7 Things You Can Do to Lower Your Golf Score

We get it. We’ve all been out there in the trenches, traps, and rough, wondering what the heck we can do to keep things in the green and lower our score. Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing we can do and that we’re never going to reduce that handicap!

But as with all things in golf, it takes time and attention to detail. No, the solution likely isn’t that you need new clubs unless you’re using grandpa’s woods. And no, turning to fancy gadgets probably isn’t the answer, either. They’re undoubtedly fun and can help further down the line, but let’s get those basics down first.

Take an honest look at your game and see what you can tune-up fundamentally before you start looking for new gear. To help you out, here are seven ways you can lower your golf store without running some credit on new clubs. 

1. Put in The Work to Lower Your Golf Score

We talkin’ ’bout practice? Yup! We sure are.

Unless you’re some kind of late-life prodigy, you’re not just going to show up on course for a round and magically get better. Put in the time at the range. Work on your putts. Practice your short game.

This can be done during your warm-ups as well as between your weekend rounds. Repetition is key here — you’re not likely to see much progress if you only play once a month. 

2. Iron Out the Details to Achieve Lower Golf Scores

Club pun in the header! Nailed it.

Actually, start with your putter, though. The best and easiest way to shave strokes off your score is to cut down on your putts. Work on reading the greens’ slope and speed—work from all angles of the practice green.

Soon, you’ll be cutting down from four to three to two putts per green. That will add up quickly! Or subtract. Whichever way you want to look at it. 

3. Mind Your Short Game to Lower Your Golf Score

Don’t forget there’s more than just the drive off the tee and putts — you’ve got some work to do in the middle as well! Work on those mid-strokes, and then dial in your chips. Mastering the short pitch is a fine art of the golf game, and you’ll likely have the edge over your competition if you master your chips. 

4. Take a Look at Your Overall Game

When you play your next round, pay attention to where your score seems to be adding up. Be conscious of your habits and patterns. These observations will help you get a lower golf score.

Are you missing the fairways off the tee? Are you three- and four-putting several greens? Are your chips just sliding off the other side of the green? Find the holes in your game, then revert back to your practice to shore things up.

Look into your mental patterns as well as physical, too. What’s your mindset when you play? Are you feeling incredibly sore in any area after a round? Do you get tired by the back nine?

Perhaps you can improve your technique, find ways to focus/destress, and create habits to sustain your energy through every round. 

5. Play the Mental Game and Lower Your Golf Score

It’s easy to get frustrated when playing golf. Even the pros deal with the mental challenge that the game provides. But if you’re playing stressed, you’re not going to have any fun, and your score will suffer.

For lower golf scores, consider your state of mind. If you have a bad shot or a terrible hole, shake it off! Clear your head before the next one to avoid the cumulative effect. Golf is a challenging game to master, and if you beat yourself up for every terrible move, you’ll never improve.

Just relax, take your time, and work on having a positive mindset.

6. Know Your Limits

Maybe you can’t crank one 350 yards down the fairway and three-hole a par five. That’s okay! Most of us can’t.

Work on hitting smart shots instead of bombing it as far as you can. You might not feel as tough laying up in front of the pond rather than blasting over, but you’ll play better when you play smarter. 

The most important shot is always the next one, so make sure to make it good, and you can start to lower your golf score. Don’t curse the golf gods about what’s behind you. 

Take a deep breath, relax, and swing smooth and steady rather than as hard as you can. With these tips, you’ll likely see improvements to your day and a lower golf score. 

7. Get in Shape!

Work on your golf body to put you in a better position for a strong 18 holes. It’s a long day, so you’ll need some stamina to avoid that fade on the back nine. 

Exercise your core muscles to make you stronger and more flexible. Add length to your drives and better control your shots when your mind and body function as a singular golfing machine.

Improve flexibility to rotate your hips more smoothly and boost stamina to last longer on a hot day. With these tips, you’ll likely see those improvements on your score sheet that will lift your mood along and lower your golf score.

You can get in a good workout on your non-golfing days to help keep your mind and body sharp and remember to never skip that warm-up! 

Summary

Take these seven steps, and we’re sure you’ll see your golf score start to fall stroke by stroke. THEN, once you’ve given all of these strategies a try, you can begin looking into new equipment or other solutions.

If you need a little extra boost on the course, you can even give Golf Gummies a try. They’ve got green tea and other cannabinoid goodness to help you playing strong all day.