How the Average Golfer Can Break 80

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Excellent REDTIGER Rangefinder

[cambmw]

totally changed my game once i stopped trying to whip out my ping pong ding dong. as an example, the #1 handicap hole at my home course is a very long par 4 surrounded by bunkers. with a perfect drive, i will always have about 220 to the green. i used to always try to squeeze a 4 or 5 iron into the narrow green and typically end up in the bunkers 80% of the time. i now, pretend this hole is a short par 5 and i hit a smooth 7 iron to avoid the bunkers leaving myself with an easy 40-50 yd pitch. i can normally get this close for a great look at par and even if i 2 putt, i still make bogey. i have completely eliminated double bogey or worse.

[flamesandfire]

Hi, I played 2-5 times a year for 10 years and never kept score. This April I decided to take it serious and try. I play 18 holes every Friday, got a coach who I see 2-3 times per month and practice 5-7 hours/ week. I shot 108 my first round. 15 rounds later (yesterday) I shot an 83. This channel deserves about half the credit. 😂Thanks for helping with my game. I appreciate it. The videos are great content and funny. Thank you.

[terrylong]

Shot 79 today (granted it was from the “Geezer Tees” but I’m 69) with 31 putts for my lowest score ever. “The Way of the Playa” is science for sure!

[rustynorth]

I’ve been watching him for about 8 months now. And I’ve been playing a ton of golf all year. As his recommendation, I stopped watching ANY OTHER golf channel so I could focus on EXACTLY what he talks about. I was a 20 something handicap when I started. I know this because I played with a guy using the SWINGU app. And it calculates it for me. Matt is so smart and has such a great, uplifting approach to the game. It is a totally mental game. About a month ago I broke into the single digits. I bounce around the 7 to 8.5 number now. And it is true. BORING, NOTHING FANCY, GOLF. The minute you make it fancy, you screw it way the hell up. Thank you Matt. It’s been an incredible journey. I’m looking for that 5 now. I broke 80 once. A 77. Rest of time it’s 80s and even get in a negative death spiral from time to time and lose it completely lol. I’ll let you know when I get it!!!!

[slambike]

That music stop on the lip in birdie putt on the par 5 was perfect

[tim]

Just played a shit 9 holes yesterday with a 52 BUT because of you and working on my putting, I had 1 3 putt, with 8 2 putts. I’m taking lessons with a pro and trying new things with my swing. I have faith the system works and my score will come down! Thank you playa!

[petetrotta]

There’s a chance this is Matty’s best video to date

[riccardorinaldo]

Best course management channel on YouTube

[nickedmondson]

watching these videos always makes me more feel so much more confidential.. i've started playing like a baus with far better course management, gaining shots by not losing shots.... (saving money is making money baby!!, well its the same with shots)

[clintonwilson]

Love the Knowledge Matt thank you. been playing under 2 years now, and i just hit a 79 two days ago. my friends are furious. All the credit goes to the Sidekick.

[zubrowskimissions]

Mattyboi! I love how much research you've done and brought to us this year. You're legitimately making the best course management videos on the Internet. Great description of your feedback process at the end, too. So many amateurs don't even know that's something they should be doing, much less how to do it, because they're so hot about their "bad" shots.

[duffer]

To all the Playa’s interested in Shot Pattern. One thing the app does when you enter your round is for your tee shot and your approach shot you indicate your target. So instead of dispersion to pin you have dispersion to your target.

In the stats section it show you the dispersion of your shots relative to your target.

I’ve been using Arccos for my dispersion. But all it tells me is my average dispersion when I hit the green and when I miss the green.

Shot Pattern gives you your % within 15’, 30’ your median, a 68% circle and a 98% circle. It also gives you your 80% side dispersion and distance dispersion.

This number is different from your median (close to Arccos average dispersion). For example my Arccos average distance from the pin is about 47ft with my 6H, but the dispersion with 80% of my shots is 60 side to side and 78ft front to back.

One thing that has improved my game is it shows your shot inside relation to your circle.

One thing I noticed is even though I had a 78ft front/back dispersion it was skewed to the front. So I’ve clubbed up to move the front/back dispersion circle closer to the pin. On average I’m getting more balls closer to my target. I have hit some shots longer but overall I’m ending up with balls closer to my target,

[TapInBirdie]

Matty delivering the truth we all need. Breaking 80 is gloriously boring golf. I broke 80 exactly once in my first 24 years of playing golf regularly. The stars aligned that day.

I have broken 80 75 times in the past 5 years, playing 30-40 rounds/year. The biggest things for me, which is pretty much what Matty says:
1) I found an instructor that I gelled with. I went through four to find the right one. I haven’t seen him in 3 years, but it was crucial to getting over the hump. Doom scrolling YouTube videos won’t do it.
2) through practice, I became very good at my short game and partial wedges shots. It’s nice to have a stack of “get out of jail free” cards.
3) I track my game. I use arccos so I know real distances of each club.
4) I adapt my game based on constantly changing reality. For two months this year, I leaned on my 7-wood on the tee a lot because of the confidentiality. I started hooking the crap out of it and haven’t been able to fix it on the range. My driver had been better, so I am hitting driver in more places.
5) manage expectations. If I am only playing once/week or I am playing an unfamiliar course, it’s going to be a fluid situation…probably a short-game day.

I have gone from a 6.5 to a 3.6 this year for 3 main reasons:
1) playing 3 times/week
2) the LEWD system. I never paid much attention to subtle lie analysis before
3) the Rule of 12 (I use a simplified version)

Now, I plan to break 80 every round at my home course. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but I learn something in the process for the next round.

[ANDYooo]

Shot 84 and 84 this year. So close! Thanks for all the tips.

[duffer]

Matt, one note about Shot Pattern app. In the settings you can set the tee arcs and approach circles based on your dispersion. You can also set your target handicap.

[timothys]

Matty Boom Boom Crew 4 life. Trusting that process.

[SEOutdoors]

This is by far the best advice coming from YouTube golf. I used to think there were no other options off the tee for a par 4 and 5 besides driver but now I rarely use the big boy. My score has drastically dropped and enjoyment for the game has gone way up. Thanks Golf Sidekick 🐐. Cheers from 🇺🇲

[Milkismybeverage]

Went from a 36 hcp to a 13.5 hcp in my first year of golf. Shot one 84 and it felt like I was playing like a pro I know I am not but man that day I felt like a BAUS! Golf seemed so insane when I first started but now its so comfortable to me, I LOVE IT! I think playing hockey and baseball have helped the learning curve.

[FloridaNativeFishingChannel]

Shot an 82 wednesday. I also had 4 3 putts in a row and 3 lost balls ob. My putting has been my biggest issue lately! Im also just happy to not be snap hooking the driver! Love the content, Playa!

[riccardorinaldo]

Matty- just want to thank you man. I’ve been watching your videos for awhile and they have helped me tremendously. I just won a tournament and your course management and mental game tips were paramount!