Best Golf Swing Tips for Golfers Who Can’t Break 90

You’ve likely heard all the golf game tips by now. Be smart about where you aim, stop hitting the 3-wood out of the thick rough, stretch before a round, yada, yada.. However, some golf swing tips (different from golf game tips) can help golfers who can’t break 90. If you find yourself stuck in that 90-95 range, see if any of these golf swing tips could save you the few shots you need.

Practice the punch shot

Not only does a punch shot come in handy if your ball ends up in the woods but it’s also a great way to practice compressing the golf ball. You need a stable base, less body movement and forward shaft lean at impact to hit a solid punch shot.

These are all great things that will carry over into your full swing. When you head to the driving range and work on your game, hit lots of punch shots and learn to control the flight. You’ll find that your iron and wedge shots also become crisper and more consistent.

Use ground forces for stability and power

In golf, the ground is your friend. Try telling that to a golfer who just chunked a shot and the reaction might not be too friendly. Yet, using the ground as a source of stability and power is key to becoming a more consistent ball striker.

This concept isn’t new but with modern technology and data we can finally prove how effective it is. For golfers struggling to break 90, focusing on foot pressure is the best way to tap into this power.

As you swing the club back, feel your weight shift slightly to the inside of your trail foot. Press firmly into the ground with your lead foot at the start of the downswing.

While you may have thought about weight transfer before, focusing on where that weight should go can make all the difference. This motion not only increases club speed but also improves balance. Most players notice reduced sway in their swing when they actively engage with the ground.

SuperSpeed Golf has a new training aid called the Force Board Pro designed specifically to work on ground forces.

Control the clubface through impact

Do you know what your clubface is doing at any time in your swing? Controlling the clubface is the key to hitting straighter and more consistent shots.

To control the clubface angle in golf, start thinking about the lead wrist position. The angle of your lead wrist controls your clubface. If the lead wrist is extended at the top of the backswing, it will open the clubface and leave you with too much work to do.

Learn what a square clubface looks like at the top of your backswing. Stop your swing at the top and have a look when you practice.

Many downswing issues will fix themselves if your lead wrist is flat and your club is square at the top of the backswing.

Bonus Tip: Make sure your grip pressure is not too tight as that can prevent the clubface from rotating as it naturally should.

Simplify your swing path

To break 90, your swing path needs to be consistent. The “gate drill” is one of the best for working on this consistency. Place two tees in the ground just wider than your clubhead and practice swinging between them. You can also use alignment sticks or headcovers.

When you first start, you’ll probably find that the clubhead hits the tees or that you hit behind the ball from time to time.

Shorten your swing until you can hit the ball without hitting the ground first or bumping into the tees. Gradually increase the length of your swing and create some muscle memory.

Feel the trail elbow “tuck” for power and control

I was playing with a new golfer recently and he hit one of those shots where everything just clicks. His first statement was, “That never happened before the club fell into the slot.”

That “slot” can be hard for the golfers who shoot in the 90s to find.

One way to get the club into the correct position on the downswing is to focus on your trail elbow.

Feel like your trail elbow is “tucking” toward your side. This action helps you maintain a more compact swing and time the upper and lower body to work well together.

One key piece to this trail elbow tuck happens at setup. Feel the right elbow (right-handed golfers) tuck just a little when addressing the ball. Some golf professionals refer to this as the “give blood position,” as the inside of the elbow joint is pointed up a little.

It’s very easy to practice this trail elbow position by simply putting a towel under your trail arm and trying to hit shots where the towel does not fall out on the downswing. If you are an over-the-top or outside-in swinger, the towel will drop and you will start hitting more pulls and slices depending on the angle of your clubface.