3 Things Holding You Back from Finally Breaking 90

There is something magical about breaking through scoring barriers in golf.

Whatever the barrier may be, it’s a great feeling to add up your score as you walk off the last green only to see the lowest number you’ve ever recorded.

Most golfers can remember the first time they broke certain milestones, like their first round under 100.

This article is dedicated to a barrier that challenges many golfers for years – breaking 90.

On a regulation par-72 course, you need to average better than a bogey per hole to break 90. So you need to hit some good shots to break 100, but you can also get away with some inconsistency.

To get under 90, you’ll need to tighten up a lot of your mistakes.

With that in mind, here are three keys to work on in your quest to finally write down a score that starts with an ‘8’.

#1 – The Dreaded Big Number

Nothing throws you off track for breaking 90 faster than making a big number on one hole. If you are trying to break 90, a ‘big number’ can be classified as a triple bogey or worse.

Obviously, double bogeys are not good news, but you can make up for those with a couple of pars. When you start making a triple or worse, you are doing damage that may be too much to overcome.

So, how do you get away from making big numbers? Consider the following tips:

Play it Safe Off the Tee

If you pump a driver out of bounds or into a pond, you are immediately at risk of making a triple or worse. Sure, you are going to use your driver plenty during an average round, but don’t be afraid to put it away on challenging tee shots.

Finding the fairway with a three wood or hybrid can keep you away from penalty strokes, even if you have a longer approach. Remember, making a bogey on a tough hole is just fine when trying to break 90.

Stay Under the Hole

On a course with fast, firm greens, you need to keep the ball under the hole to steer clear of big mistakes. If you miss a green on the high side, you could wind up spending several strokes trying to get the ball into the hole.

Playing to the low side is something low-handicappers and pros always think about, but it’s just as important for the player hoping to break into the 80s.

Respect the Bunkers

Since they don’t come with a penalty stroke, sand bunkers don’t get the same respect as water hazards or out of bounds stakes. However, for the average golfer, hitting the ball into a sand trap can be the cause of a big number.

If you get into a particularly tough spot and have to spend a couple strokes getting out, you could be burying your chances of breaking 90 right there in the sand.

Play with more margin for error on your approach shots to steer clear of bunkers as often as possible.

#2 – Trying to Do Too Much

Many golfers simply try too hard to break through a given milestone. The fact is, if you already shoot in the low 90s, you have the game to break 90.

Rather than making any big changes or trying to do more than you are capable of, what you need to do is focus on the basics and put together a round with no big mistakes (getting back to the importance of our first point).

Examples of trying to do too much include going for a par five in two when you aren’t really in reach of the green or aiming right at the pin instead of the middle of the green.

When you do finally break 90 for the first time, you might be surprised at how simple it all feels. You won’t do anything crazy during the round – you’ll just avoid mistakes and stay on track from the first hole through the last.

To avoid trying too hard, consider creating a shot-by-shot game plan for an upcoming round. Write out the game plan before you tee off and try to stick to it as closely as possible (there will always be a few spots where you have to deviate based on the circumstances).

Planning out your round takes some of the emotions out of it and can help you make smart, patient decisions.

#3 – Getting Nervous

There is no way to get around it – you’ll probably feel nervous when you realize you have a chance to break 90 late in a round. Even if you aren’t adding up your card as you go, you’ll know you are playing well and hanging close to the magic number. The nerves that come with that can cause you to make mistakes and fall short in the end.

One surprising way to deal with nerves on the golf course is to accept them as a reality of the game.

Many players try to push the nerves aside, pretending they don’t feel nervous at all. That isn’t going to work. You will feel some nerves, and that is totally okay.

Just like top golfers can feel nerves and still hit great shots to win tournaments, you can play your best while being nervous.

When you start to feel those nerves setting in, don’t mentally run in the other direction. Instead, think through the situation and respond rationally. You are only nervous because you are playing well, which is a good thing – so see the nerves as an opportunity and turn your mind back toward the task at hand.

With any luck, the advice above will be the last piece of the puzzle for you to break through the 90 barrier. Make no mistake, it’s tough to break 90 – and you are likely to get a little nervous late in the round when you realize you have a chance.

Don’t let those nerves stop you. Focus on the task at hand, continue to execute your shots, and break into the 80s in style.