Whether you play tournaments every weekend or play a casual round of disc golf once a month, everyone is looking for the quickest ways to lower their score. There is an obvious way to do it – just get better. But that isn’t the only way to save a stroke or two a round.

Learn to just layup. As someone who plays quite a few sanctioned tournaments in the AM1 field, I cannot tell you how many times I watch people run putts or try to throw a hero shot where the risk is huge but the reward is miniscule. This typically happens when someone is trying to save a par after an errant tee shot or they found OB – but all they end up doing is turning an easy bogey into a double bogey or worse. Bogeys stink but double bogeys or worse can easily knock the rest of your round off the rails.

Throw your best shot – even if it isn’t the shot the hole calls for. Many of us don’t have every shot shape or spin – many professionals don’t even have every shot in their bag. If you don’t have confidence in the shot you are throwing, you are already conceding you’re ability to throw a good shot. Imagine you step up to a hole with a dog leg right. All the players you practice with throw forehands(assuming RHBH) on it but you know that your best shot of getting in the circle is a backhand turnover(assuming RHBH). Is a backhand turnover more difficult on the hole? Generally yes BUT it is an easier, higher percentage shot for you. Save practicing your forehand for the field or your practice round, execute your best shot in competitive play.

Don’t let your last shots result determine your next shot. You are going to throw bad shots, get bad breaks, and miss lots and lots of putts. The beauty in golf is that every shot is worth the exact same amount – one stroke. When a couple of these things happen in succession, players tend to speed up and “not care” what happens when they are throwing. Rather than rush all of those shots, take an extra breath and continue to visualize throwing the shot you want to throw. This is WAY easier said than done but one of the best feelings bringing a round back from the dumps to salvage a solid round.

Hopefully you’ll be able to implement these in your next round and you’ll start to notice the difference in your scores over time. These work but don’t forget to hit the field and the putting green to improve your skills!