Double Bogeys Are Killing Your Score: Here’s How To Stop Them
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Double Bogeys Are Killing Your Score: Here’s How To Stop Them

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Double Bogeys Are Killing Your Score: Here’s How To Stop Them

A bogey feels recoverable. Sometimes, you can even make a “good” bogey. But double bogeys are different. Now you need two birdies to erase it and your hope of posting the low round of the day starts to fade. The key is to keep double bogeys off the scorecard. Here are some practical tips to help you do it

Play from the correct tees

If you have lost distance or your skill level does not justify playing from the back tees, it’s time to accept reality and move up. Playing from tees too long for your carry distances makes it even harder to hit greens in regulation. You will force long irons and hybrids into your approaches and bring more hazards into play.

Stop turning one bad shot into two

Every golfer hits bad shots during a round. The key is avoiding the “hero” recovery shot that leads to a double. If your ball is in the heavy rough or the woods, take the safe route out and focus on getting up and down.

Trying to squeeze a shot through a tight window or hitting a knockdown shot you are uncomfortable with only adds unnecessary strokes. Think through your options, choose the shot with the highest success rate and return to a safe position.

Chipping out of trouble can result in a bogey which is much better than letting one bad swing turn into a double or worse.

Don’t be greedy on approach shots

Tucked pins should be left alone. Amateur golfers get up and down more often with their putter than any other club. If you leave yourself in a safe spot on or near the green, your chances of getting up and down are solid.

However, if you miss in the wrong spot because you got greedy, you bring double into play.

Try playing a round where you ignore the pin and aim for the center of the green. Also, start tracking your misses. If you are consistently coming up short, start taking one more club.

Keep short-game errors from compounding

Short-game mistakes can lead to doubles fast. A chunked chip, a skulled flop shot or the bunker shot that refuses to come out of the sand because you tried to get cute will wreck your score. If you let frustration take over, you might chunk the next three shots in a row.

The best way to avoid this is to play the highest percentage shot from the start.

For most amateurs, that means using the lowest-lofted club you can. A simple bump-and-run is usually the safest play. Do not experiment with shots you are not fully confident in. Remember, leaving yourself a 15- to 20-foot putt is always better than sending the ball across the green or leaving it in the bunker.

Get the ball on the green!

Learn to manage the rough

Hitting shots out of the rough comes down to reading the lie.

  • Ball sitting down? Expect heavy resistance. Take extra loft, a steeper angle of attack and focus on getting back in play even if that means chipping out.
  • Ball sitting up? The club could slide under or make contact too cleanly, sending the ball over the green. Adjust accordingly.

Rough conditions can change throughout the year depending on where you play. Grass that’s thick and lush in the summer might be thin and dormant in colder months, affecting how the ball sits. Just as you would analyze a chip shot before deciding how to play it, analyze your lie in the rough before you swing.

Most driving ranges do not offer rough to practice from so, if you can, use a practice round to test different lies. Drop a few balls in tough spots and see how they react.

Stop chasing the score you wanted

After a bad shot, your first thought is probably, “I can still make par.” That is normal but chasing a number can turn one bad swing into a big mistake.

Instead, shift your focus to the next shot and the safest way to move forward. If that means giving up on par, so be it. Get the ball back in play, avoid penalty strokes and take a bogey if necessary. Do not let one mistake lead to another because you are trying to salvage a score. The key to keeping doubles off the card is making smart decisions after a bad shot, not forcing a score you want.

Start tracking double bogeys

Keep some data on when and why your doubles happen. There may be some patterns there. Make sure to note if a penalty stroke, bad tee shot, etc., caused the double. This gives you something to work on when you practice.

Final thoughts

Double bogeys happen even to the best players. You will make mistakes on the course. The key is not to let those mistakes spiral into big numbers on the scorecard. As always, having a strong short game where you can confidently get up and down will help keep double bogeys to a minimum.

For You

For You

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Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz

Scratch golfer, business owner, and mom of two kids; Britt has spent her life on and around the golf course. Picking up a club at the age of 7, she never really put it down. She spent 15 years working at private clubs on Long Island and in Florida before turning her golf playing and teaching career into a golf writing career. When she's not writing content for MyGolfSpy, you can find Britt on the golf course, playing pickleball, running, or out on the boat.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz

Brittany Olizarowicz





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      Dan Sopchak

      2 months ago

      You say to play the correct tees, What do you consider to be the best method to determine the correct tee?

      Reply

      Barry Schwartz

      2 months ago

      I would say that you can reach nearly every par 4 with at most a middle iron (7), unless the course has a very long par 4. Otherwise it becomes a very long day.

      Reply

      Joe

      2 months ago

      I always heard that it’s driver distance average multiplied by 28.

      Reply

      Vito

      2 months ago

      Also, track bogey and doubles on par 5’s. Even short hitters should make par on a par 5.

      Reply

      Greg L

      2 months ago

      Not for me. Even though I’m not a short hitter, I have to hit at least 2 or usually 3 full swing shots to reach the green. And each full swing is another opportunity to lose a ball.

      Reply

      Fake

      2 months ago

      To echo what you said, two things that have really helped me:

      1) Getting safely out of the rough is worth the cost of the stroke. It beats 2 or more bad shots to barely advance the ball.

      2) I am much better off going for the safest spot on the green. Usually aiming for the center on my home course.

      Reply

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