Are you going for the infamous break of 80? Well, it is a task much easier said than done, but today, we’ll offer you a guide on how to hit this landmark easily.
Quite a few factors will affect this, which we’ll dive into more a bit later.
For now, let’s discuss how the course is a factor in whether you will be breaking 80 on the system.
The percentage of golfers that break 80 is just about 2 percent. The number is intimidating but certainly not impossible.
This ultimate breaking 80 golf plan will analyze what it takes to accomplish the goal and specific mechanics that will help you along the way.
How Difficult is it?
Before breaking down all the factors of hitting under 80, let’s discuss the challenge’s difficulty.
For starters, many rumors circle breaking 80, such as needing all birdies, hitting long putts, playing in the fairway on most hits, and more.
The truth is that near-perfect rounds are not needed to accomplish this feat. Instead, here are the fundamental things you’ll need to do to succeed in hitting under 80.
- No significant mistakes (just a few at max)
- Play into your strengths
- Making sure you hit green consistently
- Have tee shots always in play
With that bit of introduction into the truth about hitting 80, let’s dive into some factors and how you can implement them to structure your game.
Course
The course itself plays a huge factor in the score. It all plays into just how successful your play will be on that particular course, from the terrain to the weather.
It should be something you heavily consider.
To see if breaking 80 on the course is a difficult challenge, check the average scores that play on the system and determine from there.
It shouldn’t stop you from playing more challenging courses, though, as it won’t be impossible and adds another element of difficulty to the challenge.
If you are craving that feeling of just breaking 80 no matter what, though, it may be best to find and play on a more straightforward course. If you are also new to golf, I’d recommend this path anyway.
Pars Set the Bar
The pars on the course are also a factor in determining how difficult hitting 80 will be.
Par ties in with difficulty and yardage, determining how many strokes the player should take to reach the hole.
In determining how challenging the pars are on a course, looking at averages and distances is your best bet.
For playing into pars, you’ll want to gain as much distance on the green as possible in the fewest strokes possible.
This video below explains how to keep the ball in front of you and stop it typically on one bounce.
It is crucial as you’ll need to learn how to constantly control your hits to keep them straight and on the green.
By maximizing your distance and limiting strokes, you’ll gain quick ground and allow yourself a bit more cushion for the short game, which can always be tricky.
Playing Your Strengths
Realizing what you are best at will be a crucial element in breaking 80.
Although learning and becoming good at all areas of the game is essential, it takes quite a bit of time to evolve in golf.
For example, if you have a fantastic short game but aren’t great at your distance, your focus point should be getting to that area as quickly as possible.
If reversed, you should focus on positioning the ball where it will be easiest to work within the short game.
So, whether you are an animal at smacking the ball down the fairway or a putting expert, ensure you are setting yourself up for success in the vital areas of your game.
At Least Half of the Hits on Fairway/Green
To break 80, you’ll need to keep at least half of your hits within regulation. A key to this will be consistency. So here are some tips that will help you find the fairway and green most of the time.
- Create a rhythm- With a rhythm, you’ll have more power and, most importantly, create consistency.
- Survey the land- Make sure your eyes scan the area and where you are trying to land the ball.
- Tightening your swing- A long, wild swing will create a slower ball speed and, overall, reduce your accuracy. Tighten up your swing with a shorter backswing.
Here is a great video that explains how to create consistency in a bit more in-depth:
Keeping the ball inside the playable area from the tee is crucial to breaking 80. If you can do this, you should have a lot more wiggle room than before.
After you’ve minimized the number of mistakes you make, it hit the ball out of regulation; the next focus should be your aim.
Here’s an article that I covered about “Swing Tempo, “it might help you improve your swing tempo.
Direction
Deciding where to hit the ball is much easier said than done.
There are endless possibilities for hitting the ball, and each hit has its own pros and cons. There are many factors to include when directing your impact.
Some of these factors include:
- Speed
- Height
- Spin
For direction, you’ll want to be able to control the ball from the start. Right off the tee, you should grasp where the ball is going and how far it will travel.
Ultimately, learning where to strike the ball itself will also have a severe impact on direction. Also, where we hit the ball with the face of the club, and the swing itself, are factored into this.
The Center
The word “center” is critical for the direction of the ball. The law is chosen by where exactly you contact the club to ball.
It may seem not very easy at first, but it isn’t. The rule of thumb is if contact makes from the heel, it will shift right, and if it hits off the toe, it will go towards the left.
To understand how this impact works, you’ll need to know how to properly face your club’s direction. To have total efficiency, you’ll want to ensure that the impact and swing pattern has the clubface as an open target line instead of a closed one.
Mastering these hits will take time. Only practice will aid in helping you with inconsistency and help bring these breaking 80 tips into full stride.
Also, one thing to watch out for when aiming is hunting for that flag, as that often gets many golfers in trouble. So instead, you’ll want to do your best in seeking the most significant part of the area you want to hit.
It helps secure you won’t get in too much trouble off the hit and adds more forgiveness to your swing. It also helps with mentally setting up shots easier as well.
To master your swing, practicing a golf routine will help you tremendously settle into your groove and ultimately improve your game.
Here is another excellent video demonstrating how to effectively control direction on your hits.
This video goes more in-depth in aiming your hits, including many great tips.
Swing Direction
To support direction, the swing pattern/direction needs to be on par to take complete control over your hits.
For the swing to match up equally to create the “perfect” hit for control, you’ll need to line up the face’s path correctly, and you’ll need to be centered.
It starts with your stance, which should be knees bent and shoulder-width apart. Of course, as with anything, a golf practice routine will also do wonders in perfecting your posture.
You can learn more about the swing and your stance in this fantastic video:
Plan Hits
To get the best score possible, you must lay out each hit before doing so. Sure, hitting on the green is great, but you want to be on the best part of the green to set up your short game.
Each hit has a cause and effect added to it, and understanding what each hit does for the next swing will increase your chances tremendously of breaking 80.
Also, deciding what club you choose will go into the planning aspect. You’ll want to ensure the chosen club gives you the exact precision and distance you want. Don’t settle on something that may hit too long or too short; find what will work right.
Mental Aspect
An essential aspect of the game of golf is all mental. A solid mental focus will ensure consistency. There are many tips to the mental edge when heading into a course.
Music, medication, or whatever you do to lock yourself in should do before play. When playing, make sure you are playing one hole at a time.
Thinking Golfer 06/11/15, TL Building CREDIT: Jesse Reiter.
Suppose you are too busy looking at the big picture. In that case, you may be overthinking the plays ahead and ultimately throwing your game off.
We should focus on just one hit at a time; not only will it simplify the game. It will also do an excellent job of ensuring you play with a clear head.
If you start to play poorly or make a mistake, don’t panic or try to make a huge play to make up for it. Instead, stay calm and think logically about your ideal next step.
If the mistake makes early on, don’t sweat it. There are plenty more holes ahead of you where you can naturally catch up.
If you are near the end of the course, make a crucial mistake that will set you back a few strokes. You are on the edge of breaking 80. However, you may need a power play to accomplish the goal.
Prep
Last but not least, you need to prepare if you want to tackle the task that is in front of you. If you have yet to break 80, you’ll need to revamp your preparation before your first swing.
One of the best things you can do is warm up and stretch. It will loosen your muscles and get your motions up and firing so your first hit is as smooth as can be.
Check out this video for a great warm-up and stretch:
After you have completed your warm-up, practice swings, etc., it will be significant to have as much success as possible. But don’t overcomplicate it; you’ll want to be fresh on the first swing.
After the complete warm-up, it is time to settle in mentally. As we mentioned above, the mental aspect is just as, if not more important, than the physical one.
Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to tee off.
Closing Notes
Remember, when going out there to break 80, be confident, loose, and determined. It is all about finding consistency in your play and focusing on setting yourself up for success.
Play into your strengths and gain as much ground as you can as early as possible. Creating a cushion for yourself will only give you confidence and take some pressure off your shoulders.
Also, make sure you start consistently from the first tee. You should be excellent if you can get off your rhythm from the start and hit the fairway and green over half of the time.
Regarding the short game, be patient and set yourself up where you know you’ll have the best chance of minimizing your strokes.
Now, you’ve got breaking 80 tips; go to the course and accomplish your goal with a full steam of confidence ahead!
