Similar to the martial arts, there are different levels of mastery in the world of golf.
In martial arts, you are effectively viewed as a legitimate student once you achieve 1st higher level, or 1st degree blackbelt.
These rankings then go up to 10th degree blackbelt, which equates to Grandmaster.
In golf, Grandmaster equates to the greatest players in the history of the game… Jones, Hogan, Snead, Hagen, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Woods, Watson, Trevino, Faldo, Mickelson, etc.
Here is how I describe each level of mastery in golf…
- Breaking 80 = 1st degree blackbelt
- Breaking par = 2nd degree blackbelt
- Club champion = 3rd degree blackbelt
- Local champion = 4th degree blackbelt
- State champion = 5th degree blackbelt
- Regional Amateur champion = 6th degree blackbelt
- National Champion/Tour Player = 7th degree blackbelt
- Tour Winner = 8th degree blackbelt
- Major Champion = 9th degree blackbelt
- All-time Great = 10th degree blackbelt
What I want to do with this article is discuss the skills you need to get to 2nd degree blackbelt.
Hit the driver 250 yards or more (215 or more for women)
The average tour pro now averages about 300 yards off the tee. They achieve this with a swing speed upwards of 115 mph and a ball speed upwards of 170 mph.
This allows them to easily deal with golf courses that stretch from 7,200 to 7,600 yards, which is the majority of the courses they play on tour.
Meanwhile, the average male golfer only hits a driver about 225 yards off the tee.
This lack of distance causes them to struggle to hit greens in regulation, even on holes shorter than 400 yards.
Therefore, to be able to shoot scores under par in competition (my definition of a true 2nd degree blackbelt golfer is one that can do this), you really only need to drive it 250 yards. Of course, you need to drive it relatively straight as well.
The longer you can hit it, the greater the potential you have for becoming a master golfer.
Average 31 putts or less per round
The typical tour pro averages about 28 to 29 putts per round. Keep in mind, even if you are one inch off the green and you are using your putter, that does not count as an official putt.
Putting is the easiest skill for golfers to master, but most amateur golfers are terrible putters.
In order to average 31 putts or less per round, you’ve need to one-putt at least five holes per round and not have any three-putts.
The more three-putts you have during the round, the more one-putts you need.
Putting is really what separates the winners from the losers in most tournaments.
Former caddie for Tiger Woods, Steve Williams kept detailed stats of Tiger’s rounds. He discovered that when Tiger three-putted one time or less during an entire 72 hole tournament, he won 80% of the time.
In 1962, Jack Nicklaus defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff at Oakmont to win the U.S. Open.
Oakmont was effectively in Palmer’s backyard, so he knew the course well.
The difference that year was that Nicklaus played the entire tournament with just one three-putt. Palmer had ten.
Therefore, the first step is three-putt elimination and that is done by improving your lag putting skills and your ability to make those short putts.
Hit 50% of greens in regulation
The average tour pro hits about 12 greens in regulation per round, or about 67%. The very best will be at closer to 70%.
The typical scratch golfer will be a bit more wayward with their irons, and they will average somewhere between eight and ten greens in regulation.
There are a couple ways to achieve this…
- hit it further off the tee so that you have less club into the green
- hit more fairways
- or both.
This assumes that you have better than average skills with the irons as well.
Ultimately, golf is far easier to play from the fairway, than from the rough, trees and bunkers. However, it is also much easier to play if you can hit wedge into every par 4.
Short game skills – get up and down 50% of the time
Most golfers have dreadful short game skills.
This is mainly because most golfers just don’t practice their short game… they find it more fun to hit drivers.
The short game is another area where the tour pros really separate themselves from the good amateur golfers.
How to develop golf skills
At The Samurai Golfer, we believe that golfers should develop their skills in a similar manner that a martial artist trains.
First, it is necessary to learn and understand the basic principles and fundamentals associated with golf.
These include…
- Understanding the ball flight laws
- Understanding the concept of the swing plane
- Learning the proper way to hold a golf club
- Learning the proper golf set up
- And learning the kinematic sequence of the golf swing
Next, it is important that a golfer focus only on one or two basic golf skills at a time.
We recommend a heavy focus on mastering short putts and the 9-to-3 golf swing for any golfer who has never shot under 90 for 18 holes.
Short putt mastery will allow a golfer to avoid the dreaded three-putts discussed previously.
The 9-to-3 golf swing is effectively a half golf swing that you learn with a sand wedge in your hand.
When you are able to master this swing you will be able to gain better clubface control and distance control. You can then build your full swing from there.
Golf skills are developed through repetition.
There is really no other way around it.
There are no quick fixes, and no special golf swing models that you can mimic immediately to turn yourself into a master ball striker.
However, it is not mindless repetition that will allow you to fully develop your golf skills.
You can’t just go beat hundreds of balls on the driving range without any idea what you are doing and expect to become a good golfer.
Focused effort is what builds muscle memory and strengthens neural pathways.
When Tiger Woods was making any sort of swing change, he was known for doing slow motion practice in front of a mirror for hours.
Ben Hogan is famous for performing a ten minute golf swing. Yes, ten minutes to complete a single golf swing so he could “feel” every inch of the swing.
Lastly, you learn and build golf skills by playing a lot of golf.
If you have limited time in your schedule, and have to choose between play and practice, go play.
You can actually get a feel for how to swing the club properly with focused repetitions at home.
Take 15 minutes each day at home to work on your golf swing, and/or putting. That will at least help you develop some muscle memory.
Golf is a game to be enjoyed, and the best way to enjoy it is by playing.
Final thoughts on how to learn to play great golf
Nobody needs to tell you that golf is really hard.
Golf has the ability to humble even the best players.
Since it is such a difficult game to master, it only makes sense to follow an appropriate process to learn how to play it well.
Our Samurai Golfer Training Program does just that.
You can learn more about that program here… Samurai Golfer Program.
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