There’s not much worse than slapping it around the golf course. 

All day it can feel like you’re hoping the shot turns out good versus expecting it to. But no matter how good you get, bad ball striking days can always happen in golf.

The difference between elite players and average golfers is how they manage their game during off days (remember Tiger's outrageous cut streak?) 

Luckily, I have had to suffer through enough of these rounds to hopefully help you avoid posting those big numbers. 

How to Score Well on “Off” Days 

Here are five strategies to score well, even if you can’t find the center of the clubface if your life depended on it.

1. Play One Shot Shape

If you find yourself with the confidence of Ben Simmons trying to hit a layup, don’t make it harder on yourself by trying to shape shots. Sure, hitting a high draw on one hole followed by a low cut on the next hole is cool, it’s not the high percentage play.

Even world-class golfers struggle shaping shots both ways on their good days. So if your swing is out of sync, play one shot shape. Stick to your trusty fade or draw until you can figure out the mechanics after the round. 

2. Choke Up 

If you can’t find the sweet spot, choke up one inch on the grip. Shortening the club will make it easier to control the ball and hopefully keep it in the short grass. This works with drivers and fairway woods too.

Keep choking up and try to hit more of a knockdown shot until you feel more confident later in the round. 

3. Focus on One Shot at a Time

When things are spiraling out of control it's easy to let your mind wander into the future and imagine signing a terrible scorecard. But one bad shot is just that, one shot. It has no impact on the future unless you allow it.

When you have an awful shot or blow-up hole, let it go as fast as possible. Dwelling on it won’t help and worrying about shooting a number won’t either. Stay in the present and take it one shot at a time. 

4. Play the Percentages

If you’re all over the golf course, don’t try to play overly aggressive. A lot of times our emotions get the best of us and tempt us to play aggressive but rarely does this lead to better scores. 

Instead, it usually compounds the error and makes things worse. Instead, hit the shot off the tee with a club/target you are confident about (even if it means hitting 3-wood or hybrid). 

With approach shots, don’t try to attack tucked pins, especially if you have more than 150 yards into the green. Oftentimes this leads to being short-sided, which invites more bogeys and double bogeys into your round. 

Play the percentages until you get your confidence back to avoid blow up holes. 

5. Fight Until the Finish 

One thing I’ve always admired about Tiger Woods is his ability to grind like no one else, even if he’s 10 shots off the lead. Even if he might miss the cut, Tiger fights until the final putt is complete on the 18th hole.

On days when it feels like the Golf Gods are against you, stay in the fight. Communicate strength to your mind with positive body language (eyes up, shoulders down, chest up) and give yourself a chance. 

You never know what might happen, especially on those last few holes. Sometimes the Golf Gods will reward you and let a few putts drop on the last few greens to salvage the round.