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3 Tips to Score Lower Without Changing Your Technique

Golf

Getting better at golf requires a lot of time and effort, but our three golf tips to score lower can help you improve with changing your technique.

Most of us can’t spend enough time working on our technique to iron out these pesky bad-habits. Scoring lower does not always require you to change your swing.

We have coached countless amateurs around the golf course. Here our favourite course management tips that will help you score lower.

Take One More Club

You might have heard the phrase: “If danger is at the front of the green, club up. If it is behind the green, club down.“

But that doesn’t paint the whole picture. Most golfers leave their approach shots short. But around 70% of danger around the green is actually placed in front.

I’m not blaming you. I’ve been there. I had 160 yards to the flag and recalled that time I peppered my 7 iron to 3 feet. Unfortunately, these are low percentage shots.

When approaching a green, you need to ascertain the situation and consider which club to hit.

What you are looking for is:

Weather Conditions

Are you hitting it into the wind, with the wind, or is there no breeze at all? If you remember Tiger Woods 10 on the par-3 12th hole of Augusta, that was because of the wind. He misread what impact the wind will have on his shot and hit it in the drink three times.

Playing into the wind will take distance off. Not only because there is more resistance for your ball, but also because the breeze, together with the wind, can balloon your ball up into the air unless you a hitting a low draw.

The opposite is true for playing with back-wind, but usually, that impacts your distance less.

The Lie

The lie is the first thing good players consider when approaching a ball. Are you on a slope? Is the ball sitting up or down? Will there be blades of grass stuck between the clubhead and the ball?

All of these factors will impact your ball flight. Blades of grass between your clubhead and the ball, for example, will take spin off your shot. Without spin, the ball might travels further and won’t stop as quickly.

Make a note of how the ball reacts playing it from different lies, and remember how it reacted the last time you’ve played a ball on a downslope. This will help you make the right decisions whenever you get into a tricky situation.

Aim For Texas

Sometimes it makes sense for your to aim for the flagstick. But more often than not, flags are tucked away with danger around it.

A better approach is to aim for the big part of the green or the part that leaves you the easiest chip should you miss it.

I would argue that a 30 feet put is still more manageable than a chip over a bunker, with no green to work with. Especially with the putting tip, I’ll give you next.

Again, pick the high percentage shot and leave yourself more opportunities for puts to go in or easy up-and-downs. You’d be surprised how easy golf becomes if you just get it on the green!

Putt Past The Hole

This is a simple one; If you putt it past the hole, you at least have a chance to hole it. When you leave it short, you never had a chance.

Get into the habit of aiming around three feet past the hole. If you don’t hole it, you’ll at least see how the ball reacts behind the hole and get a free read out of it.

RELATED: Wellputt Mat Review and Perfect Practice Putting Mat Review

Putting is one of the only things we can do as good as pros. No physical disadvantage or crazy training routine is needed. But notice how pros putt mostly put past the hole?

Putting has two variables; Tempo and Line. Reading greens and picking the perfect line requires a lot of experience. Even pros get that part wrong quite often. To know more about putting tips and drills Visio Golf offer some great advice.

Having excellent distance control with your putting, on the other hand, will result in either putting out or leaving yourself with a tap-in.

What To Do Next

Try out these simple tips, and don’t be surprised if you break your record. Scoring low has a lot to do with managing your way around the course and making the right decisions.

It’s often only one bad hole that ruins our game. What if you would be able to contain the damage by playing smarter?

If you want more golf tips to score lower, read these 9 Golf Swing Tips that will help you.