Hitting More Greens Cuts Golf Handicaps

Hitting greens in regulation (GIR) is critical. It's what separates good golfers from bad, well as players with low golf handicaps from those with high ones, It's also what separates golfers who give golf lessons from those who take them. Professional golfers are a great example of what I'm talking about. Next time you're watching a PGA tournament on TV, count how many greens are hit in regulation. Usually, it's a lot.

Golfers with high golf handicaps miss a lot of greens. And when they miss, they usually miss short. That's called underclubbing. Sometimes, it lands you in a bunker or a stream. And when you underclub, you add strokes to your scores. Imagine how many strokes you'd add if all your putts fell short. The same holds true with irons from the fairway. If you're going to reduce your golf handicap, you can't afford to underclub.

Eliminate Underclubbing

But for some eliminating underclubbing is a chore. That's because it isn't always a case of just swinging harder. You miss a green short on one hole. Then on the next, you swing harder trying to hit the ball farther. In the process, you tense up your muscles, inhibiting your swing. The result: an even shorter shot. Wouldn't it be great if you could add distance without swinging harder? Well, there is.

To increase distance from the fairway, move the pin back in our mind. If the pin's in the front of the green, move it to the back. Your goal is to hit every shot into the green pin high, which can you do by taking an extra club or two than normal. Instead of using a 6-iron from 160 yards our, use a 5-iron. Setting your sights a bit longer breaks the cycle of underclubbing.

In addition to breaking the cycle of underclubbing, taking more club encourages a relaxed, easy swing, producing better contact and better results. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to hit the green than it used to be. The more greens you hit in regulation, the greater self-confidence you build. Building self-confidence is critical to improvement.

Taking Two Extra

Here's how to eliminate underclubbing. Before playing your next round, determine how far you hit each club. Write down and memorize what club you need to hit the ball 80 yards, 100 yards, 150 yards, and 200 yards. Keep that information tucked away in your mind. Next time you play take two more clubs than you normally would use to hit the green. If you determine you need a 6-iron to hit the ball 150 yards, take a 4-iron.

You'll be surprised how much more effective you'll are. You won't try to "muscle up" on each shot and your swing is more fluid. That in turn helps you hit more greens, providing you more opportunities to make pars (and birdies) and cutting strokes from your score.

In addition to taking two, track the number of greens you hit in regulation (GIR) for every round. An easy way of tracking GIR is circling either the hole number itself or the hole score on your scorecard. At day's end, add up the circles. That tells you how many greens you hit that day. Keep track of these totals. Record them on the spreadsheet. Then after five rounds, figure out the percentage of greens you hit in regulation. The figure it out after 10 rounds, after 15 rounds, and so on.

To cut your golf handicap, you must hit greens in regulation. Start by taking an extra club or two than normal. Use a nice, relaxed swing. And hit away. Also, track greens in regulation for every round. Record the totals on a spreadsheet. Then use the spreadsheet to determine your percentage. As you start to improve, gradually switch back to hitting your normal club. Eventually you'll be back to normal. More importantly, you'll have slashed strokes from your golf handicap.