appropriate golf shoes, gloves, and apparel. Comfort and performance are essential for playing your best.

Playing Regularly

Consistency in your play is key to breaking 90. The more you play, the more comfortable you'll become with different course conditions and pressure situations.

Play Different Courses: Exposure to different courses will help you develop a well-rounded game. Each course presents unique challenges.
Competitions: Participate in local tournaments or friendly competitions. Playing under pressure can help you improve your focus and mental game.
Regular Rounds: Try to play at least once a week. Consistent play will help you maintain and improve your skills.

Breaking 90 in golf is an achievable goal with the right approach and dedication. By understanding your current game, improving key areas, and practicing smartly, you'll be well on your way to reaching this milestone. The journey to breaking 90 is as much about enjoying the process as it is about the end result. Focus on continuous improvement, and the scores will follow.