How to Break 70 in Golf: Real Skills, Measurable Goals, and the Tools to Get You There
Breaking 70 is a tough goal and one that most golfers won’t achieve.
However, if you are set on breaking 70 and ready to invest some time into specific areas of your game, we have you covered.
Breaking 70 isn’t about swinging harder or playing hero golf. It’s about refining your technique, eliminating wasteful strokes, and dialing in your game in ways that most golfers never bother to do.
If you’re serious about shooting in the 60s, you need more than motivation, you need a plan, measurable goals, and the right feedback tools to keep you on track. Here’s exactly how to go after it.
Key Takeaways
If you don’t have time to read the complete guide, here are the basics of how to break 70 in golf:
- Breaking 70 requires consistency across every part of your game, not just distance or accuracy.
- HackMotion helps you train wrist angles at impact, giving you full control of the clubface – a must for elite-level scoring.
- Wrist timing in putting is critical for distance control. The Putting Timing Drill with HackMotion builds consistent pace.
- Develop three repeatable wedge shots and use HackMotion to train wrist position and improve trajectory control.
- Use wrist data and low point drills to clean up iron contact and control trajectory under pressure.
Contents
The Realities of Breaking 70
Only about 1–3% of golfers ever break 70. Averaging under 70? Less than 1%.
That’s not meant to discourage, it just proves that this level of scoring takes commitment. You’re not just showing up at the range, you’re building a system.
Players who break 70 have:
- A clear understanding of strengths and weaknesses.
- A structured practice schedule.
- Tools (like HackMotion) that provide data, not guesswork.
- An ability to grind – because it takes time, reps, and feedback.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
How to Break 70 in Golf Consistently
Step 1: Know Your Numbers
If you’re not already tracking these six stats every round, start today:
- Fairways Hit: 8+ per round
- Greens in Regulation: 11–12 per round
- Driving Distance: 280–300 yards
- Up & Down %: 60%
- Putts per Round: <30
- Putts per Green: ~1.77
If you fall short in any of these areas, that’s where your practice time should be spent.
Golfers who are breaking 70 have very strong stats, and you can compare this to the stats of the professionals if you want a benchmark or challenge.
Step 2: Master Low Point Control
Consistent ball-first contact is essential to scoring and to controlling the golf ball. You can’t flush your irons or flight your wedges if your low point is all over the place.
Use HackMotion to measure wrist flexion/extension at impact.
Golfers who break 70 tend to keep this number stable, which helps control trajectory and spin.
Work on drills like the Low Point Control Line Drill when you are warming up for your practice session.
Line Drill (Low Point Control) – Step by Step
Goal: Improve turf interaction and contact precision.
- Place a straight line (chalk or alignment rod) on the ground.
- Set up with the ball just ahead of the line.
- Hit 10 balls trying to make contact after the line.
- Use HackMotion to track your lead wrist angle at impact—aim for a consistent 5–10° of flexion.
Step 3: Nail Your Putting Timing
The best putters are those who can create a repeatable putting stroke. In addition to managing the flexion and extension in the stroke, it also helps to get good at timing.
Good putters don’t guess how far the ball will go. They control it by repeating a consistent stroke rhythm.
The HackMotion app helps you measure putting stroke timing, specifically the ratio between your backswing and downswing. The sweet spot is a 2:1 ratio.
Better putting rhythm leads to fewer three-putts, where most golfers lose their shot at breaking 70.
Putting Timing Drill (HackMotion App) – Step by Step
Goal: Build distance control with consistent tempo using HackMotion.
- Open the HackMotion putting mode and use the metronome (start at 75 BPM).
- Practice your stroke without a ball, syncing backswing/follow-through to the metronome beeps.
- Once you feel in sync, add a ball and hit putts at different distances—short, medium, and long—while maintaining the same tempo ratio.
- Adjust beats per minute if the stroke feels rushed or too slow.
Step 4: Develop a Wedge System
If you want to break 70, your wedge game has to be automatic.
Even when you have those in-between yardages that amateur players struggle with, you must have a system for how far the ball should fly, roll, etc.
One important thing to remember when building a wedge system for your game is to keep things as simple as possible.
Just because you are a better player does not mean you want to overcomplicate this.
3-Shot Wedge System – Step by Step
Goal: Build three predictable carry distances with one wedge.
- Shot #1 (Thumbs Down): Stand close to the ball, small swing, minimal wrist hinge. Ideal for 20–30 yard shots.
- Shot #2 (L-Shape): Medium stance and swing length, towel under arms for connection, hinge to an “L” position. Carries ~40–60 yards.
- Shot #3 (Smooth Full): Normal stance, full swing but at 70–80% tempo. Carries 60–90 yards, depending on wedge.
Build a wedge matrix:
The better you control these wrist patterns, the easier to attack pins and save pars from anywhere. Play around with each of these different shot types and then change the club out to build a wedge matrix where you have every yardage inside 100 covered.
Step 5: Practice With Purpose
There’s no shortcut. You need structure if you want to break 70, and that does happen with time spent practicing both on the driving range and the course.
- Alternate even and odd clubs on different days to build versatility.
- Play “worst ball” rounds to apply pressure and expose weaknesses.
- Track wrist angles in your swing to understand clubface control.
- Practice up-and-downs from different lies, not perfect ones.
- Use lag putting drills to improve distance control from 30+ feet.
- Build and maintain a wedge system with known carry distances.
- Finish every practice with a pass/fail pressure test (e.g., 10 straight 3-footers).
- Review stats after every round: FIR, GIR, up-and-downs, putts per GIR.
Consistency in practice = consistency on the scorecard.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
Final Thoughts
If you want to break 70, you must think like a scratch golfer long before you ever become one.
Start by tracking your stats, using tools like HackMotion to measure your swing and putting stroke, and committing to consistent, feedback-driven practice.
HackMotion is like having a coach on your wrist, helping you fix the faults you can’t feel. When your game has made it to this level, you need details like this in your practice to take your game to the next level.
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