How to Make More Birdies
The way to make more birdies is to give yourself more makeable birdie putts. Almost every birdie comes from one of two things: an approach close to the hole, or a short game shot that finishes near enough to one-putt. More chances from close range means more birdies.
A birdie is one under par on a hole: a 2 on a par 3, a 3 on a par 4, a 4 on a par 5. If that's new, read what is a birdie in golf first. This guide is about getting more of them.
Where birdies come from
| Hole | Typical birdie route |
|---|---|
| Par 3 | Tee shot on the green, one putt |
| Par 4 | Tee shot in play, approach close, one putt |
| Par 5 | Three shots to the green and one putt, or reach in two and two-putt |
Notice the common thread: one putt on most routes. You don't need to hit the ball further to make birdies. You need to hole out more often from short range.
1. Pick your birdie holes
Not every hole is a birdie chance. Look at the card and find the three or four holes where your approach will be a short iron or wedge: short par 4s, reachable par 5s and short par 3s. Those are your attacking holes. On the rest, play for par and accept a bogey sometimes. Players who attack every flag usually make more doubles, not more birdies.
2. Get better from 100 yards and in
Wedge shots are the most common birdie setups for most amateurs, because they're the shortest full swings. The closer your wedges finish, the shorter your putts.
- Learn your carry distance for each wedge at a full, three-quarter and half swing.
- Practise to specific targets at different distances, not just hitting balls at a field.
- Aim to finish below the hole where you can. An uphill putt is easier to hole than a downhill one.
For technique, see how to hit a pitch shot.
3. Hit more greens
A green in regulation means reaching the green with two shots to spare for par: one shot on a par 3, two on a par 4, three on a par 5. Every one is a birdie chance, even from long range. You'll hit more greens by aiming for the middle when the flag is tucked, and attacking only when the pin is in a safe spot.
4. Hole more short putts
Long putts drop far less often than short ones, so the birdie putts that really count are the ones from inside about 15 feet. Two things help:
- Read the green properly: check the slope from behind the ball and from the low side. Our guide on how to read a green covers the basics.
- Hit with confidence: a birdie putt that finishes short never had a chance. Aim to roll it a little past the hole if it misses.
A simple drill: put five balls in a circle three feet from the hole and hole them all, then move to five feet, then eight. Start again if you miss.
5. Use your par 5s
If the course has par 5s, they are the easiest birdie holes for most players, because you get an extra shot to reach the green. Even if you can't reach in two, lay up to your favourite wedge distance and give yourself a short third shot.
6. Don't chase birdies after a bogey
Trying to win back a dropped shot is how one bogey becomes three. Keep the same plan: attack the birdie holes, play safe on the others.
Make birdies in Mashy
Mashy has only par 3s and par 4s, so every birdie is a 2 or a 3 and every one needs a putt, because only a putt can drop. On a par 3 that means finding the green with your tee shot and holing the putt; on a par 4 it's a good iron to the green and one putt. The green-read overlay shows high ground in warm colours and low ground in blue, and inside 10 feet the view zooms in. Birdies also earn a coin each in stroke play and the daily, and eagles earn three.
Frequently asked questions
How many birdies does an average golfer make?
There's no reliable average, but most high-handicap golfers make birdies only occasionally, perhaps one every few rounds. Better amateurs might make one or two per round, and tour professionals make several. The best way to make more is to hit more greens and leave more short putts.
Which holes are easiest to birdie?
For most players, par 5s and short par 4s are the easiest, because they let you hit a wedge or short iron into the green. Short par 3s are also good chances. Long par 4s and long par 3s are usually better treated as par holes where a bogey is acceptable.
Is a birdie the same as one under par?
Yes. A birdie means completing a hole in one stroke fewer than its par, so a 2 on a par 3, a 3 on a par 4 or a 4 on a par 5. Two under par on a hole is an eagle, and three under is an albatross.
Should I attack every flag to make more birdies?
No. Attacking flags near water, bunkers or the edge of the green often leads to bogeys and doubles. Pick a few holes where you'll have a short club into the green and a safe pin position, attack those, and play to the middle of the green on the rest.
Can you make birdies in Mashy?
Yes. Mashy holes are par 3s and par 4s, so a birdie is a 2 on a par 3 or a 3 on a par 4, and it always finishes with a putt because only putts can drop. Birdies earn one coin in stroke play and daily rounds, and eagles earn three.