re: Breaking 80

I'm with you biscuits. I've made breaking 80 such a huge thing that it seems impossible sometimes and it just completely gets in your head. It becomes this number that as soon as you see it is out of reach in a round you just get completely deflated. It's REALLY REALLY hard to get from an 81/82/83 to a 79. First off don't underestimate that and appreciate those low 80's, because if you can do that, those 70's are coming. You're on the right track.

I shot 79 on Saturday and it was was only my 2nd time ever doing it
I shot 78 almost a year ago to the date. A LOT of 80, 81, 82 rounds in between. I'm now an 8.4 index, my all time low.

And I made ZERO birdies on Saturday for the 79. Had 8 decent looks at birdie but didn't convert any. But they were all tap in pars.

As someone who has gone through this climb the last 7 or 8 years... this is what I've found gives me the best chance to break 80:

1) NO DOUBLE BOGEYS. You can make one, but you probably need a birdie to help you cancel it.

2) NO 3 PUTTS. Get really good at lag putting so your speed always leaves you with a fairly easy 2nd putt.

3) CHIP IT CLOSER TO THE HOLE. The days I'm breaking 80 or close, I am getting up and down for par A LOT. At least 4 or 5 times. You're going to miss probably 50% of greens most of the time. You need to know how to chip it close to turn bogeys into pars.

4) DON'T TOTAL UP YOUR SCORE until after the round. A lot of guys have said this, I do it too. You might have an idea where you are, but you never want that number floating around in your head. Every hole is its own battle. Write the score down and forget it.


Also, making birdies is not 100% necessary, but if you can start making 1 or 2 a round, it REALLY helps and takes a little of that mental pressure off too.