3 Keys to Making Birdies
By: Patrick Stephenson
No matter what handicap you are, there is not much more satisfying in golf than making a birdie. Barring the occasional chip in, a birdie requires several well struck shots in a row that culminates with a perfectly read and rolled putt.
Making more birdies per round is one thing that will obviously help you to lower your score and in this article, we are going to look at the top three keys to putting more red ink on your scorecard.
Learn to Demolish the Par 5s
One thing that set Tiger Woods apart from the pack during his dominant stretch was his ability to make birdie on the par 5s. In fact, he led this statistical category ten times throughout thirteen seasons from 1997-2009 averaging 4.49. This was a major key to his dominance.
Picking up birdies on par 5s is the lowest hanging fruit possible in golf as most players have the ability to get near the green or at least inside 100 yards in two shots giving them a chance to have a good look for birdie.
To take advantage of them on a regular basis you are going to work on your fairway wood play, so you can be aggressive and accurate on your approach shots, and you will want to work on your wedge play so you can take advantage after a good approach.
Additionally, strategizing where you want to leave your ball for an easy third is also vital to your success on these holes. Since you are most likely going to miss the green when going for it in two, you want to air on the side of the hole that will give you the best opportunity to get the ball up and down.
A combination of solid fairway wood play, a good short game, and a smart strategy will have you taking down the 5s on a regular basis and adding more birdies to your card.
Get Comfortable Making Birdie Putts
It often feels like sinking a birdie putt is significantly harder than making a par-saving putt. There are practical reasons for this: birdie putts tend to be longer on average, and you might have more opportunities to observe how other balls roll on the green before attempting your par putt. However, the primary challenge is mental. Overcoming this psychological hurdle is key to making more birdies.
One simple way to overcome this challenge is by hitting more putts for birdie regularly and one way to do this is by moving up and playing the front tees at your local course.
Playing the front tees not only gives you a new and interesting experience while playing the game but it will also inevitably make you have more looks at birdie. Setting a score goal typically isn’t the best idea but for this drill of playing the up tees, set a birdie goal so you will feel even more pressure over those par-breaking putts.
Play these tees regularly and before long you will become much more comfortable standing over a putt for birdie. You will get comfortable shooting under par, which will carry over as you return to your normal tee box.
Moving up to the front tees will also force you to work on your wedge game as most of your drives will be near the green or at least inside of 100 yards. This improvement will help you take down the par 5s mentioned in the previous section.
Pay Attention to the Green Contour During Approach Shots
One common oversight among amateur players is neglecting or completely ignoring green contours during approach shots. We all agree that an uphill birdie putt is easier to make than a downhill one, so why not consider this when choosing a club and target for approach shots?
It’s frustrating to execute an iron or wedge shot perfectly, only to reach the green and have to putt defensively. This scenario can often be avoided by taking a few extra seconds to analyze the green’s contours.
If you’re between clubs and the best putt is from short of the hole, don’t hesitate to hit the shorter club firmly. Conversely, if the ideal putt would be from beyond the hole, it’s acceptable to swing the longer club more gently.
Sometimes, the optimal putt might be from the right or left of the hole. As long as this doesn’t increase the risk of landing in a bad spot, aim left or right to give yourself the best chance of sinking a birdie and happily drawing a circle on your scorecard when you return to your cart.
Key Takeaways
- Master Par 5s
- Capitalize on par 5s for birdie opportunities by improving fairway wood and wedge play proficiency.
- Strategize your approach to leave the ball in favorable positions for easy up-and-downs.
- Combining accurate long shots, a strong short game, and a smart strategy will help you consistently birdie these holes.
- Get Comfortable Making Birdie Putts
- Birdie putts often seem harder due to their longer distance and the mental challenge they pose.
- Practice by playing from the front tees to increase your number of birdie attempts and build confidence.
- Setting a birdie goal when playing from shorter distances can help you get used to the pressure of making birdie putts.
- This practice also sharpens your wedge game, aiding in better performance on par 5s.
- Pay Attention to Green Contours During Approach Shots
- Consider green contours when selecting your club and target for approach shots.
- Aim to leave yourself with uphill putts rather than downhill ones to increase birdie chances.
- When in between clubs, choose the one that leaves you in the best position for the easiest putt.
- Adjust your aim to the left or right if it provides a better putt, as long as it doesn’t increase the risk of leaving your ball in a difficult short-sided position.
Implementing these strategies will help you make more birdies, lower your scores, and enjoy your rounds even more.
