9 Proven Drills to Finally Help You Break 80
Breaking 80 is a big milestone. For many golfers, it’s the thing that makes them feel like they have made it and are now good players.
If you ask any great golfer about breaking 80, they will tell you it was a matter of making a few small tweaks to their game. If you are close and shooting consistently in the low 80s, it’s just a matter of saving a few shots.
Sometimes, a great golf drill can help get you there.
We pulled together some of the best golf drills for players looking to break 80.
You’ll find options for short game, long game, and everything in between. Pick one that works for you and head to the driving range.
Which Drill Should You Do?
- If you hit inconsistent iron distances, try Consistent Distance Punch Drill
- If your driver causes too many penalty strokes, try Flat Lead Wrist Driver Drill
- If you struggle with ball-first contact, try Towel Contact Drill
- If you slice or lack face control, try Motorcycle Move
- If you want to shape it left or right, try Fade or Draw Setup Drill
- If you have limited range time, try At Home Mirror & Wrist Practice
- If you flip at impact, try Short-Finish Wrist Control
- If you are steering your putts, try Anti-Steering Putting Drill
The Secret to a Better Golf Swing Starts with Your Wrists!
Your clubface angle at impact determines 80% of your shot’s direction—your wrists control that angle. Click here for the best drills to master your wrist mechanics and take control of your game.
9 Proven Drills to Finally Break 80
Consistent Distance Punch Drill
The more consistent your golf game gets, the easier it is to break 80.
If you find that you hit your iron shots with inconsistent yardages or you struggle to control your distances, the Consistent Distance Punch Drill could be for you.
Pairing this drill with your HackMotion would help you monitor lead wrist stability through impact.
- Video Timestamp: 4:00-4:30
Consistent Distance Punch Drill – Step by Step
- Pick a Club & Yardage: For instance, use a 7-iron and aim for a 150-yard carry.
- Shorten Your Follow-Through: Take a full backswing, but feel a “punch” finish—arms straighter, wrists quieter.
- Hit 10 Shots: Strive for each shot to finish in a narrow distance window (within 5 yards of the average).
- Gradually Increase Speed: Only add swing speed once you’re hitting near-identical yardages.
Flat Lead Wrist Driver Drill
Does the occasional tee shot that ends up out of bounds or in the deep rough keep you from breaking 80?
If that’s the case you may want to check on your wrist position with your driver.
Many good players focus on their wrists in the iron and wedge shots, but the driver can be slightly different. Try this Flat Lead Wrist Driver Drill to get your drives straighter and longer.
- Video Timestamp: 7:00-9:30
Flat Lead Wrist Driver Drill – Step by Step
- Set Up Your Driver: Position HackMotion to see lead wrist extension in real-time.
- Feel Zero Extension at the Top: Move from a slight extension at address to nearly flat at the top.
- Maintain a Flat Wrist in Transition: Avoid “re-cupping” (extending) the wrist on the downswing.
- Smooth Swing: Swing at 80% power until you can keep the wrist angle stable and see straighter drives.
Towel Contact Drill
All golfers, regardless of their handicap, occasionally have inconsistent strikes.
The Towel Contact Drill is a great challenge for better players learning to control the low point in their golf swing.
If you occasionally hit shots that are thin or fat, try this drill as you warm up to see if it improves your iron compression and shot consistency.
- Video Timestamp: 7:30-8:55
Towel Contact Drill – Step by Step
- Fold a Towel: Just thick enough to feel it if the club brushes it.
- Place It Behind the Ball: About one grip length behind your ball on the target line.
- Clip the Ball First: Make half-swings, striking the ball before the ground—avoid hitting the towel.
- Gradually Move Towel Closer: As you improve, bring it closer to hone crisp contact.
Motorcycle Move (Clubface & Wrist Control)
Until you learn to control your clubface, you won’t be able to control your ball flight. The Motorcycle Drill focuses on clubface and wrist control.
If you are known to leave your clubface a little open at impact, you can fix it, create more shaft lean and better compression of your golf shots.
Motorcycle Drill – Step by Step
- Start in Normal Setup: Slight wrist extension at address is common.
- Pause at the Top: Check HackMotion data, many over-extend here.
- Twist the Throttle: On the downswing, rotate the lead wrist toward flexion as if turning a motorcycle handle “off.”
- Pump Swings: Repeatedly move from top to hip-high, focusing on that “motorcycle” move.
- Full Swings: Once comfortable, hit shots. Adjust the “throttle twist” if you still see a slice or if you start hooking.
- Use the HackMotion app: The Motorcycle Drill is available in the HackMotion app if you want to track wrist angles in real-time and measure your progress.
Center Contact Gate Drill
Do you make most of your contact in the center of the face but struggle with the occasional heel or toe shot?
Tightening your shot dispersion and combining that with distance control on your irons can be a game changer.
This Center Contact Gate Drill is simple to set up and will really teach you what it takes to be a better ball striker.
- Video Timestamp: 6:00-8:30
Center Contact Gate Drill – Step by Step
- Set Up a Narrow Gate: Place two soft objects (headcovers, golf gloves, or towels) just outside your clubhead at address. The gate should be slightly wider than the clubface, start wider if needed, then gradually narrow it.
- Make Controlled Swings: Hit shots while ensuring your club moves through the gate without making contact with the objects. Focus on hitting the center of the clubface on each shot.
- Check Your Feedback: If you clip an object, it means your strike location is off-center. Adjust your swing path or setup to ensure consistent center-face contact.
- Gradually Tighten the Gate: As you improve, reduce the gate width to challenge your precision further.
Fade or Draw Setup Drill
While most great players stick with a shot shape that compliments their game, you will sometimes need to hit a fade or a draw.
Knowing how to make slight tweaks to your swing, setup, and stance in order to hit these shots could be the difference between 81 and 79.
- Video Timestamp: 0:00-3:00
Fade or Draw Setup Drill – Step by Step
- Fade Setup: Ball forward in stance. Slightly more extension in the wrist (handle back, handle down). Swing “across” the ball to promote left-to-right.
- Draw Setup: Ball back in stance. Slight wrist flexion/handle forward. Swing from the inside for a right-to-left ball flight.
- Alternate and Challenge: Alternate between hitting a draw and a fade. Wear your HackMotion to see if what feels like wrist extension or flexion to you is actually producing that in your golf shots. Don’t forget to throw some straight shots into the mix as you learn to control the face.
At Home Mirror & Wrist Practice
Breaking 80 consistently can take a time commitment some golfers don’t have.
If you want to put in a little more time but can’t always make it to the driving range.
Work with a mirror and your HackMotion at home to improve wrist angles off the course.
- Video Timestamp: 0:00-2:00
At Home Mirror & Wrist Practice – Step by Step
- Set Up a Mirror: Check posture, wrist angles, and body pivot.
- Slow-Motion Reps: Perform 9-to-3 or 10-to-2 swings, focusing on good wrist structure and balance.
- Video Check: If you can’t feel the changes, record a quick clip on your phone to compare with your mirror view.
- Gradual Speed Increase: Only add speed when you can maintain correct positions in a slower swing.
- Use HackMotion for real-time feedback: Adjust your lead wrist based on immediate data, rather than guessing by “feel” alone.
Short-Finish Wrist Control
Even great players can tend to flip the club through impact. Flipping is a last-minute effort to save a great shot.
The Short Finish Wrist Control drill will help you feel more flexion at impact and give you some additional confidence when swinging through the golf ball.
- Video Timestamp: 12:00-14:00
Short-Finish Wrist Control Drill – Step by Step
- Feel More Flex at Impact: You want slightly more flex at impact than at address.
- Freeze & Hold: After impact, keep that lead wrist flexed momentarily (as if arms and club are still forming one line).
- Short Finish: Practice finishing with the club only waist-high, maintaining that flat or slightly flexed lead wrist.
- Progress to Full Swings: Once you can maintain wrist structure in a short finish, gradually lengthen your follow-through.
Anti-Steering Putting Drill
Steering is a common issue for better players looking to break 80.
If you struggle to make putts consistently because you manipulate the line or steer the face at the last minute, this is a great drill to work on.
To become a great player, you can’t guide or push the ball; it needs to be a natural stroke.
- Video Timestamp: 5:00-7:30
Anti-Steering Putting Drill – Step by Step
- Set Up a Ghost Hole (or Marker): Place a target (like a ghost hole or tee) two-thirds of the way to the actual hole along your expected break. This represents the true curve point where the ball should roll over before breaking into the cup.
- Align Properly: Use a chalk line, string, or visual alignment aid to see the correct start line. Make sure you’re not aiming directly at the hole but rather at the correct starting point.
- Stroke Naturally – No Steering: Allow the putter to naturally rotate open and closed. Avoid manipulating the face open or shut near impact—let the forearms rotate smoothly.
- Watch for Steering Errors: If you’re missing low, you may subconsciously try to guide the ball up the slope. If you’re missing high, you may be over-rotating the putter shut.
Final Thoughts
At this point, you have plenty of drills to work on to start breaking 80 consistently.
You’ll find one or two of these drills that really make a difference in your game, and you can work with them for months until you feel ready to move on.
Don’t forget to incorporate tools like HackMotion into your routine. You’ll be able to keep track of important data and information and see where your game is improving.
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