Breaking 80 is a major milestone and, believe it or not, just about any golfer can achieve that goal. If you feel like your game has most of the pieces but you’re still falling short, it might come down to the shots you’re missing. Hitting it long and straight helps but it is not enough on its own. To consistently score in the 70s, you need a few specific tools in your bag. Here are five essential shots every golfer aiming to break 80 should know.

The punch/knock-down shot

The punch shot or knock-down shot is your go-to when it’s windy, you are hitting out from under the trees or even when your ball striking feels off. It’s reliable, easy to hit and better players know it can save them from making a bogey.

How to play it:

Play the ball slightly back in your stance. Grip down on the club for control. Set 60 percent of your weight on your lead foot. Make a three-quarter swing back and through. If it helps, you can open your stance slightly and swing down your foot line to prevent the ball from heading right.

The 50-yard flighted wedge

Amateur and professional golfers struggle with “in-between” type golf shots. They end up coming into play on short par-4s or as a third shot on a par-5 where you might not hit the green.

Players who break 80 consistently know how to take speed off their wedges while still hitting solid, predictable shots. You’ll need to know how to land this 50-yard shot within 15 feet of the pin.

The Staircase Drill is perfect for this. Start with one ball that lands just 10 yards in front of you. Then try to land each following ball just a little farther than the last, without skipping any steps. If you hit one too short or fly one too far, reset. The goal is to build the ability to dial in small yardage gaps under control.

Use alignment sticks to mark off zones at 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards. Learn what each swing length feels like so you can repeat on the golf course.

The bump-and-run

Keeping the ball lower to the ground is safer. Golfers who break 80 want the smartest and safest shot. The bump-and-run is consistent and easy to control, minimizing the risk of chunking or thinning. For these shots, use a gap wedge, pitching wedge or even a 9-iron.

Set up close to the ball with your hands just slightly ahead.

Put a little weight forward on the lead foot, make minimal wrist hinge and land the ball about a third of the distance to the hole.

These are my favorite greenside shots to hit. When you get good at the bump-and-run, you should be reading the green and attempting to sink some of these.

Lofted pitch over trouble

As great as that bump-and-run shot is, there are times when it won’t be an option. The lofted pitch over trouble is a must if you are going over a bunker or dealing with a tucked flag. It’s a risky shot but sometimes there is no avoiding it.

How to play it:

Use your most-lofted wedge. Put the ball in the middle of the stance. Feet and hips open, shoulders square. Don’t over-open the face but make sure you hold the face angle through impact and avoid closing it too soon and delofting the club. Accelerate through the ball to prevent deceleration and chunking.

Remember when practicing these shots that a 10-foot putt coming back at the pin is better than having to hit a bunker shot to the pin so make sure you get the ball over the trouble.

Long-range lag putt

Three-putts ruin good rounds. And you will likely face multiple 30- to 40-footers each round, even when you are playing well.

Practice long putts before your round. Roll a few across the entire green.

When you are on the course, ensure you walk to the hole and back to your golf ball to read the speed accurately. Use a putter you can trust on these longer putts. We’ve done enough testing to know that not every putter can perform well from 30 feet.

When I practice, I picture the hole as the size of a trash can lid. If the ball finishes inside that circle on these longer lag putts, it is a win.

Final thoughts

Breaking 80 is rarely about heroics. Most good golfers will tell you it’s about eliminating disasters. These five shots aren’t glamorous but they are reliable. Build them into your game and you’ll stop giving away strokes in the most common places amateurs slip up.

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