Breaking 100 is a huge milestone for folks who are learning how to play golf. Scoring in double digits means you've made your way through 18 holes without completely imploding, and you've hit some pretty good shots along the way.
Whether you feel like breaking 100 is nothing more than a dream or you're just a few shots away, these three tips should help you get to the promised land of the 90s.
1. Recognize and Avoid Trouble
If you're not currently breaking 100, chances are you are inconsistent off the tee with your driver. So when you step up to the tee box and there's water and/or thick woods lining the fairway, put the driver back in the bag and pull out a club you hit more consistently. (Like a 3-wood or a 6-iron)
Everyone makes swing mistakes on the golf course, even the pros. The way to break 100 is to cut down on the mental mistakes. So off the tee (and really, everywhere else as well) choose a club that you are confident you can hit a good shot with, not the club that just might give you a good shot 2 times out of 10.
When shooting at the green from 100+ yards, the number one consideration a high-handicapper should have is knowing where the trouble is. If the trouble is short, make sure you're not short. If the trouble is long, make sure you're not long.
This is not to say you should mutter "Don't go long, don't go long" as you're addressing the ball. Consider the trouble BEFORE you hit the shot by selecting the right club and picking a target away from the trouble. Then, when you're standing over the ball aimed in the proper direction all you need to focus on is hitting an easy shot right at your target.
2. Tips For Better Chipping and Putting
You've probably read this 50 times before, but the best place to save strokes in order to break 100 is around the green. For every chip a high handicapper hits past the hole, he probably leaves 4 or 5 miserably short by decelerating through impact or not taking the thick rough into consideration.
Here's a tip to help your first putts be from 8 feet instead of 20 feet: Chip past the hole. Instead of aiming for the hole and hoping your chip will trickle in as it stops, aim for a spot 6 feet past the hole and hope your ball comes to rest there. Long chips might roll in, and mis-hits will stop closer to the hole.
This applies to putting as well. Pick your line before you address the putt, address the ball on your chosen line, and then try to roll the ball a few inches past the hole. By aiming past the hole, you're ensuring that your ball will reach its destination. (This technique should be adjusted to correct for the green slope, of course. On downhill putts, pick a spot an inch or two in front of the hole. On uphill putts, extend that spot 5 or 6 inches past the hole so you hit it hard enough to get it there.)
3. The Best Swing Thought
The time to work on swing mechanics is at the range, not on the course. If you were shooting free throws, would you step up to the charity stripe and focus on your elbow and hand position? No, you'd focus on the target and shoot the ball as fluidly as possible. The same thing would happen if you were trying to throw a fastball for a strike. You wouldn't be thinking about your takeaway or your follow-through, you'd just be focused on hitting the mitt. Why then, do you get on the golf course, worry about every detail of your swing, and never focus on hitting the target with the ball? The best swing thought you can have as you swing is: "Hit the Golf Ball at the Target".
These 3 points can be summed up this way: Consider your next shot by picking a target away from trouble and a club that you are confident can get you there. Play your short game with confidence by hitting the ball firmly, even if it goes past the hole. And make your main swing thought throughout the round be "get the ball in the hole".
Do these things consistently and you'll be well on your way to breaking 100. Good luck!
