Breaking 90 is easier than you think. You just need to do 2 things

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series where the game’s brightest minds share their tips to help you, well, shave strokes! Today, pastor John Hughes shares his easy keys to breaking 90 over and over.

For successful players, breaking 90 doesn’t seem like much. But for regular players, posting scores in the 80s is the highlight of their year. That’s the beauty of this sport – there is joy to be found in every achievement, no matter how small.

For most recreational golfers, their ultimate goal is to break 90. Every time they step into the first game, that number dances in their mind. Shoot under that and have a good day. Simple things.

For those who have never broken 90, the goal can seem impossible. However, shooting in the 80s is easier than you think. All you need to do is plan your scores on the par-3 and 5. Below, pastor John Hughes explains how.

How to easily break 90

If you keep up with PGA Tour averages, you know that the average score for a par-3 is slightly higher than a par, and slightly lower than a par-5. On a par-4, the average score is directly proportional to the par.

Why is that? Because PGA Tour players have a strategy in mind as they make their plans to play each hole in every tournament. That program includes scoring worse than all par-3s and all par-5s.

Getting anything worse than par on these holes is a sure way to lose your Tour card. It may also be why you struggle to break 90 when you put it together every weekend. With that in mind, why not apply the same strategy to your game? If you can make good decisions on par-3s and par-5s, you can make sure you never shoot in the 90s again.

When you’re on the tee box playing par-3s and par-5s, you’re probably thinking a lot more than the average Tour player. You believe and think of these holes as ones where you can make a birdie, and doing so will cover the big numbers you get on the par-4s. WRONG! Par-3s and 5s are the holes where you can regain confidence and stabilize your game if things go south.

Think of it this way, most golf courses have a total of eight holes that are par-3s or 5s. If you make eight of 10 holes and bogey the rest, you shoot an 82. Even if you can’t match part in them, you set yourself up to break 90 easily.

Here are a few tips to help you play these holes smarter, giving you the chance to break 90 more often.

Par-3 strategy

Point wise: Standing on the tee box, it is important that you choose the right target. This usually means not taking aim directly at the pin. Instead, make it your goal to hit the center of the green. Don’t worry about choosing the right club to attack the pin. Instead, choose a club that will take you to the center of the green. By targeting the center of the green, you eliminate the problem and make it more likely that you will be able to get the rating card.

Select the middle direction: It’s one thing to choose a smart target, but then you have to make sure you actually target it. Choose a target that is halfway between you and the green. Associate yourself with that environment to make understanding easier.

Be a good lag putter: If you hit the middle of the green, you’ll probably have a longer putt than you would if you tried to hit the flag (and get it out). This is where being a great lag putter comes in handy. Try using the ladder drill from a distance to dial in your feel for longer putts. This will help ensure that you keep the three putts to a minimum.

Par-5 strategy

Keep the tee shot in play: The most important thing on a par-5 is to keep your driver in play. If you take penalty shots off the tee, you have less chance of paying par. Keep yourself out of trouble and make sure you don’t take any unnecessary punishments.

Think twice about looking for it: Looking green at both may be tempting, but think twice before you do. If there are obstacles near the green, it may be wise to move back to the fairway. Get green twice only if the risk reward calculation is in your favor.