Keep Stats

[iacas]

I keep stats all the time. In fact, I'm still helping to write some software that keeps stats the way I'd like. :-)

If you don't keep stats, you'd be well advised to check out Dave's first column (http://thesandtrap.com/archives/the_numbers_game/the_most_important_stats_yours.php)

[aceadair]

I started too but it got to time comsuming. :bugout:

[hig4s]

If I'm alone I do, but in a group it is too cumbersome to try and keep score and stats.

[sevenfourate]

Interesting.

I dont keep any stats at the moment but have been seriously considering it for a while.Better get my ass in gear and get some software i think.

Be interesting to see if what i percieve are strong or weak points of my game are actually just that.Numbers dont lie i guess and its difficult to ignore it if its clear in black and white.

[realed]

If I'm alone I do, but in a group it is too cumbersome to try and keep score and stats.
I do the same thing. Keep stats when playing alone but it is time consuming when playing in a group.

[NCGolfer]

I do the same thing. Keep stats when playing alone but it is time consuming when playing in a group.
I had this same problem when I first started but I do one of two things. Either I will keep my own scorecard in my back pocket for my own use or I will get a scorecard after the round is done and fill out a scorecard with the stats on them. This only takes me about 2-3 minutes to do. My habit now is to just grab an extra scorecard and keep it with me.

Give it a try again and see if you have any luck. If you are serious about your game and getting better, it will be worth the hassle. I promise.

[iacas]

I had this same problem when I first started but I do one of two things. Either I will keep my own scorecard in my back pocket for my own use or I will get a scorecard after the round is done and fill out a scorecard with the stats on them. This only takes me about 2-3 minutes to do. My habit now is to just grab an extra scorecard and keep it with me.

Give it a try again and see if you have any luck. If you are serious about your game and getting better, it will be worth the hassle. I promise.
I do the same thing. Let me work up a quick sample... or just take a picture of one of my scorecards. I'll edit this post in a sec when I get it...

OK, here goes. The top number is the score for the hole, and the arrows indicate whether I hit the fairway or not (up is yes, left or right is a miss in that direction). The small number next to the score is the # of putts for that hole. Currently, I count putts from the fringe, but I've gotta stop doing that.

The next number down - 10, 10, 20, 20, etc. - is the distance I had for my first putt. When I enter this into my software, it lets me determine things like average distance of putts for up-and-downs, sand saves, or approach shots (when I GIR).

The next two lines down I could condense into one: up-and-down/sand save, then GIR. I mark GIR when I get a GIR, otherwise I leave it blank. I mark "UD" or "SS" when I have an up-and-down attempt or a sand save attempt. I put a line through it when I'm unsuccessful.

That's it. Doesn't take much and really can give you a LOT of information about your round.

[flap]

T Q Sports personal sports software 19.99 keeps everything for you.You keep your own card and mark down following,Score,Fairways,putts ,sand and enter them after round even keeps handicap using USGA formula but not official.Golfsmith sells it so do many other online retailers.Again if I can get my computer wife to post it I will post my current spreadsheet of stats.

[kiwidave]

I just do it when I get home. I can remember every shot I played (yes even the shanks).
I use www.mygolfdomain.com I used to use gametrack but domain is so much easier.

[aceadair]

Hey what is the easiest software to do stats on? What does it cost?

[kiwidave]

The basic versions are free, there are extras that you can access with a membership. They are'nt essential to keeping stats though.

[aceadair]

What is the URL?

[sevenfourate]

What is the URL?


www.mygolfdomain.com ??????

It was on the first page ! ;-)

[iacas]

I'm working with a friend of mine on some golf statistics software for the desktop. Of course, it only applies if you've got a Mac, and it'll be out in a few months - after my golf season is over, probably - but it's coming. Should cost around $19.

[dipgolf]

I'm working with a friend of mine on some golf statistics software for the desktop. Of course, it only applies if you've got a Mac, and it'll be out in a few months - after my golf season is over, probably - but it's coming. Should cost around $19.
:pound: You people and your Macs! :~(

I've been keeping my stats and it has helped me see my problem areas like you guys said. It's a very good learning tool.

[Jim]

I just do it when I get home. I can remember every shot I played (yes even the shanks).
I use www.mygolfdomain.com I used to use gametrack but domain is so much easier.
Thanks for the plug here kiwidave. I'm glad you like the site and that it is easy to use.

I just joined this site. If anyone wants any information about my site just email or PM here.

[shakespeare]

www.thgolfchannel.com has Game Tracker. I use it. It's easy, and you can track all you need. At least all I need.

[Rafcin]

Sometimes I use my SkyGolf GPS and the SkyTracker. Easy to mark off the important stats and it's also easy to keep track of all clubs you hit with - added bonus from using a GPS - you get realistic yardage for all the clubs.

[skrumple]

During high school we have to and our coach keeps them posted in the hall way for the whole schhol to see. Luckily mine wernt too bad. 1.6 putts per whole ain't bad.

[DBake]

I'm working with a friend of mine on some golf statistics software for the desktop. Of course, it only applies if you've got a Mac, and it'll be out in a few months - after my golf season is over, probably - but it's coming. Should cost around $19.

How did that software turn out?

[Everardo]

So far I've tried over 10 different stat trackers and haven't found one that combines good stats and reports, then again I want it all so I'm making my own.

All of them track the basics like fairways, GIR's and putts though. I like having the info and it gives me a goal for every round I play.

[LarryK]

I started too but it got to time comsuming. :bugout:

Below my score for each hole I enter an "F" or "R" for fairway or rough. Unlike some others, I don't track the direction of my misses. Sounds like a good idea, though.

Below the F or R I put the number of strokes it took to reach the green and then the number of putts to hole out. Thus, an F above a 2/2 on a par 4 indicates I hit the fairway, was on in regulation, and two-putted for a par (hey, sometimes it actually happens).

From those three simple pieces of information (easily entered between holes), I've got fairway percentage, GIR, and putts per round.

One other stat I have found helpful I simply call "other" I add 18 (the number of tee shots) to my total putts per round and subtract that number from my total score. That gives me that total strokes I have "wasted" between the tee and green. If you are a scratch golfer hitting 100% GIR, that number should be 18. For most of us, it will be considerably more. If I'm playing well, I'll get that number in the upper 20s to low 30s. Anything higher, and I'm in trouble.

I also track penalty strokes. Nothing else paints as graphic a picture of the cost of not keeping the ball in play.

[You'reAway]

I use Golf Wits to plan and record my rounds.

[DBake]

First off I would like to give credit to Dave Koster I got this idea and from his article here on TST, you can read the article here

http://thesandtrap.com/archives/the_numbers_game/the_most_important_stats_yours.php.

I took his idea and added more stats. More stats that I think would very good information to keep track of my game. Each head line has a comment box with the definition of the stat. For example, Birdie Conversion "This is the percent of time a player makes birdie or better after hitting the green in regulation." and so on. I also will be keeping driving distance, in which I will use two drives, one heading one direction and the other heading the opposite direction and than average them to get my average driving distance for that day, just like the PGA tour uses (I may, if the course allows it. To do 4 drives two on the front, two on the back still both in opposite directions). With all that stats I will be keeping I will only half to keep track for each hole is the score, if I hit a fairway, hit a green, putts on the whole. Any for 2 holes (maybe 4) figure the drive distance. I will try to keep all this information just like Eric does with on his score card seen in this thread,

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=852.

I am use some of you are going to think this is way too much or overbore or whatever, but I like to do things myself and I think it is going to work, we will find out next summer when I begin to play again. Let me know what you think.

[NCGolfer]

DBake:

Very cool. I'm going to make some revisions to my spreadsheet as well. I don't think I'll add nearly as much as you have, but there are a few things I'd like to track that I never have before that I can if I modify my scorekeeping like Erik's. The things I'm interested in are length (I've never really tracked this before) and direction...which way I'm missing fairways and greens.

I think you are headed in the right direction. I'm for tracking as many stats as you find useful. You might throw out a few of them, but it's better to track more than you think you may need.

Good stuff.

[Rafcin]

skygolf GPS is great for tracking distances. It's a little much (IMHO) but if you're stats fanatic - it's a must have tool. You specify club, shot result (left, right, short, long, target) and once you're at your ball you "mark" the spot to get the distance. The stats you get after a round are awsome - you get not only your min, max and avg distance for each club, you also will have spread of your misses - makes game management and targeted practice so much easier.

[iacas]

skygolf GPS is great for tracking distances. It's a little much (IMHO) but if you're stats fanatic - it's a must have tool. You specify club, shot result (left, right, short, long, target) and once you're at your ball you "mark" the spot to get the distance. The stats you get after a round are awsome - you get not only your min, max and avg distance for each club, you also will have spread of your misses - makes game management and targeted practice so much easier.
I think Dave meant distances from the ball to the hole when you get it on the green. I keep track of the distance of my first putt. It tells me how close I'm hitting it in GIR and how close my up-and-down (chips, sand shots, etc.) are.

[DBake]

DBake:

Very cool. I'm going to make some revisions to my spreadsheet as well. I don't think I'll add nearly as much as you have, but there are a few things I'd like to track that I never have before that I can if I modify my scorekeeping like Erik's. The things I'm interested in are length (I've never really tracked this before) and direction...which way I'm missing fairways and greens.

I think you are headed in the right direction. I'm for tracking as many stats as you find useful. You might throw out a few of them, but it's better to track more than you think you may need.

Good stuff.

What stats do I have that you think I do not need to keep?

[iacas]

What stats do I have that you think I do not need to keep?
I keep these stats, and from them I can figure out all other stats:

1. Fairways hit (left/center/right)
2. Greens hit
3. UD and SS percentage
4. # of putts per hole
5. distance of first putt

The only reason I keep #3 is so I can differentiate between up and down and sand saves. Otherwise, "missed green, still made par" would suffice.

As for combining them, well, I can combine them. I guess technically I should have listed "score" as a stat, but given the above I can do things like figure out what my average score is when I hit the fairway, how frequently I find the right rough and still hit the green (versus the left rough or the fairway), how close my approaches and/or chips and/or sand shots are, and on and on and on.

[NCGolfer]

What stats do I have that you think I do not need to keep?
I think Erik has it right. Looking at your spreadsheet, everything right of 'Scrambling' are interesting stats, but may not be helpful in the long run. I would guess that those might drop off after some time. That's just a guess though. Sometime its fun to look at that type of info over a few years to track progression...so if you think you want it, keep it. Like I said, keep more than you think you'll need.

Recording stats like Erik has shown not only gets a lot of information, but does it in a way that is easy while on the course. This is the method I'll be using next year...

[huphtur]

The only reason I keep #3 is so I can differentiate between up and down and sand saves. Otherwise, "missed green, still made par" would suffice.

what is an "up and down" ?

[DBake]

what is an "up and down" ?

For example on a par 4, tee shot goes in the woods, second shot chip back to the fairway, third shot miss the green in the rough , fourth shot chip to 4 feet, fifth shot 1 put = "up and down" because you got it close enough on your fourth shot from the rough to make a one put. Say everything is the same but instead of missing the green in the rough you hit sand, fourth shot is sand play and hit it to 6 feet, and on your fifth shot you 1 put again this time it = "sand save" because you got it close enough on your fourth shot from the sand to make a one put.

Now, since you understand those there is one more stat we are considered with "Scrambling". For example on par 4, tee shot hits fairway, second shot hits rough or sand than you still one putt for a par = scrambling stat because you still made par on the hole. Compared to up and down/sand save it anything number higher than par.

Up and Down is the percent of time a player was able to get 'up and down' when not hitting a green in regulation. Note: This up and down is computed regardless of score on the hole.

Sand Saves is the percent of time a player was able to get 'up and down' once in a greenside sand bunker. Note: This up and down is computed regardless of score on the hole.

Scrambling is the percent of time that a player misses the green in regulation, but still makes par or better.

[joel745]

3 is 3, 4 is 4, 5 is 5......what else do you need to know?.lol
everyone just knows on that day what is weak and what is strong part of their game........i just think being to technical and mechanical for a recreational amateur is losing focus on what's really important........getting the ball in the hole !

[iacas]

3 is 3, 4 is 4, 5 is 5......what else do you need to know?.lol
everyone just knows on that day what is weak and what is strong part of their game........i just think being to technical and mechanical for a recreational amateur is losing focus on what's really important........getting the ball in the hole !
I think many of us are competitive amateurs, or amateurs that want to be more than a recreational amateur.

[DBake]

I think many of us are competitive amateurs, or amateurs that want to be more than a recreational amateur.

+1

[majorchamp]

Yea, I keep stats. Usually the standard

Fairways, Greens, Putts, and up / downs.

If I am on the fringe and I putt, I don't consider that a green in regulation.

In college, we always had to fill out stats at the end of our rounds/tournaments and our coach would print out our stats at the end of every month for us to review.

It got pretty detailed.

[Ben]

Stats shmats, that's what I say!

[NM Golf]

I keep the stat DP (drives in play) I think it is more important, to me at least, than fairways hit. I tend to bomb it a bit on certain courses and holes and even though I might miss the fairway it has been a calculated risk and I might even be in better shape than someone in the fairway. Does anyone else keep a stat like this?

Also I told my father who is a very good golfer and has won just about every tournament there is around here about keeping stats. His reply "Only two stats matter, your score and how much money you won" He may be on to something.

[iacas]

I keep the stat DP (drives in play) I think it is more important, to me at least, than fairways hit. I tend to bomb it a bit on certain courses and holes and even though I might miss the fairway it has been a calculated risk and I might even be in better shape than someone in the fairway. Does anyone else keep a stat like this?
I don't. I know what holes I can do that on or how a course fares in general, so I know whether I can be a little looser on a course or whether I really want to be in the fairway. "Drives in Play" is a weak stat because what if you slice one but happen to have a shot into the green? Does that count? Who knows? I get all I need from my DA stat, mentally adjusted depending on the course and conditions.

Also I told my father who is a very good golfer and has won just about every tournament there is around here about keeping stats. His reply "Only two stats matter, your score and how much money you won" He may be on to something.
He's not on to something. I'm not trying to insult your dad here, but PGA Tour pros, to a man, know what their stats are. They look at them and work on them. They use them religiously. If you're way, way back in putting every week, you ain't gonna be doing well on the two stats your dad says are all that matter.

In other words, they may be all that matter, but it's all those other stats your dad is implying don't matter that determine how good his "two stats" really are.

[NM Golf]

I don't. I know what holes I can do that on or how a course fares in general, so I know whether I can be a little looser on a course or whether I really want to be in the fairway. "Drives in Play" is a weak stat because what if you slice one but happen to have a shot into the green? Does that count? Who knows? I get all I need from my DA stat, mentally adjusted depending on the course and conditions.


He's not on to something. I'm not trying to insult your dad here, but PGA Tour pros, to a man, know what their stats are. They look at them and work on them. They use them religiously. If you're way, way back in putting every week, you ain't gonna be doing well on the two stats your dad says are all that matter.

In other words, they may be all that matter, but it's all those other stats your dad is implying don't matter that determine how good his "two stats" really are.


The DP stat I spoke of does not apply to weak shots that by dumb luck end up alright. It gives me the freedom to show myself in my stats whether or not I am hitting the driver the way I want to or not. There are holes where I hit the driver exactly where I want to but don't end up in the fairway. For instance there is a hole at my home course where there is big trouble left, the fairway crunches in to about 10 yards wide and there is a large area right that is rough but there is no trouble at all and it leaves about 90 yards to the green. I always aim at the right edge of that fairway if I hit it straight I have a 50/50 chance of being in the rough. To me it is an important stat to MY game. I rely a lot on my length, it is my strength, and I give up alittle in accuracy sometimes. The Drives in play stat tells me whether or not I need to reign it in some or not. To count sh#$ty drives that end up alright would be counter productive as would only counting fairways as both would give me statistical information that would not help me improve.

[iacas]

The DP stat I spoke of does not apply to weak shots that by dumb luck end up alright. It gives me the freedom to show myself in my stats whether or not I am hitting the driver the way I want to or not. There are holes where I hit the driver exactly where I want to but don't end up in the fairway. For instance there is a hole at my home course where there is big trouble left, the fairway crunches in to about 10 yards wide and there is a large area right that is rough but there is no trouble at all and it leaves about 90 yards to the green. I always aim at the right edge of that fairway if I hit it straight I have a 50/50 chance of being in the rough. To me it is an important stat to MY game. I rely a lot on my length, it is my strength, and I give up alittle in accuracy sometimes. The Drives in play stat tells me whether or not I need to reign it in some or not. To count sh#$ty drives that end up alright would be counter productive as would only counting fairways as both would give me statistical information that would not help me improve.
The point of a statistic is to be rather binary: either you did something or you didn't. You've left room for judgment - your own judgment - which I consider alien to good stats keeping.

That's all.

[All4Golf]

I keep the stat DP (drives in play) I think it is more important, to me at least, than fairways hit. I tend to bomb it a bit on certain courses and holes and even though I might miss the fairway it has been a calculated risk and I might even be in better shape than someone in the fairway. Does anyone else keep a stat like this?


I do and find it contributes to a positive outlook when you start a hole.
Regards,
Todd
All4Golf

[NM Golf]

The point of a statistic is to be rather binary: either you did something or you didn't. You've left room for judgment - your own judgment - which I consider alien to good stats keeping.

That's all.

The point of keeping statistics for me is to use them to better myself as a player. You are right it does bring judgement into the the picture but I tend to be tough on myself, and as I do not share my stats with anyone it would do no good to artificially inflate them. I still keep a fairways hit stat and it its important especially on a course where I hit a lot of 2 irons and 3 woods off of the tee. (By the way I only have a DIP stat for my driver because if I am hitting another club off the tee it is because fairway and only fairway is the premium.) So whatever it does not really matter as what works for someone might not work for another.

[All4Golf]

The point of a statistic is to be rather binary: either you did something or you didn't. You've left room for judgment - your own judgment - which I consider alien to good stats keeping.

That's all.

It is hard to believe that the Editor in Chief of this website would say something like this. NM Golf deserves an apology because all he was doing was sharing an idea and his practical experience in tracking stats.

Stats gathered are most useful when it has a purpose and all NM Golf was doing was trying to make his data more meaningful so he can improve. As long as he is consistent in his approach and interpretation, he'll do fine.

There are plenty of golf stats that are rather negative about a person's game until he or she can get to single digit handicaps or better. Some say golf is a game of confidence because the game is frustrating enough as it is. iacas started this thread with a simple message of "I keep stats all the time. In fact, I'm still helping to write some software that keeps stats the way I'd like." NM Golf has his own way and incorporates some judgement in a few stats to make the data more meaningful and practical. The objective is the same - to become a better golfer.

Regards,
Todd
All4Golf

[iacas]

The point of a statistic is to be rather binary: either you did something or you didn't. You've left room for judgment - your own judgment - which I consider alien to good stats keeping.

That's all.It is hard to believe that the Editor in Chief of this website would say something like this. NM Golf deserves an apology because all he was doing was sharing an idea and his practical experience in tracking stats.
I owe him nothing. I stated my opinion - that "judgment" really has no room in a statistic, which I feel should be binary - just as he stated his.

The end.

Stats gathered are most useful when it has a purpose and all NM Golf was doing was trying to make his data more meaningful so he can improve. As long as he is consistent in his approach and interpretation, he'll do fine.
If that works for him, great. It doesn't work for me.

The objective is the same - to become a better golfer.
Nobody's challenging that. But just as Dave and I suggested to another user that he may be keeping track of too many stats, I'm saying there are good and bad stats. I keep track of left/right misses on fairways. It's non-subjective yet a finer detail than "hit/miss." I happen to think NM Golf's arbitrary "did I hit it like I wanted to" stat leaves too much room for interpretation. It lacks a certain something I consider important to stat-keeping: hard, critical, binary outcomes. What does he consider a drive he hit "pretty good"? How about one he hits "not too bad"? If his scale were one to 10, perhaps he should chart his drives as numbers: that was a 7. That was a 6. Even then he'll run into trouble: what if he hits seven 5s and seven 10s. His average will be good but he'll have hit half of his drives poorly.

So, I said as much. That's it.

[NCGolfer]

I happen to think NM Golf's arbitrary "did I hit it like I wanted to" stat leaves too much room for interpretation.
I agree 100%. The only time I get a bit arbitrary in my stat keeping is when I hit a great drive and the ball trickles into the first cut of rough. If I have a couple of those in a round, I may give myself one of those drives in the fairway. I only know one person that is a stickler when it comes to this. Most everyone relaxes a bit. Regardless, I still think that the stats should be 'yes' or 'no' and not subjective. That subjectivity is too hard to compile round over round.

Erik is entitled to his opinion. All4Golf is entitled to his. I think that NM Golf may want to keep both types of stats side by side. I'd be willing to bet that after he does that he'll keep the 'binary' stats.

[NM Golf]

I think that NM Golf may want to keep both types of stats side by side. I'd be willing to bet that after he does that he'll keep the 'binary' stats.

I do and I don't think so. Boy you guys love that word "binary" don't you. Here is a thought in binary code. 01001001 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01101110 01101111 01110100 00100000 01100011 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101100 01100101 01110011 01110011 00100000 01100001 01100010 01101111 01110101 01110100 00100000 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01100001 01110100 01110011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101011 01100101 01100101 01110000 00101110 00100000 00100000 01001001 01100110 00100000 01001001 00100000 01101111 01101110 01101100 01111001 00100000 01101000 01101001 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110100 00100000 00110010 00110101 00110000 00100000 01001001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100101 01111000 01110000 01100101 01100011 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01101111 01101110 01101100 01111001 00100000 01100010 01100101 00100000 01101001 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100110 01100001 01101001 01110010 01110111 01100001 01111001 00100000 01110100 01101111 01101111 00101110
http://www.adcott.net/binary/

[iacas]

I do and I don't think so. Boy you guys love that word "binary" don't you. Here is a thought in binary code.

Dude, binary means on/off, yes/no, did it or didn't it. C'mon... you know what we're saying.

I could not care less about what stats you keep. If I only hit it 250 I would expect it to only be in the fairway too.

No need to be an *******, buddy. None.

[jeffgladchun]

There are a bunch of free internet tools for this. Some are better than others, but I love YourGolfGame.com especially because they upgraded my account from the free version to the premium. Also, DigitalDivot.com is free and does quite nicely. I haven't used any software based stat software (I use a mac) but these internet trackers suit me fine.

[iacas]

There are a bunch of free internet tools for this. Some are better than others, but I love YourGolfGame.com especially because they upgraded my account from the free version to the premium. Also, DigitalDivot.com is free and does quite nicely. I haven't used any software based stat software (I use a mac) but these internet trackers suit me fine.
Jeff, since you're on a Mac, you'll be interested in an app I've been working on (i.e. helping someone else create). Was supposed to be out last year, then life got in the way. Target date is April 1 this year.

[jeffgladchun]

Great! If you guys need a beta-tester I'd be more than happy to help out there. I have fiddled around with eGolf (http://www.waterfallsw.com/products/egolf/), too and it seems pretty nice. Nice and OS X Native.

[kiwidave]

www.mygolfdomain.com is now also free. Jim just opened up free to everyone in the last month or so

[iacas]

www.mygolfdomain.com is now also free. Jim just opened up free to everyone in the last month or so
Ick. But I'm biased. :-)

[Froaderick]

I recently downloaded a program called scorekeeper http://www.scorekeeper.com - It's the first program I've used to track and so far it does what I need it to do.

Also, I just started keeping some stats while playing and so far, it has made my practicing much more efficient.

[NCGolfer]

I've looked at a few of the online stat trackers but keep coming back to the home grown one I have. Whenever Erik has a Windows-based version of his software, I'll be using it. ;-)

[JonnyRockets]

I'm also looking forward to trying out a windows version of Eriks software - probably be a little while though from the sounds of it. Erik - sign me up for beta testing if you're looking! I did beta testing on a poker timer and tournament tracking software and gave many suggestions that were implemented, and found bugs that were fixed.

For now I'll stick to Intelligolf on my Pocket PC. It also has a desktop companion - but I havn't found a way to entered detailed shot info on the desktop yet (like missing left, short, long blah blah blah.) Could be a lot easier to use than currently is.

[iacas]

I'm also looking forward to trying out a windows version of Eriks software - probably be a little while though from the sounds of it. Erik - sign me up for beta testing if you're looking! I did beta testing on a poker timer and tournament tracking software and gave many suggestions that were implemented, and found bugs that were fixed.
Probably three months or so.

[JonnyRockets]

great - looking forward to trying it out next summer.

What was your web address again? I was going to post a scorecard method on there.

Jonathan

[iacas]

great - looking forward to trying it out next summer.

What was your web address again? I was going to post a scorecard method on there.

Jonathan
I have no idea what a "scorecard method" is but you can get Scorecard at http://cynicalpeak.com/

[Xt1ncT]

mygolfdomain.com is ok - a bit too much going on for my liking.

The main one I use is www.goforgolf.com (http://www.goforgolf.com) which I find very easy to use, and it has all the stats I need.

Every now and then I download software, but never end up using it.

Erik - is there going to be a windows version of yours?

[duffer79]

Most of the downloaded software costs too much. For what they provide I feel like something around $10 is more appropriate. I recently just found a great new online site for tracking: www.oobgolf.com (http://www.oobgolf.com)

[Rafcin]

I'm a gadget man and writing stuff on the scorecard, bringing home and typing it (again) into a database is just too much for me. If you have PocketPC or Palm device and are interesting in keeping stats - check out Intelligolf (http://www.intelligolf.com) software. I'm not too impressed with their GPS interface (seems to be very inaccurate for shot distance measurements) the stats keeping is easy and straight forward.
The reporting is pretty cool too (see bottom of my signature). Granted - it is $40 to get it, but if you have a handheld device - it's well worth it. No other costs attached after that - scorecards are downloadable for free or you can type them in yourself before the round... I like it a lot.

[Chas]

When your game is really stinko and just about everything needs work, running detailed stats doesn't make a lot of sense IMO, except that it will help you to track actual improvement. Still, too much focus on numbers at this stage can be counterproductive.

When you get a bit better and start actually thinking about course management etc, stats really do start making a difference. They are objective and will not lie to you, as long as you don't lie to them. Besides, it makes the game more interesting and rewarding, when you can accurately track what's going on - positive and negative both. I mean, you actually start feeling like a bit of a golfer for one thing. And it's hard to make careful, nuanced shot-selection decisions out there without the knowledge of what your chances are in that type of situation, which the stats will give you a much better feel for. Can I afford to risk hitting that greenside bunker with the knock-down 8-iron shot aimed at the pin that I'm thinking about from behind this tree ...? Well, it depends on your SS stats amongst other things. In my case, I'd better aim more to the "safe" side, given my pathetic SS figure at the moment. The more I play, the more statistical I get about my game.

[Mikeland]

I use nethandicap.com to keep my handicap, but the site also allows you to keep track of stats like putts, fairways hit, greens hit, sand saves, etc.

Keeping track of statistics has helped me better understand my game, and identifiy my weak spots... There are times when I'm hitting the ball solid, but not scoring well...maybe I'm 3-putting alot or missing greens. If I didn't keep my statistics, I wouldn't know why I shot 85 instead of 75.

I think all you really need to know are fairways hit, greens hit, putts, and up-n-downs.

Funny, I'm always marking up my scorecard and always get asked what the heck it is I'm doing...

[kiani]

I also keep stats, have been doing it for years. I only keep fairways hit, greens in regulation and putts, and then the website I use calculates my averages (scoring, fairways, GIR, putts/round, putts/GIR, etc).

A couple years ago I started tracking driving distance, distance of putts made, distance of first putt, etc, but that got too time-consuming, I stick to the basic ones.

[aquacooled]

I keep track of hit fairways, putts, and up & down's.. thats it the other stuff is to much time for me keep track of..

[seattlemudder]

I've been keeping stats for about a year now and I totally agree with Dave and Erik in that it's been very useful. I went from an 11 H/C to a 14 and wasn't sure why. I started keeping stats and am at a 13 now and before I ran out of playing weather was trending down. I would like to get to an 8 or so and I know that the stats will help me get there. I only play about 15-20 rounds a year so not enough IMO to get much lower than an 8 since to get better, one has to play regularly and often. My putting has been decent but my FW hit and GIR numbers were not. Got my FW number under control and now need to improve my GIR to lower my H/C. Obviously not everyone will have the inclination to keep stats but keeping stats has helped me personally.

[Mfumar]

This looks like it's been a dead thread for a couple of months, but nobody mentioned www.fairwayfiles.com. I've been using it since 2002 and I've got every round I've played since then stored in it. There may be better versions, but it's free and I'm used to it. All the guys I play with keep fairways, greens, and putts. We've been doing it so long that we don't even have to think about it anymore. A dot in the upper left corner is a fairway, a dot in the upper right corner is a green and putts are just a little number next to your score. You enter everything after the round and it kicks out your updated handicap and sends an email to everyone in your group with the details of your round. If we know we're going to play at a certain course, it'll print out a scorecard that tells who gets strokes and on which holes. Kind of handy to have that written down before the beer starts flowing.

[kiani]

I've been using http://www.golfity.com for a few years, it's very simple and allows you to keep track of fairways, greens in regulation and putts and calculates nice stats. You can also share scores with friends and see their scores.

[Azprogolfr]

A good stat to keep is 125 yards and in. You will be suprised of how many shots you lose in that range

[Fourputt]

This looks like it's been a dead thread for a couple of months, but nobody mentioned www.fairwayfiles.com. I've been using it since 2002 and I've got every round I've played since then stored in it. There may be better versions, but it's free and I'm used to it. All the guys I play with keep fairways, greens, and putts. We've been doing it so long that we don't even have to think about it anymore. A dot in the upper left corner is a fairway, a dot in the upper right corner is a green and putts are just a little number next to your score. You enter everything after the round and it kicks out your updated handicap and sends an email to everyone in your group with the details of your round. If we know we're going to play at a certain course, it'll print out a scorecard that tells who gets strokes and on which holes. Kind of handy to have that written down before the beer starts flowing.

Just looked at Fairway Files... good site. I'm going to start using it for my stats.

[North49]

I always keep certain stats. Fairways, greens, number of putts, penalties, up and downs. I use the game tracker software from the Golf Channel. Does the job. This software has evolved to 1st distance on putting and driving distance, which is a bit of a crap shoot sometimes.

[ABPositive]

Checkout my statistics page: http://www.blogmygolf.com/blogs/aguinebe/statistics.html

If find these the most useful - Is there something else I should keep track of?

[MountainHip]

I use intelligolf on my Palm.
Took 5 rounds to get used to it.
It's very fast now.

When I play in a foursome I just keep track while others are teeing off.
I wouldn't golf without it now.

[tombate911]

may sound really daft but i had a spread sheet that i entered my score, including puts chips so i could work out where i lost most shots in a round

realy improved my game because i could work on my bad areas.
tom

[lamebums]

No, but I really should start doing that.

[Oublio]

Would any of you who keep an Excel stat tracker be willing to share the .xls file with others? Particularly me?

[jorruss]

I used to keep really anal stats, like where I hit all my shots - left right, short long, etc. That got a bit too involved. The Golf Channel's website has a nice tool called Game Tracker:

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/gametracker/

It's a subscription service but it may be worth it for people who want to have software to keep their stats. You can keep your stats as anal as you want, and it even calculates your USGA handicap Index. I think it's $30 a year.

[Ghost Runner]

I keep track of my putts, fairways hit and time of play (and my score of course).

I'm also big into making notes on my scorecard that I can look back on and remember what might have happened on a particular hole.

bo = birdie opportunity (as in I had a birdie opportunity but didn't make it)
p = penalty stroke
fg = flew the green (I'm trying to pay more attention to this as I'm just starting to become consistent enough in my play that club selection should not be a problem as it once was)
fc = flubbed chip

etc etc...I seem to make up a new one every round!

[Parker0065]

Here is an attachment of the XL file I use to keep my stats. If anyone is interested in using something like this I can make up some user instructions. Some of it is automated but some of the data has to be entered in certain places.

[Silvertree]

I started Par-formance journals a few rounds ago. I am undecided at this point, but so far I like the amount of information I am recording.

[Bluenoser67]

I keep all my stats on an Excel Document. Have been since 2004. There are a couple of reasons I think this is better than any of the web based stat trackers.

1. I can maniputate the data what ever way I want. If I want to know how often I 3 putt the 15th hole of my home course I can strip down my data and determine that.

2. I am the host of my own data. My concern with web based stat trackers is that I wake up some day and go to put my data in the computer and the site is persona no grata and so is the last 5 years of my golf stats.

Attached is my simple spreadsheet. All you have to enter is the score of the hole the Shots to green and Fairways hit and the spreadsheet will calculate everything else for you. (please note you will have to change the par for each of your course holes to match the course your playing)

Enjoy

[Crafty]

I keep a small composition notebook in my car. After my round, I write down my score, faiways, greens, putts, and up&down stats for each hole on I sheet that I made. I then write down two strenghts and weaknesses about the round. Then, at the end of each month(roughly), I look back and average the stats of my previous rounds. I also look at the strengths and weaknesses for reoccuring patterns. I prefer to do it this way because I don't have to spend oodles of time putting in unecessary information on a software program, and it gives me direct and simple feedback.

[sboardz006]

i keep mine. last year i used the golf digest handicap thing to do it. prob try out the golf channel one this year

[mikelz]

I have never found a stat book that allows you to enter how you hit each of your 7 shots getting to the green. I don't keep any.

[23Rounder]

I have been using Lintz's golf stats which is free (See below link) for the last 8 months or so. It is very simple and does a good job.

http://lintz.byethost13.com/

I have also tried the demo of Scorecard that a lot of people use on this forum and I liked it better as it had a few extra options and has a nice layout but I would have to start entering scores from scratch again which makes it meaningless for the first few months.

I sometimes mark an extra card (as we have to hand our comp cards in) but often just enter the scores from memory as soon as I get home. Not so easy on a foreign course but not a problem with my regular course as I can picture the holes easily

[tonyy]

I started keeping my stats about a month ago when I wanted to get serious about golf. It helps me know what I need to work on and what I'm doing pretty well at.

I just use a little notebook and write down my stats and keep the scorecard from that round.

[iacas]

I have also tried the demo of Scorecard that a lot of people use on this forum and I liked it better as it had a few extra options and has a nice layout but I would have to start entering scores from scratch again which makes it meaningless for the first few months.

I recommend in situations like yours that you use Scorecard concurrently with your existing stat tracker for the time being, and then switch to Scorecard exclusively when you've got enough stats in it to make it worthwhile (after a few months, as you say).

[N.V.M.]

i use an online service, GameTracker:

http://www.bcgolfguide.com/free_golf_tracker.cfm

no muss,no fuss, $15 /yr

one feature that many don't offer is that you can create groups, and put all your buddies in it. that way, you can see everybody's handicaps in your group, and let the betting begin!

[alf174]

I use Intelligolf but haven't yet taken my PDA out on the course; that may change because it also keeps track of games.

[CosmosMpower]

The only thing I keep track of is number of putts and GIR. Sometimes I write other stuff like OB, drops etc. I always scan my scorecard after every round and put it in a folder and I have a running spreadsheet of rounds I've played this summer.

[mgoofy24]

I should do it more often... It doesn't take much extra effort, I just get lazy sometimes...

[clemsontiger]

I keep the usual of putts, GIR, and Fairways hit.

[Big Padrigo]

I used to count just putts but have started doing the whole thing with scorecard quite recently. Its very quick, like a couple of minutes for one round and its very obvious what I should be spending time practising on.

[jambalaya]

Can't remember whether I posted on this forum or not. I keep up with fairways, GIR and putts and of course post my scores. I am in the 30's with both GIR and fairways. Just how in the hell do I manage an 18 handicap with those statistics?

[mkrolewski]

I have been using intelligolf.com PDA/phone/PC golf tracking software. It runs on lots of phones, pda, etc. And there is a desktop package for summary and graphs.

It tracks most things ( each stroke: club, distance, fairway(L/C/R); approaches (hitting green, where missed) and the first two putts ( distance, slope and missed L/R, Short/Long, hole)) and up/downs, penalties, etc.

You can just track strokes, or strokes and putts. And up to 5 players scores at once. With betting games if you like.

It was not enough when ever hole was a disaster, but is really great as my game improves. Linked with GPS, one gets lots of data. In addition, you have realtime scoring and stats during the round and summary of previous efforts on that course.

I found about 30 seconds to a minute will track even the most difficult holes data. I can get everything in usually before I have to tee off on the next hole.



Although there are ways to get trends, etc, I mainly use it to look at my last round, where are things bad, where did I loss it.

[Sir Hack-a-Lot]

I keep very basic stats on my scorecard like if I hit a fairway or not and the number of putts on every hole and per round....I should def keep more detailed stats though

[Tiger_I'm_not]

I loved the article. I am an analytical type guy and like this type of approach to identifying what you need to get better.

I checked out Scorecard and decided to get it. I now have one whole round in it. Hopefully, two after tomorrow.

In the article, Dave used the middle players in the PGA to set goals for his improvements. However, he is a scratch golfer and I am far from that. Where would I go to get realistic averages of amateur players? I just need something realistic to compare it to so that I can focus on my biggest opportunities.

I know I need to work on my short game. My putting and up and downs are atrocious, but I would like to know how far off. I think Pelz put together some info. I was just wondering if there is a resource other than me piecing it together from multiple sources.

Any help would be appreciated.

[cwcaesar]

Yes I do since I downloaded Scorecard. Hopefully it will tell me where I need to improve my game the most. Although I have a strong suspicion that it is my putting.;-)

[mochila]

I know I should keep basic stats but usually get distracted, rushed, etc. and end up quitting. If suck so I play slow when me and 3 other hackers are playing together so I usually quit to save time.