How To Break 90 In Golf Consistently

In this article, we’ll cover the core metrics you need to hit to break 90 in golf along with some effective tips for how to practice and how to prepare to break 90 on the golf course.

How to break 90

1. Drive the golf ball over 205 yards ( men’s avg) / 180 yards (women’s avg).
2. Hit over 40% of fairways.
3. Hit at least 20% of greens (3.6 per round).
4. Get up and down 34% of the time from inside 50 yards.
5. Average 32 putts per round or lower.

Breaking 90 means averaging slightly better than bogey golf, which is shooting 17-over par or better. The metrics above are based on our average data of what it takes golfers to break 90 consistently.

Obviously, there is a variance around each metric. Some golfers drive the ball further but hit fewer fairways and may be worse at putting. Whereas, other golfers who break 90 are very straight, not as long off the tee, but excel at chipping and putting.

Course management is crucial in achieving these metrics. Focus on achieving pars and bogeys instead of aiming for birdies, and play smart to avoid risky shots.

Improving the mechanics of your golf swing is also important to meet these targets.

How long will it take to break 90?

We launched Break X Golf 13 months ago, and we’ve seen golfers make some great moves in their handicap over that time. Below are some of the biggest handicap drops from our users and how long they’ve been using Break X Golf.

Start Handicap	Current Handicap	Handicap Change	Time with Break X Golf (months)
39	28.8	-10.2	13
19	9.4	-9.6	13
36	29	-7	11
20.7	14	-6.7	13
22	17	-5	9
7	4.3	-2.7	10
17.4	15.1	-2.3	13
20	17.8	-2.2	13
29.1	27.3	-1.8	10
18.6	16.8	-1.8	2

This data just uses their start handicap and their handicap at the point of writing this. So many of these golfers have dropped to their current handicap in a shorter timeframe than shown below.

However, this gives you a great insight into how much you can improve within a year or less if you have a focused practice plan.

How should I practice to break 90?

The best practice plan to break 90 will be one that takes into account your playing stats. Break X Golf builds you personalised plans based on your strengths and weaknesses as a golfer.

However, to get you started, try out these games below to give your range practice session a bit more focus.

Further tips to break 90

Below are some additional tips to help you save some shots and start breaking 90 consistently.

Focus on your putting

We see that driving and approach play are often the biggest differences between elite golfers and those shooting in the 90s and shooting over 100. However, practising your putting is still one of the quickest ways to start saving shots, as most golfers make quick gains.

Reducing three putts has a significant impact on overall scores. Developing a consistent putting stroke and improving your green reading ability will minimize the number of three putts, leading to better performance.

Focus on short game skills

Similar to putting, many of our golfers making the big improvements you’ve seen above have made big gains in their short game. When you are trying to break 90, focus on getting the ball on the ground quickly and rolling towards your target.

Try to avoid hitting high, fancy short game shots unless you are stuck behind a bunker or obstacle. When you have this stage nailed, check out our guide on how to break 80.

Happy golfing – Will @ Break X Golf