This is the biggest thing I took away from watching Ladies European Tour Pro, Annabell Fuller plot her way around the golf course. The 80% rule is the idea of committing to shots that we feel 80% (or more) confident we can pull off. So I’m putting the 80% rule to the test to see how it changes the way I play and score.
📺 Watch my video with Annabell Fuller: https://youtu.be/ls04ePp1ZxQ?si=Up2vRmrJQ0Eq7Bvm
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👋 I’m Jess – after cutting my handicap from 34 to 9 in a year, I’m on the search for scratch – sharing how I’m working on my game to get there. Subscribe to join me for the journey.
📺 WATCH NEXT 🍿
0:00 The 80% Rule and How I’m Going To Use It
1:18 Par 5
4:21 Par 4
7:03 Par 3
11 Comments
Course management Jess, it can save so many shots 👍
Great vlog and well explained
I think that’s a really useful way of thinking, I’m sure it will save shots.
One of my biggest lightbulb moments this year is that everyone thinks golf is a left to right aiming sport, in reality it is a front to back aiming sport. By selecting the correct distance of club you can take hazards out of play – by coming up short on the tee/approach or reducing dispersion with a shorter club, or guaranteeing that you carry trouble by going beyond required carry distance on your worst strike.
Great tip. Well played 😁
Will have a go myself!
I understand what you are trying to do, but the “80% rule% is a very poorly defined rule – what is the 20% you are worried about? If it’s water, a hazard, OB, then 80% is not enough because it can be too penalizing. If the 20% is missing the fairway or even possibly being in a fairway bunker (especially if they are far from the green) then following the 80% rule is costing you better scores. I strongly suggest you search on YouTube or Google for DECADE – you will thank me later. Cheers!
Great advice, Jess 🙌🏻
I’ve had some lessons on course management this summer and not always taking driver off the tee has definitely helped me! Sometimes sensible play is more advantageous.
Stumbled across this idea due to getting jitters with people watching me off the 1st tee. Used a driving iron and I had my best ever round. Less distance but also less getting stuck in rough and under trees. Still love my Driver but if you want a day playing smart and percentages, then taking less risks with club and shot selection is definitely a strategy worth considering. Sometimes it is nice to just go big though! Balance of the two seems to work well for me and is most fun and rewarding. Great video!
I saw that birdie on the par 4 and my heart sank – I hadn't realised until now it was no longer a penalty!
Lovely putt for the birdie Jess!
This video is at the ❤ of what this great game is all about. It addresses the two obstacles you must defeat if you are to become a successful (however you define it) golfer – the course and your own mindset.
When I’m on the course in the late afternoon playing nine holes, I pretend that I’m shooting a video like you. I’m talking all the time to myself. .. “OK, we don’t have a club in the bag that will go 210 meters so let’s play an 8 iron here and lay up on the LHS of the green so we can play a 90% PW onto the green, and walk away with a bogey”
I find by talking my way through a hole, it silences the “what if” and “maybe I should just” voices in my head.
I tried this during the week and walked off with one DB, 7 B’s and one par for 45. This puts me right on target to get my HCP under 20.
Keep up the great work. There’s a reason Annabell has got to where she is!
Even the great Jack Nicklaus said the key to doing well at golf is “conservative consistency”
1st green. By aiming middle, you left yourself room to miss left and still be in play, or in this case, nice and close. That's exactly my pattern with my 9 iron! I felt like I was watching myself on that shot. Or rather myself when I aim properly.😉
Great playing. This is what @GolfSidekick advocates and I’ve been switching my play to similar ideaolgy and am seeing dividends.