It’s easy to get frustrated when you feel like your gameplay has gotten worse and you have no idea what to work on. Various different shots are required to become a great golfer, and practicing them all might be intimidating and overwhelming at times. However, it is possible to practice like a professional golfer simply by keeping track of your golf statistics.
Golfers enjoy the reassurance that stats can provide— like a standard feature of the game. However, despite their fondness for golf statistics, many fail to put them to good use. Some golfers get caught up in numbers that don't precisely convey the complete picture of their performance as a player.
If you’re having trouble practicing, find out where you're weak and focus on improving those areas. You'll start to realize that you're developing new and unique abilities as you progress toward your goals. Playing better, scoring less, and seeing your handicap decline are reassuring signs that you are on the right path.
So whether you’re practicing in your backyard or at The Vines Golf Course in Perth, you can practice effectively and improve your handicap using these three hidden golf statistics.
Everyone loves a good driving stat. It's our goal to see how well we're doing at getting the ball into the hole. Hence, it’s no wonder why "fairways hit" is the most frequently mentioned golf statistic among amateurs. That said, popular opinion isn't always correct.
When you pay attention to fairways hit, you pay attention to how many of your shots are good. What truly matters is the quality of the not-ideal shots. Rather than focusing on "fairway hits," it is encouraged to consider drives that are "good enough."
With a "good enough" drive, you'll have the ability to progress the ball to the hole as necessary. You are neither in danger nor out of boundaries. If 90% of your drives are good enough, then you're certainly in a great spot. You may need to take a proper check at your drives if your result is anything less than this. Find out what's preventing you from hitting decent drives constantly.
Knowing the difference between fairway hits and good enough drives is essential. You see, if you solely consider fairways hit, you're ignoring the reality of your errant misses. Those flaws are a sign that you need to work on your game and identify areas to improve.
The inquiry, "How many times did you get up and down?" is one you've probably heard before. Understandably, keeping an eye on that figure can be interesting as it is gratifying to watch the number increase.
Even yet, this statistic isn't handy for honing your game or decreasing your handicap. This is another example of an overused stat that doesn't tell much about your game.
There's no way to evaluate how good or bad your short game is just by how many times you get up and down. It may let you know how terrific you're feeling, but it doesn't convey anything else.
What should you do if that figure is less than what you'd like it to be? What are your plans to improve your short game? The solution is: to look at another golfing statistic for a better strategy.
Rather than thinking how many times you're getting up and down, start asking yourself the distance between the cup and the ball following a chip shot. Using an average of seven feet as a benchmark is considered ideal.
Your chipping skill is excellent if your chip shots consistently land at or near the 7-foot line. If you're still unable to get up and down as much as you'd want, the problem lies in your putting. However, if it also consistently lands 10 to 15 feet out from the cup, your chipping needs some improvement. Knowing such will narrow down your focus for practice.
A golfer's goal is to set themselves up for par or a birdie with their ball striking. Keeping track of the number of times you put yourself in a position to succeed is made easier with the help of the statistic known as greens in regulation. However, this isn't the only figure you should be looking for.
It's worthwhile to become familiar with the average GIR. However, if you're not consistently hitting GIR, it's imperative to consider another statistic. Rather than calculating GIR, start obtaining your PHD. Using this golf stat, you can discover where your difficulty is.
When playing a round of golf, how many times did you hit an iron shot that went pin high? However, it isn't necessary to precisely pin high as those who routinely land their iron shots three or four steps off the tee are doing well.
Nevertheless, if your iron shots are either too long or too short, you have a problem with time management. You have no idea how far you're going with your swing. As a result, keeping tabs on GIR is a breeze. Your PHD is a more robust indicator of why you cannot consistently hit the greens in regulation.
On your next round of golf, ask yourself these questions about your game: "Was that drive good enough?" "How far was that chip shot from the cup when it came to rest?" "Was my iron shot pin high?". These questions will help you understand which areas you’re lacking, as well as help yourself understand how you can improve your handicap significantly.
Moreover, you can certainly enhance your golf game by keeping track of your statistics. But make sure you do it right by applying the three hidden golf statistics mentioned above to lower your handicap.
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