Jump to content
Note: This thread is 927 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

After reading about shot zones in LSW, I have not had enough time to properly measure all of my shot zones, let alone chart them out for the courses I am playing so I came up with this idea that I thought was worth sharing.

Stealing an idea from Aimpoint express, where using your fingers "projects" an angle outward from your eye that will give you the correct "aim point" for a given slope no matter how far away the cup is. Essentially this just means your finger held at a fixed length will always cover the same percentage of the distance, no matter how far your target is.

 

That idea can be used for full shots too!

 

I estimated a percentage on the driving range for my PW at 150 yards, my shots all landed roughly inside of 15 yards either side of my target, so a little less than 10%. I measured about 22 inches from my eyeball to my fingers held at arms length, and it just so happens that 3 fingers width is about 2.25 inches or roughly 10%! 

So now I know that whenever I hold 3 fingers up at arms length, I'm covering roughly 10 percent of the distance. If I place the flag or target on one edge of my finger, the edge of my shot zone should be roughly at the other edge of my finger. If there is trouble inside of my finger, then I can align my finger to the trouble, and move my shot center to the other edge of my finger. It won't help you with the depth of your shot zone, but seems pretty useful on a new/unknown course that you don't have time to chart out.

:whistle:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • iacas changed the title to AimPoint Express (Fingers) for Shot Zones
  • Administrator

In addition to what you said, I think two fingers fully extended is about 5%, which should cover your dispersion to one side of the flagstick (or your target) if you're playing really good golf. It's a good quick way to check whether, say, on the range you're hitting "good" shots that are finishing right of the flag, or if they're too far away. If they're within two fingers (IIRC) of a fully extended arm, they're good.

To your OP, this covers the lateral dispersion, sure. It doesn't really cover the distance, of course, or where your Shot Center actually is. It just is a helpful way to cover the lateral dispersion; you should still learn where that dispersion is centered of course.

  • Thumbs Up 2

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

(edited)
  On 8/4/2022 at 9:13 PM, iacas said:

In addition to what you said, I think two fingers fully extended is about 5%, which should cover your dispersion to one side of the flagstick (or your target) if you're playing really good golf. It's a good quick way to check whether, say, on the range you're hitting "good" shots that are finishing right of the flag, or if they're too far away. If they're within two fingers (IIRC) of a fully extended arm, they're good.

Expand  

You could probably calibrate your bad days too, bring your finger closer to you until your furthest ball at the range is at one edge and your target on the other. Use that same finger distance for the day.

I think you probably want to be more liberal with at least driver, maybe other long clubs too. But I seem to be at closer to 13% off center with my driver, which is like an extra half a finger.

 

Edited by jshots

:whistle:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
  On 8/4/2022 at 9:52 PM, jshots said:

You could probably calibrate your bad days too, bring your finger closer to you until your furthest ball at the range is at one edge and your target on the other. Use that same finger distance for the day.

Expand  

You misunderstand: I'm saying two fingers fully extended is, IIRC, a good measurement for whether you're hitting the ball close enough to your target. For a good player, because it's about 5% (IIRC) which is about the dispersion of a Tour player.

But two fingers feels like a lot, so maybe it was 2.5% per finger and you put two fingers up with the flag in the middle? I dunno.

  On 8/4/2022 at 9:52 PM, jshots said:

I think you probably want to be more liberal with at least driver, maybe other long clubs too. But I seem to be at closer to 13% off center with my driver, which is like an extra half a finger.

Expand  

Nope. It's 5% (or whatever) at all distances, and with all clubs.

That 5% obviously gets wider with the driver because it goes farther.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  On 8/4/2022 at 9:57 PM, iacas said:

You misunderstand: I'm saying two fingers fully extended is, IIRC, a good measurement for whether you're hitting the ball close enough to your target. For a good player, because it's about 5% (IIRC) which is about the dispersion of a Tour player.

But two fingers feels like a lot, so maybe it was 2.5% per finger and you put two fingers up with the flag in the middle? I dunno.

Expand  

Yeah I understand what you are saying, I just jumped to the calibration idea. If you are having trouble keeping the ball online on the range, or even on the course for that matter, you could always recalibrate your lateral dispersion by either changing number of fingers, or moving your fingers closer to your eye, using an actual bad shot as your measuring stick.

Just by measuring my own dimensions came to like 3.5% per finger. Maybe I have fat fingers or a short arm. Also it is not exactly easy to measure from your eyeball so I might be off a little bit.

 

  On 8/4/2022 at 9:57 PM, iacas said:

Nope. It's 5% (or whatever) at all distances, and with all clubs.

Expand  

Really? I hear a lot that avg PGA Tour dispersion with driver is ~70 yards wide at 300 yard distance. 35/300 would be almost 12% off center.

:whistle:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
  On 8/4/2022 at 10:19 PM, jshots said:

Really? I hear a lot that avg PGA Tour dispersion with driver is ~70 yards wide at 300 yard distance. 35/300 would be almost 12% off center.

Expand  

You're confusing their average dispersion with "a good shot." And it's closer to about 60 yards.

  • Informative 1

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 927 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • Day 10: 2/16/2025 Just like yesterday I spent several 5-10 minute sessions working on what I learned on Friday.  My new priority pieces. 
    • Day 26 (16 Feb 25) - Basically a repeat of yesterday- only it was a bit more expanded chips/pitches - 7i, 9i, 50° and 58°.   Big exception was I was hitting groups of 5 one club at a time.  Focused on a specific target point - and coming smoothly through the ball, not punchy.  Got it right about 3 out of 5 - more work needed. 
    • You probably haven't turned much and instead have just pulled your left arm across your chest.
    • Things didn’t work out with the cutting horse barn my wife was working for there in Virginia. Their Texas facility we were supposed to move down to ended up delayed for at least an extra year after they’d had us leave Virginia to meet them down there “shortly”. So we ended up getting some land by her family in Missouri and building a house of our own down here instead. Not as many courses, but there is one 5 minutes from the house that’s only $62/mo for both of us to be members at and other nicer ones within a reasonable drive as well.    @Rick_D I’ll try to remember to let you know when I’m heading up that direction. It may happen more frequently in the coming year since a dealer for a business I started recently is based out of St Charles so making deliveries myself might be more economical than shipping. 
    • I don’t know why my swing got so vertical there. That wasn’t normal.    What did you mean by point 3? I get the hip turn portion. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...