When you hear a golfer say they shot an 85, they're simply talking about their final score. In golf, shooting is the term we use to describe the act of playing a round and a way to state the total number of strokes you took. This article breaks down everything you need to know about what it means to 'shoot' a certain score, how scoring works, and what you can do to start shooting lower scores consistently.
In the simplest terms, "to shoot" in golf means "to score." It’s an verb describing your performance over a round, typically 18 holes. If you and your friends go out for a round and it takes you 98 swings to complete all 18 holes, you would say, "I shot a 98 today."
This number, 98, is your gross score - the absolute total of every swing you took, from tee shots to the final tap-in putt. It encompasses every drive, approach, chip, pitch, and putt. When golfers talk about their performance, they almost always refer to this number. It's the ultimate measure of how they played on a given day.
So, when you see a professional on TV and the announcer says, "She shot a 68 in the third round," it means she completed the course in 68 strokes, a fantastic score. The term is part of the everyday language of golf, used by professionals and weekend players alike.
Saying you "shot a 92" is a great start, but the real context comes from how that score relates to par. Par is the predetermined number of strokes a highly skilled golfer is expected to take on a hole or for the entire course. Every scorecard you see will have a 'par' number for each hole.
An average 18-hole golf course usually has a total par of around 72. This is what you "measure" your score against. This is where the more colorful golf terms come into play.
Here’s how we describe your score on a single hole relative to its par:
A golfer's score is often expressed in terms of how it relates to the total course par. If you shot an 82 on a par-72 course, you could say "I shot an 82" or "I shot 10-over par." Both mean the same thing.
The question of "what's a good score?" is completely relative. "Good" for a professional is very different from "good" for someone who just started playing last month. Golfers often categorize their skill level by the scores they typically shoot.
You might sometimes hear the phrase "he shot his age." This is a monumental achievement in golf. It means a golfer has shot a score equal to or lower than their age. For example, if an 82-year-old golfer goes out and shoots a round of 81, they have shot their age. It requires playing high-level golf for a very, very long time and is one of the game's ultimate bragging rights.
Alright, now for the fun part. You understand what shooting a score means. But how do you start shooting lower scores? It’s not just about hitting the ball farther. It’s about playing smarter. Here are some fundamental coaching tips to help you manage your game and lower your scores, regardless of your current skill level.
The driver might look cool, but for many amateur golfers, it’s a recipe for disaster. The fastest way to a big number on the scorecard is hitting your tee shot into the trees or out of bounds.
Identify a "go-to" club a that you know you can reliably hit straight 150-180 yards. This could be a 3-wood, a hybrid, or even a 5-iron. On shorter or tighter holes where trouble lurks, pulling out the reliable club instead of the driver is the smart play. It keeps you in the hole and gives you a chance to make a par or bogey, instead of risking a triple.
This is probably the single most effective strategy for immediately lowering your score. We see pros on TV firing at flags tucked in a corner, right over a bunker. Don’t do that.
For every approach shot you have, find the safest, biggest target. Usually, this is the very center of the green. Aiming for the middle does two things:
Think about your last round. How many times did you three-putt? For most golfers, it's at least a handful. Eliminating three-putts is worth 3-5 strokes a round, easily. You don't do this by trying to make every long putt, you do it by making sure your first putt stops close to the hole.
On the practice green, spend 80% of your time on putts of 20 feet or more. Don't worry about trying to sink them. Your only goal is to lag the ball to within a "gimme" circle of about 3 feet around the hole. This takes the pressure off your long putts and makes the second putt a simple tap-in. You’ll be stunned how quickly your scores drop when you turn three-putts into two-putts.
Bad shots happen. It’s golf. The key to shooting lower scores isn’t hitting perfect shots every time, it’s about managing your mistakes so they don’t ruin your entire hole.
When you hit an awful tee shot and find yourself behind a tree, the hero shot (through a tiny gap) is very tempting. But the smart golfer knows to take their medicine. A simple punch shot back out to the fairway is the play. Yes, it feels like conceding a stroke, but what it really does is prevent a much larger disaster. A simple chip out followed by a shot onto the green gives you a chance for a bogey. Trying the hero shot and hitting the tree often leads to a double, triple, or worse.
Learning when to play aggressively and when to play safely is a huge part of shooting better scores.
In the end, "shooting" in golf is simply the language we use to talk about our score. Understanding the terms and what a 'good' score means for you is the first step toward improving. By using smarter course management strategies, you can begin to turn those 101s into 95s and those 95s into 89s, one shot at a time.
To help with making those smart decisions a habit, we built Caddie AI to be a judgment-free expert in your pocket. It gives you on-demand guidance for course strategy and club selection, and can even analyze a tough lie from a photo to tell you the best way to play the shot. It takes the guesswork out of the game, helping you play with more confidence and enabling you to focus on an achievable plan for shooting better scores.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
