This week: Most golfers chase swing tips, but scratch players know the truth: talent gets you close, attitude gets you there. Here’s how to build a scratch mindset.

Developing a Scratch Attitude

Ever feel like you’re just one good round away from a breakthrough… only to blow it after a bad bounce or a missed 5-footer?

Been there. Bought the t-shirt. Cursed into the wind.

Here’s the truth: most “golf tips” won’t tell you that talent gets you to single digits, but attitude gets you to scratch.

And the best part? You can build that attitude, just like you build a reliable swing.

Let’s break down the real blueprint.

The Only Stat That Matters

If you want to lower your handicap by 3–5 shots, stop obsessing over your swing plane and start tracking this instead: Double Bogeys or Worse.

• Scratch players average 0.6 doubles per round

• 5-handicaps average 1.5 doubles per round

Cut your doubles in half, and you’ll fly down the handicap ladder faster than a bad chili dog on a hot Scottsdale afternoon.

Quick Move:

Next time you’re out there, treat bogey like your personal floor. No matter how ugly the hole gets, you grind your face off to save bogey. Every. Single. Time.

Master the 10-Hour Rule

Want to make real change? Commit to 10 hours a week on your game.

That’s it.

10 intentional hours split across technical work, physical conditioning, and mental reps.

Sample Breakdown:

• 4 hours of practice (short game-heavy)

• 2 hours of playing

• 2 hours of gym work (mobility + stability)

• 2 hours of mental toughness drills (visualization, breathing, pressure games)

If you think 10 hours sounds too much… remember: Netflix ain’t gonna get you to scratch, partner.

Why It Works:

The 10-hour rule builds toughness across all three.

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Start Your Practice with Wedges, Not Drivers

Let’s keep it real —

Nobody’s ever been three-putting from 300 yards out.

Real practice starts inside 100 yards.

If you aren’t spending at least half your session on wedge shots, chips, bunker play, and putting, you’re leaving shots on the table like a tourist at Casino Arizona.

Daily Priority:

• 30% Putting

• 30% Chipping/Pitching

• 20% Wedge Game (50–100 yards)

• 20% Full Swings

The best Arizona golf lessons — and your best rounds — start with short game dominance. Become a killer inside 100 yards, and watch your scoring average tumble like a Jenga tower at a frat house.

Train Your Pressure Muscle (It’s a Real Thing)

You know that heart-racing feeling you get standing over a must-make putt?

Good.

That’s the signal your brain needs to train under stress, not avoid it.

Pressure Training Drills:

• Circle Drill: Make 12 straight 3-footers around the hole before you leave.

• Worst Ball: Play two balls and always hit the worst shot.

• 2-1 Game: Two chips to 6 feet or closer = 1 putt to “save” it.

Fact:

Tour players practice 10x more “under pressure” than amateurs. You gotta lean into it — not hope it magically disappears.

What the Pros Know

Elite players spend up to 70% of their practice on short game and putting.

Also, fun fact:

PGA Tour players make 99% of putts inside 3 feet…

But only 50% from 8 feet.

Translation:

Smart golfers don’t waste time chasing unicorns.

They get automatic at what matters.

Scratch Is an Attitude, Not a Talent

You don’t need perfect swing mechanics.

You don’t need a $500-an-hour coach.

You don’t need to live at the country club.

You need grit.

Could you get reps?

You need a Scratch Attitude that says, “Today’s the day I beat the course, not myself.”

Want more brutal, beautiful Scratch Attitude tips like this?

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