When I was played regularly about 13-14 years ago, my drives were 190-210, and I sliced a lot. So I often left it in the bag and teed up with fairway woods. I once broke 90 on a 6000+ yard set of tees on a pretty decent golf course hitting a 7 wood off the tee 13 of 14 times. I hit the fairway with every one of those shots, missing with my one attempted driver. Those 7 woods averaged maybe 175. Still broke 90, albeit not by much, by keeping it simple, aiming to hit greens in 1 over regulation and 2 putt. Mostly bogeys, more pars than doubles. Voila, under 90. Did that several other times on a somewhat easier course that was a couple of hundred yards shorter. I did eventually go back to driver, and got the slice more or less under control. I was under 90 much more often than not at that point, and even scaring 80 at times. All with driver distance averaging probably a tad under 200. Can be done, if your short game is good enough, and you stick to simple shots you have a strong chance of playing well, and that make the next shot easier.
Having made it to 70 years, the game has become much harder. Every shot needs to be a good shot or a very good shot. At first it's discouraging. I know folks who have quit. But accepting limits makes it possible to have fun again. Coach, all good advice. Much appreciated. And I will promise to repair ball marks! 😄
Play a shorter tee. Find your average in 10 rounds. Is this the best tee for you ? Can you play other tees and have fun giving your self another course .
My approach, as I hone in on 'bogey golf' has been drive 200+ in play. Get 2nd withing 50 yards of the green, chip on and 2 putt. (this is for 4's). Every now and then you hit the green and make par but with less pressure I have far fewer blow up holes. 3 putts happen, usually 1once in a round (usually following a GIR 🤣🙄) but so do some 1 putts. Pretty consistent now wherever I go that I am about 19 over par (HCI 20.4). The GIR stat is the one I am well behind on tbh.
15 handicapper here. I’m reasonably long with my driver c250 yds, but not so long or accurate with my long irons. I’ve therefore been working hard on my short game and quite often get round in 29 putts (changed my putter to a LAB Directed Force earlier in the year). Lowest score is 9 over. I’m pleased with anything around 13 - 15 over.
I like the tip on finding your own limitations out of the rough. The hybrid works out of heather for me, but when the grass is soft and ‘grabby’ I don’t have the power to get out with a longer club. This has inspired me to find out what I can do - 9 iron? 8? Thanks, Coach!
I am not completely hurting for distance…but my approach and short game are just crap in comparison. LOL. I totally get the duck analogy. Love these tips Coach! Just fire!!!
Thanx Coach. Distance is not my problem, I am a 56 year old but consistently ball over 285 (average). I am a 4 handicap and these tips especially the lie tip is awesome!!
I gave up my 230+ driver and 200 3-wood for a mini-driver 210-220. and now I always score around 90. No practice just better positions. If you want to get sub 90 see how many PW or less shots you take on every hole. that is where the shots are. Practice putting chipping and pitching. Drive really does not matter as long as it is playable.
@@CoachLockey Breaking 90 Driver 100% matters - some interesting facts: If you are breaking 90 you already get a shot on every hole. Par 5 550 yards SI 9. 5/6 iron - 7 iron - 7 iron - PW on green and 2-putt for 2 points. My personal best 3W - 8-iron back into position - hybrid rolls-on green and long and (very) lucky putt for birdie and 4 points. I play with an old boy handicap 14 breaks 90 every round, but can't hit his driver 200 yards. Course management and short game matters. Perhaps if the video was break 80 then driver 100% matters - but breaking 80 is something I don't know anything about.
@@CoachLockey I know side hill lies bend towards the lower side. More info on balls either sitting up or nestled down into Bermuda rough could help escape trouble 👿
I am amazed that 25 handicappers average 22 ft from hole from 50 yards. I am a 26 handicapper (played to 36 today), and from that distance have about 1/20 chance of hitting green at all…
I’m a 15 handicapper and i hit the green about 1/3,975 from 50. Now, from 85 I’m like a freaking sniper. So I just try not to leave it 50 from the green. It’s an awkward distance for me.
Best tip to break 90 that no video mentions is to pick a course with a low slope rating and play from the white/middle tees. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to break 90 from the black tees on a course with a high slope rating as a mid-high handicap golfer. The numbers are against you.
That's the ego thing. I see guys all the time playing from the back tees when they can barely clear the front. Get real, People - play within your limits.
I'm 63 yrs young, and straight as a ruler with my older, ping 12 degree driver. certainly not as far as the 30 somethings I play with. they're 25 -30 yards farther, but drawing, slicing just about every drive , trying to outdistance everyone. they use 9 degree lofts- why they don't go to 10.5 is anyones guess. because while they're all fumbling around in the trees or brush 30 yrds ahead of me, ive hit my 5 wood for my 2nd shot and im off to the races.... pure distance means little if your sliced into oblivion.
If you have a bad 9 holes its because your deviations are too big, meaning there is a wild one about to come out, just have to wait and at the moment it sounds like you only need to wait 9 holes. Tighten up dispersion and you will see 9 holes turn into 18 holes in no time.
@@johnnorth9514 Who the hell sets the forward tee thirty feet ahead? BTW you can tee the ball anywhere you want if other players agree, we have a GUY 95 years old and he teesoff at the 150 yard marker.
@@CoachLockey Well, that's my strategy honed over the last 3 decades: putting, chipping, and pitching. I tell people I'll play them for money but only from 60 yards and in. Lol.
I can relate. I have an entire channel dedicated to it!
When I was played regularly about 13-14 years ago, my drives were 190-210, and I sliced a lot. So I often left it in the bag and teed up with fairway woods. I once broke 90 on a 6000+ yard set of tees on a pretty decent golf course hitting a 7 wood off the tee 13 of 14 times. I hit the fairway with every one of those shots, missing with my one attempted driver. Those 7 woods averaged maybe 175. Still broke 90, albeit not by much, by keeping it simple, aiming to hit greens in 1 over regulation and 2 putt. Mostly bogeys, more pars than doubles. Voila, under 90. Did that several other times on a somewhat easier course that was a couple of hundred yards shorter.
I did eventually go back to driver, and got the slice more or less under control. I was under 90 much more often than not at that point, and even scaring 80 at times. All with driver distance averaging probably a tad under 200. Can be done, if your short game is good enough, and you stick to simple shots you have a strong chance of playing well, and that make the next shot easier.
Having made it to 70 years, the game has become much harder. Every shot needs to be a good shot or a very good shot. At first it's discouraging. I know folks who have quit. But accepting limits makes it possible to have fun again. Coach, all good advice. Much appreciated. And I will promise to repair ball marks!
😄
Great job ! Great advise - wisdom on the course is crucial !
Play a shorter tee. Find your average in 10 rounds. Is this the best tee for you ? Can you play other tees and have fun giving your self another course .
My approach, as I hone in on 'bogey golf' has been drive 200+ in play. Get 2nd withing 50 yards of the green, chip on and 2 putt. (this is for 4's). Every now and then you hit the green and make par but with less pressure I have far fewer blow up holes. 3 putts happen, usually 1once in a round (usually following a GIR 🤣🙄) but so do some 1 putts. Pretty consistent now wherever I go that I am about 19 over par (HCI 20.4). The GIR stat is the one I am well behind on tbh.
Since joining a golf club a year ago my handicap has dropped from 20 to 10 and score is average mid 80's. For me its all about playing alot more.
Couldn't move off the heel with the stock shaft so I swapped it out for a medium flex n shortened it, now I use the center and toe!
Thanks for the encouragement. It appears that putting is my strength. Will start teeing off with putter!
15 handicapper here. I’m reasonably long with my driver c250 yds, but not so long or accurate with my long irons. I’ve therefore been working hard on my short game and quite often get round in 29 putts (changed my putter to a LAB Directed Force earlier in the year). Lowest score is 9 over. I’m pleased with anything around 13 - 15 over.
My lowest 18 is 83, but my average is 94. My average drive is about 190 so I am scrambling to get par. Thanks Coach for the hints!
You'e welcome. Tip 1 is big for you, go learn to send it.
Lessons and a fitting may be able to get you serious yardage gains, like drives of 200 to 220 or more.
All of these items make sense, and describe where I am at the moment. Will need to make improvements with all aspects. Cheers Coach.
Go do it
Awesome video, I loved the overlay.
I have a great front 9 but always horrible back…but I think its the booze! Lol Thanks Coach!
Cool trick with the flight paths, two swings, two balls one frame.
I like the tip on finding your own limitations out of the rough. The hybrid works out of heather for me, but when the grass is soft and ‘grabby’ I don’t have the power to get out with a longer club. This has inspired me to find out what I can do - 9 iron? 8? Thanks, Coach!
If you don’t know an answer to something in golf, go and find out 👍👍
Great tips Coach
Glad you think so!
I am not completely hurting for distance…but my approach and short game are just crap in comparison. LOL. I totally get the duck analogy. Love these tips Coach! Just fire!!!
Thanx Coach. Distance is not my problem, I am a 56 year old but consistently ball over 285 (average). I am a 4 handicap and these tips especially the lie tip is awesome!!
Coach great video
Appreciate it!
I gave up my 230+ driver and 200 3-wood for a mini-driver 210-220. and now I always score around 90. No practice just better positions. If you want to get sub 90 see how many PW or less shots you take on every hole. that is where the shots are. Practice putting chipping and pitching. Drive really does not matter as long as it is playable.
Driver 100% matters
@@CoachLockey Breaking 90 Driver 100% matters - some interesting facts:
If you are breaking 90 you already get a shot on every hole. Par 5 550 yards SI 9. 5/6 iron - 7 iron - 7 iron - PW on green and 2-putt for 2 points. My personal best 3W - 8-iron back into position - hybrid rolls-on green and long and (very) lucky putt for birdie and 4 points.
I play with an old boy handicap 14 breaks 90 every round, but can't hit his driver 200 yards. Course management and short game matters.
Perhaps if the video was break 80 then driver 100% matters - but breaking 80 is something I don't know anything about.
I’d like more discussion on different lies. Good tips.
Noted! Which lies?
@@CoachLockey I know side hill lies bend towards the lower side. More info on balls either sitting up or nestled down into Bermuda rough could help escape trouble 👿
Driving distances, daft question but is that carry or total?
p.average is total 👌
I am amazed that 25 handicappers average 22 ft from hole from 50 yards. I am a 26 handicapper (played to 36 today), and from that distance have about 1/20 chance of hitting green at all…
I’m a 15 handicapper and i hit the green about 1/3,975 from 50. Now, from 85 I’m like a freaking sniper. So I just try not to leave it 50 from the green. It’s an awkward distance for me.
Best tip to break 90 that no video mentions is to pick a course with a low slope rating and play from the white/middle tees. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to break 90 from the black tees on a course with a high slope rating as a mid-high handicap golfer. The numbers are against you.
That's the ego thing. I see guys all the time playing from the back tees when they can barely clear the front. Get real, People - play within your limits.
@Meegwun they seem to think an 89 from the whites doesn't count when it actually shows their skill from the correct yardages
I'm 63 yrs young, and straight as a ruler with my older, ping 12 degree driver.
certainly not as far as the 30 somethings I play with.
they're 25 -30 yards farther, but drawing, slicing just about every drive , trying to outdistance everyone.
they use 9 degree lofts- why they don't go to 10.5 is anyones guess.
because while they're all fumbling around in the trees or brush 30 yrds ahead of me, ive hit my 5 wood for my 2nd shot and im off to the races....
pure distance means little if your sliced into oblivion.
I'll have a fine 9 hole round, but turn it into 18 and change the course and i cannot break 90.
If you have a bad 9 holes its because your deviations are too big, meaning there is a wild one about to come out, just have to wait and at the moment it sounds like you only need to wait 9 holes. Tighten up dispersion and you will see 9 holes turn into 18 holes in no time.
How come your wearing Payntr shoes instead of Ecco??
Because they have softspikes in them that I LOVE 😉
You’re, not your.
Re Tip 1: big presumption that one struggling to break 90 can control strike location on command, no?
I said lots of people I teach can do it, not all, plus gave two simple tips to helps move it as well. Go learn strike.
So in summary then in order to play better golf get better at driving, approach shots, chipping and putting.👍
Basically
3 putt every 7.5 holes? Yes please.... One day I hope to have such a stat
Problem is a high handicap will miss from a putter length sway
But they are more likely over time to hole it more often from a putter length than 2/3/4/5 putter lengths away 👍
My average drive is 235-240 carry but normally shoot the low 90s. If only there were better places to practice short game :(.
At home? Chip into a sofa. Anything helps.
So the main message for short hitters is hit it further 😄
Or be really good at everything else
I resemble that remark. 😂
Ok, since you said "Please", Coach, that's it - no more three putting. Only because you said "Please."
HAHAHAHA!! His number one tip for short hitters to break 90? Hit it farther!!! Brilliant! What a joke.
You must struggle with listening
IF You cannot reach a par 4 in 2 shots, move the hell up!
Agreed 👍
How does moving 5-10 metres up supposed to help? Also, one has to play the tees for the day’s competition.
@@johnnorth9514 Who the hell sets the forward tee thirty feet ahead?
BTW you can tee the ball anywhere you want if other players agree, we have a GUY 95 years old and he teesoff at the 150 yard marker.
220? Welp, I'm out.
You’re not out. You just have to be better at other areas
@@CoachLockey Well, that's my strategy honed over the last 3 decades: putting, chipping, and pitching. I tell people I'll play them for money but only from 60 yards and in. Lol.
How to break 90 for short hitters... hit longer. LOL
Obvious I know but 90% of golfers aren't trying to hit it longer IMO