Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Bogeys aren’t so difficult to recover from. A double bogey, on the other hand, is a lot more difficult. It takes two birdies to erase a double bogey, and most golfers are happy to get two birdies in a week of golf. To keep double bogeys off of your scorecare here are 6 mistakes to avoid. As a golf pro, I can tell you that I truly loathe double bogeys, but I have used these strategies myself to shoot lower scores and eliminate double bogeys from my scorecard.
Getting Too Aggressive on Approach Shots
Golfers who are not low-handicap players (and even some low-handicap players) have no business going at the pin. Unless, of course, the pin is in the middle of the green, and it makes sense to get aggressive.
Trying to the perfect shot to a tight pin tends to make you mis judge the trouble in the area. You end up in a bunker or a water hazard because you got too aggressive.
The fix is simple. Play to the middle of the green on the majority of your shots. You’ll have many more birdie and par putts and fewer chances of making bogey and double.
Not Playing Smart After Missing the Green
Missing greens is standard. Even professionals may only hit 12 out of 18 greens in a round.
However, it’s what you do after you miss the greens that has the biggest impact on your scoring. If you are on the side of the green or you came up just short, choose a high percentage recovery shot.
Use something that gets you back in play and leaves you a manageable putt or easy chip. A flop shot or an aggressive chip is typically not the best choice.
The goal is to give yourself a chance to make a par, if you bogey that should be worst case scenario. The problem with not playing smart after missing the green is that you often get into a situation where you may have to chip again.
Now, when you miss that putt, you’ve made a double.
Skipping Bunker Practice
Don’t skip bunker practice. It’s not fun, but it’s necessary. If you are uncomfortable hitting out of bunkers, it will lead to poor performance on the course.
You’ll be faced with a simple up and down and take two or three swings to get the ball out. Instead, take time to work on bunker shots.
Don’t make every lie perfect during practice. Hit a few shots that are buried or have a high lip to get over. The golfers that do the best out of a bunker are those that are the most confident in what they are doing.
Ignoring Your Pre-Shot Routine
The pre shot routine is there for a reason. It helps you execute the same swing over and over again. If you rush or skip this pre-shot routine, you’ll leave yourself with a lot of inconsistency.
Interestingly, golfers will most likely skip their pre-shot routine in a high-pressure situation.
When you have to hit over a bunker or there is water all down the right side of the tee box, do you ever get up there and just try and get the shot finished?
This is the wrong move.
Instead, take some time to complete the pre-shot routine. Make sure you have a plan for the shot at hand. Maintain your focus and consistency, and execute the shot.
You may still make a bogey but your golf ball should still stay in play and keep you from getting the double bogey.
Not Taking Enough Club
Missing a golf shot short of the hole is more common than missing a golf shot long. Golf shots fall short, and they can leave you in a bunker or a water hazard.
Even if you know your 7 iron goes 150 yards, if you have 154 to a pin, you may need a 6 iron. You’ll need to carry the ball at least 150 on this one, and the 150-yard number might be your total distance.
Spend some time working with a launch monitor to determine how far you carry each of your irons. Remember, these are perfect shots from clean lies.
If you are in a little rough or the lie is uneven, it could make sense to use a little extra club. The bottom line here is that a long putt is easier than having to make a recovery shot from a hazard.
Leaving Lag Putts Too Far from the Hole
Lag putts are another area of the game where amateur players do not dedicate enough practice. Lag putting helps you eliminate the chance of a double bogey.
Let’s say you miss a green in regulation.
You chip on but still have a long way to the hole. If you three putt thats a double. If your lag putting is great, you leave yourself a tap in and you move on with a bogey.
One of the best drills to work on lag putting that I have found requires five golf balls and a green with at least a 35 or 40 foot putt.
Start with the first golf ball and attempt to hit it about three feet from the hole. Leave the next one about six feet from the hole, the next one 9 feet from the hole, and so on.
You are essentially using this as a reverse ladder drill. Now go to the closest one and try and make it. Work your way back to the original location, collect the balls, and start again.
The goal here is to learn distance control. You’ll figure out exactly how far you hit your putter and what size backswing it takes to get you the distances you need.
Lag putting is all about being comfortable with speed and your stroke.
Final Thoughts
Any golfer looking to break 100, 90, or even 80 needs to keep the double bogeys to a minimum. These strategies will make all the difference if you can implement them into your game and use them to avoid double bogeys. Challenge yourself to have a few double bogey free rounds in a row!
