Blog · Tips
7 Golf Game Tips to Lower Your Score
Mashy is easy to start and takes a little practice to play well. If you keep finishing a shot or two over par, these habits make the biggest difference.
1. Learn where the green zone is
The whole swing comes down to your second tap. Before you worry about anything else, get a feel for how far along the meter the green zone sits and how quickly the marker moves. Consistent timing beats fancy strategy.
2. Pick the club, don't accept the default
The suggested club is a starting point. Look at your distance to the pin and the carry distance on the club, then decide. Sometimes a shorter club that you can hit cleanly is a better choice than a longer one you might mistime.
3. Aim to reach the green, not the flag
When the pin is at the edge of your range, a shot that lands on the green still leaves you a putt. A shot that tries for the flag and misses can leave you chipping. A safe green is a good result.
4. Take your time before the first tap
There's no clock on the setup. Check the club, the distance and the layout, then start the swing when you're ready. Rushing the start is the most common way to waste a good hole.
5. Save your steadiest taps for putts
Putts are where scores are made or lost. A short, calm rhythm helps more than a burst of speed. If you're on the green in two, you've given yourself a real chance at par or better.
6. Treat every hole as its own round
A bad hole is one hole. Don't let a bogey on the third change how you play the fourth. Reset your focus, check your club, and go again.
7. Replay to learn
Replaying a hole is one of the best ways to improve. Play it once for the score, then again to try a different club or a different line, and see what changes.
Bonus: Know what a good score looks like
Every hole is scored against par:
- Birdie (one under) is a great result
- Par is solid
- Bogey (one over) is fine while you're learning
Not sure about the terms? Read our scoring guide.
Put it into practice
Play a hole and try just one tip at a time. You'll probably see your score drop within a few holes.