The Facts About Breaking 70 In Golf

[@jamiesloan7259]

I’m a scratch player, and I’ll just make it very simple for everybody…. You have to hit 12/18 GIR, and have less than 30 putts, to shoot under par. Zero balls out of play. Zero double bogies. Zero 3-putts. A rare eagle, chip in, or hole out can negate one of these requirements.

[@zarfle]

Bravo. I must admit that I cant conceive of this. Even when (on the few occassions) where it's all felt quite easy (ie a few more putts just seem to be dropping) and I'm close to par after 9 or 10 holes a wild drive will come out of nowhere and it's a quick double. Some evil little voice in my head says, "Well, who were you kidding? This is more like you". Close out with some so-so golf, another wipe or two and my "almost par round" becomes an 85. I would love to be a player for whom a par on every hole is the expectation. Alas, not to be. Bravo to those of you who can. 👏👏

[@mdkhatsun]

I love shooting the scores I do because I have fun doing it. Good rounds between 8 and 13 over. But I have fun doing it. Think too many amateurs take it too seriously and forget we’re weekend warriors grinding with our buds

[@jamiesloan7259]

@@mdkhatsun I agree 100% my friend. My buddy even told me the other day that he wishes he had my attitude. He said that my demeanor doesn’t change, whether I’m 3 under, or 10 over. Golf is hard. Some days things are just “off”. You’re an insane person if you let it ruin a day out with your pals.

[@mdkhatsun]

@@jamiesloan7259 my friends get annoyed as if we play a 2 day strokes game for Money or matchplay they can’t get in my head because if I hit a bad shot my attitude is to go find it and hit a better one. That mentality will keep you in the 80’s and a good is all that stands in the way of breaking into the 70s

[@jasonkidd4066]

Agreed, 12 greens is the key number. I remember years ago Tiger talking about his dad telling him 12 GIR was the number. If he hit fewer than 12 greens, he expected to be over par and if he hit more than 12 GIR, he expected to be under par. Drive for show, putt for…you know. But it’s just not accurate when you look at the actual data. Hit your greens.

[@douglas2835]

I adore this video. You guys are hysterical. Can't give you a 4 foot putt, "we're trying to break 70". Mark - "we're not breaking 70". You're correct in your analysis. Can't miss short-pinned, make 90% 6 footers, etc. Knowing your miss (dispersion) is 90% of the game. I've seen some videos talking about real Pro strategy and you would be shocked at how often pros do NOT aim at pins. There's a famous Faldo quote after a wild Sunday and he was asked how many pins he fired at, and he said "one". Think about that someday. One pin, on a Sunday, for a pro

[@Jr_5646]

Lowest round is 61(-11). Lowest handicap has been +5. I'd say my biggest priorities for shooting under par consistently are: 1) iron and wedge play. You have to be good in the 100-150 range. You have to hit a lot of greens and give yourself plenty of looks in the 10-20 foot range. 2) Keep the ball in play. You don't nessessarily have to hit a ton of fairways, but hit it just straight enough so you're not chipping out or hitting in hazards or OB and causing penalty shots. Develop a go to shot as a fairway finder. Mine is a tee it low, aim down the left, line it up slightly in the heel, and cut it a little. Where as my stock shot is straight to a slight draw. 3) Distance. Golf is a power game. When you hit it long you can turn par 5s in to long par 4s. Try to hit it as far as you can control. It's way better to hit a wedge into a green versus a 7 iron. Again, CONTROL is the key word here. Don't get to caught up in the low spin thing chasing distance. I made that mistake. Averaging sub 2000 rpm spin (while looking amazing on a launch monitor like gcquad) is not exactly the most playable on a golf course for most people. No one on the PGA tour is spinning it that low. Most are in the mid 2000s. Chase distance through increasing your speed first, then maybe your angle of attack to get some better launch conditions, but keep that spin in a playable window to keep the spin axis straighter on miss hits which will keep you in play. 4) Course management. Dont overestimate your abilities. Play aggressively to conservative targets. I rarely fire directly at a pin. Even with a wedge in my hand I'm still thinking about where I dont want to miss it whether its long, short, left, or right, and hedging away from that to give myself some margin of error. The farther away I am the bigger that margin of error will be. Sometimes if I'm way out and have trouble on one side I might not even be aiming at the green. I prefer to aim away from trouble and curve it toward it. Some prefer the opposite. You just have to know your typical misses. 5) Putting. This is typically the difference between a good round and a crazy low round. With that said, you're not going to consistently shave several strokes off you game by putting better. It can definitely have a difference in 1 round, but over time becoming a 10% better putter wont help as much as hitting it 10% closer every shot. I've shot in the 60s way more times when I have putted terribly then I have hitting my irons or driver terribly. Just try to avoid 3 putts. If you give yourself enough decent looks eventually some will fall. 6) Chipping. Once you get your ballstriking to a certain level you don't really have to chip that often to be honest. Maybe only a couple times a round. Chipping to me has kind of become more of a momentum saver then anything. I'd say the more difficult the course the more important chipping would be, but I wouldn't put it ahead of the other areas just because you dont do it evey hole like you do the others.

[@danieljd6776]

Great comment. Breaking 70 is my goal. My lowest round was 70 and I have a bunch of 71s and 72s. Thanks for the advice!

[@Jr_5646]

@@danieljd6776 No problem. Hope that messege in some little way can help someone get to their goals. It really is the little things that add up at that level. I have several friends who are in that same low 70s range, and if you watched us on the driving range warming up you might not be able to tell the difference between us,, but then when you get out on the course 5 yards here or there is the difference between being in the rough and being in the trees, 5 feet on an approach could be on the green or in a bunker, and 5 inches could be the difference between making or missing a putt. It all adds up to breaking parr versus not. Its really about consistency. The great shots are always going to be great. It's about making your misses not hurt so bad.

[@lance5101]

Yep, you have to be missing birdies and not chasing pars.

[@jamiesloan7259]

I’m near scratch, and I 100% agree with aiming towards the center of “safe”, and shaping the ball back to perfect. Off the tee… If OB is left, and tons of room to the right. I’m aiming right rough, and shaping back to the fairway. Or, if the pin is tucked back/right, I’m aiming left edge/center, and cutting it towards the pin.

[@mattkenyon942]

Recently started watching you and coach , now bought a shot scope due to you both. Fingers crossed I get to see some improvement and assistance.

[@rafabonati7757]

This was an interesting video with all the tips. But my favorite part was seeing the super close-up of Coach’s right ear at 15:04!

[@joapps8135]

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[@rafabonati7757]

@@joapps8135 -I always report these as unwanted spam and they remove it. If everyone did this, they might stop trying this.

[@jaylee2267]

I broke 100 for the first time yesterday . Shot a 96 and it felt like I shot 70. To think of taking 26 shots off that round seems impossible.

[@richb326]

Small goals and targets. Break 95, then 90 etc etc

[@timmyinMB]

Awesome job! I remember when I broke 100 for the first time. Now I’m down to a 7 handicap and still working. Rich B. Is dead on correct, small goals each year.

[@adambrown5894]

Everyone who breaks 70 also celebrated breaking 100. Congrats. Onward and upward.

[@jamiesloan7259]

Looking back, I still remember what got me under 100, then under 90, etc. It’s the ability to eliminate tops, chunks, skulls, pop-ups, and just overall horrible “strikes”. Keep track of your “horrible” strikes, and try to improve on that number each time you play. I promise you, lower scores will come. Strike is KING! 👑

[@peterkelly9655]

These are brilliant videos lads. So hard to take all the information out onto the course and put into practice (that’s more me than anything) but still a really enjoyable video love watching you lads just playing golf. Doesn’t matter what course - once I see mark and coach in a vlog nothing is Better

[@peterkelly9655]

I should add I’m not breaking 70 any time soon. Best I have ever done is 76 at my local course in Dublin. Generally if I break 80 I am happy. Play off 9.

[@chetlovesmer9549]

Mark and Coach, I always enjoy watching the two of you playing. Bogey avoidance is such a great theme for a video. I enjoyed it. BTW- Been using shot scope for over a season now.

[@charliered105]

Break par according to handicap is my only goal when I’m playing serious. I’ll be there or thereabouts in most comps/contribute to my team that way, hopefully

[@alistairwilson3084]

Great video, I love these where you talk about the shot. I noticed you didn’t mention using the width of the teeing area. Unless that comes later😂

[@bobpaine4987]

Another great video , entertaining and informative 👍

[@sparkdog44]

What putter is that Mr. C? It suits you. Looks perfect in your hands. Your putting has improved with it.

[@16pennynails]

81, that was my low round, missed several short putts carelessly to break 80, lol, I actually felt more let down! The only thing I remember about that day was feeling tension free in the hands and arms and more or less hitting 3/4 shots.....until the weather changed by the 16th hole. Uh oh

[@torchristianbirkeland685]

I was lucky enough to play West Cliffs back in 2019. Such a great course!

[@joapps8135]

Christian, heads up.... scam. dont send any money for shipping

[@Toaster-v1z]

Nice job taking some distance of your 8i on the first hole by playing a little fade.

[@thescientist2438]

Here's my key steps to breaking 70: 1. Turn on PlayStation 2. Insert Tiger Woods golf game 3. Play Pebble Beach from the forward tees Simple.

[@joapps8135]

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[@andy66l97]

Great video & thx for posting 👍. 71 on Saturday with a double, lost ball bogey & 2 missed 6 footers - amazing how similar your points were! Coach do you reckon you lag from close in as much as you do because it’s yt? Seems to me as though more pace & you’d hole a lot more as that final massive break by the whole wouldn’t happen🤔

[@markanderson8006]

I’m a 1 handicapper broken 70 a few times . I shoot in the 80s more times than I break 70 unfortunately. Broke 70 once this year I was -4 after 5 stumbled home -2 on par 71. They are correct you have to putt great don’t miss from 6 feet and even hole a few longer or even chip in. I count all my shots from 100 yards or less when I take 36 or less I always break 70.

[@joapps8135]

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[@fore_PeteSake]

Hey huge congrats. Several of your muppet tour alum are representing. Charley Hull won and last we Fox and Luke were on the leader board during the first round.

[@paulbutler5052]

I played yesterday, and just like coach I hit a push to 2 foot !! After aiming middle of the green… everyone said great shot and I told everyone great result not a great shot. I had 2 over on the front 9 and finished 8 over but I only play once a month and practice once a fortnight… how do I stay focused for the entire 18?

[@joapps8135]

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[@jamesdailey5485]

Bogey avoidance to a degree, it cannot be your mantra if you want to break 70. With pw or less you have to be aggressive. You had a 50* wedge on that 1st hole and you aimed away from the hole. If you want to break 70 then you have to be aggressive with wedges. No balls out of play Bogey avoidance on approach with 8i or more. Be smart on par 3s Take advantage of par 5s - must get off the tee well on par 5s Be aggressive with wedges No 3putts Short game HAS to be solid. You will miss greens. Have to get up and down (applies for par 5s too).

[@joapps8135]

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[@donsmnc5319]

Hank Haney has said it for years, distance detemines capability! The closer to the hole for approach shots the better your chances to score, no 3 putts and you should have a reasonable cance to break 70

[@blackheart7886]

Very enjoyable.

[@sjgraci]

It also helps to play on good greens that roll true.

[@joapps8135]

Mr. Mark C., with all due respect, u should not lift up to repair divots on the green as u did at around 4:45...instead outside-in with the divot tool :)

[@christopherspon-smith6004]

Love your video’s and love West Cliffs, however found it interesting that you played holes 1,2 and 4 did you both have a nightmare on the stroke index 1, hole 3? As would have loved for you to show how to manage that hole!

[@MarkCrossfield]

There was people on 3 so we had to move on.

[@SolomonLi]

I know that I need a massive improvement and constant playing to get my handicap down to start thinking of doing this…. Those stats for Par 3’s, 4’s, and 5’s tell me all I need to know about how hard it is and how good these pro’s on TV are. I’m more here for the banter… LOL

[@joapps8135]

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[@B4rchetta]

I have been a Cat 1 player all my life. Still am at 63 and I have only broken par once. If my memory serves me right it was a day when I had a lot on my mind about a house move and therefore I didn’t give a monkeys. I just hit the ball where I wanted to and holed lots of putts. The minute you start caring (and we all do 99% of the time), it becomes almost impossible for 95% of players. Nerves = pressure = stress = toast.

[@joapps8135]

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[@B4rchetta]

@@joapps8135 KZbin is full of scams like this. No fear, I knew it was a scam. Thanks though.

[@royclose946]

Well done mark 👏 👍

[@joapps8135]

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[@rogmackay]

Are you better to go for it sometimes? So playing aggressively. Sometimes you'll be miles behind, sometimes you'll win it. But is it better/easier to break 70/win a couple of times a season than to be defensive and top 10 every time but never win it...?

[@joapps8135]

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[@Gogogadgetwilly]

70 is my best score, and it was probably the most stressed I’ve ever been in my life 😂

[@danieljd6776]

70 is my best as well. I had a 12 footer to shoot 69 and missed it. That was 14 years ago and little did I know that was my only real chance to go sub 70.

[@kristoffernilsson6043]

@@danieljd6776 70 is a hell of a round though, well done 🙂

[@danieljd6776]

@@kristoffernilsson6043 Thank you 🙂

[@jimmahT]

Thanks Mark

[@joapps8135]

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[@Jdengs42]

how far is next shot for 60ft putt vs 20 yard chip?

[@joapps8135]

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[@Pdinhio]

I notice you guys skipped the 3rd ( sroke index 1) out. Did you guys both fire it into the water?🤣🤣

[@joapps8135]

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[@dj-qh1kw]

The stats you showed on the video.. .. golf is hard !!

[@joapps8135]

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[@davehurley26]

I shot -3 67 with a bogey bogey eagle start lol with a 3 putt on the 1st 🤣

[@joapps8135]

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[@colinboxall2692]

Coach Lockey 😂 “exactly how I saw it !” Best rounds are always when you putt well. #stayaggressive

[@joapps8135]

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[@aguy3412]

loved video

[@joapps8135]

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[@keenanvanzile]

Playing at flags considering how soft the greens are...soft greens are always a green light unless your ball flight is a thin bullet.

[@johnbennett1162]

Not necessarily true. The point is to eliminate bogeys. Based on your shot variance, even in soft conditions, the play is likely to aim at middle of the green or on the side that allows you to still hit the green with your typical miss.

[@johnmagnell8902]

M.C. All stats apart. You have gained some 20 yards of carry on your drives. Do you score better ?

[@joapps8135]

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[@johnmagnell8902]

@@joapps8135 thanks 🙏. And you’re right.

[@iownthepowned]

"This is a break 70 video" [One hour later] "I'm gonna do a reverse nubbin's"

[@satisfied5589]

If you can play to a scratch markers average - youre not necessarily scratch. I think we need to look at "scratch markers average for their best 8 out of 20 rounds" then your handicap would be scratch

[@joapps8135]

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[@theChef1337]

I break 70 all the time for 9 holes 😂

[@joapps8135]

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[@seancook2264]

75 is my lowest. In a pro am. Only had 4 hours sleep. Actually shot the same score as the pro and the 1 handicapper. Average front 9. Nothing special. Shot -1 on the back 9 after holing a 35 footer for birdie on the 16th and just held it together down the last two! Have gone lower on Par 68 courses! 😂

[@joapps8135]

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[@kingoneeyed3433]

More importantly just enjoy your game.

[@joapps8135]

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[@jackbutterworth9393]

"See if we can remember this one". Did i hear that right? Synchronized!

[@joapps8135]

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[@thewatchman6074]

I'll be breaking 70 next birthday.

[@joapps8135]

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[@colinwhite2724]

... and don’t dribble your putts like Blockey when you have a birdie chance.

[@joapps8135]

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[@tmunday7270001475143]

I just need 3 or more mulligans

[@saintpatrick6681]

nine-hole 70 break no problem

[@joapps8135]

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[@anthonyswift5943]

Aggressive off tee. Passive everywhere else. Get a gap test and play everything 5yards less than your average.

[@joapps8135]

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[@metgiantfan31]

Youre not going to do it, move on

[@jephfandingo1438]

That's the spirit!

[@joapps8135]

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[@rstar88105]

@golfsidekick GIOTG

[@joapps8135]

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