When it comes to saving shots on the course, I’ll admit that I’ve been the golfer who turns to tweaking with technique. I’ll tell myself that if I can just hit my irons straighter or find the fairway with my driver, that will do the trick. But lately, I’ve been working on how I think my way around the course and it’s been saving me shots, without spending hours on the range.
Here are 5 course strategies that will save you shots the next time you play.
The 80% Rule
The 80% rule is this idea that we choose targets and shots that we feel 80% (or more) confident we can pull off and leave those hit-and-hopes in the bag.
When driver brings those fairway bunkers into play, instead of risking it and hoping to find the fairway in between, the 80% shot would be to choose the club – or target – you’re confident won’t reach the trouble. This might leave you with a longer next shot but it’s worth it for the confident – rather than cautious – swing you’ll have off the tee.
Or when you’re hitting into the green and the pin is tucked at the front, surrounded by sand, the 80% play would be to go for the largest part of the green. Knowing that gives you the best chance of reaching for your putter, rather than sand wedge, on your next shot.
I was introduced to the 80% rule by Ladies European Tour Pro, Annabell Fuller, who I was lucky to film playing a few holes. This was Annabell’s tip on my search for scratch – to plot my way around the course using the 80% rule.
So the next time you’re in between choices, ask yourself, which shot do I feel 80% (or more) confident I can pull off? And go with that one.
Next Shot Strategy
When I’m playing in a competition, I’ve noticed that I’ll leak most of my shots over 3 of the 18 holes because I’ll make double bogey, rather than bogey at worst.
Those double bogeys are typically down to two things – a leaky shot and a ‘greedy’ shot. The leaky shot might be my driver off the tee, leaving me in the trees or my approach shot into the green, shaping off sideways.
(Image credit: Jess Ratcliffe)
And then the greedy shot kicks in because I’m trying too hard to save a score. Maybe it’s the punchy number through the trees that doesn’t make the gap or the delicate pitch shot that comes up short.
It’s when those two shots…
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