Questions On Stat-Keeping

[Wardy]

On the subject of keeping stats.... started recording mine last month and it really does teach you quite a lot about your game.

The below is based on 3 rounds in September at my local course:

Average FIRs	Average FIR %	Average GIRs	Average GIR %	Average Driving Accuracy %	Average H/W Accuracy %	Average Iron Accuracy %
4/15	27%	1.33333333333333/15	9%	46%	67%	43%

Average Chip/Pitch Accuracy %	Average Putts	Putting Average	Average Bunkers	Average Sand Saves	Average Scrambling %
63%	32	1.78	3	#DIV/0!	29%

1.3 GIR's on average (!) is alarming, but my putting average is 1.83 so clearly saving me a lot of shots!

Made some assumptions e.g. Accuracy % based on where I wanted the ball to end up and where it did actually end up, if not then counts as an error and therefore marks the % down.

[Maddog10]

On the subject of keeping stats.... started recording mine last month and it really does teach you quite a lot about your game.

The below is based on 3 rounds in September at my local course:

Average FIRs

Average FIR %

Average GIRs

Average GIR %

Average Driving Accuracy %

Average H/W Accuracy %

Average Iron Accuracy %

4/15

27%

1.33333333333333/15

9%

46%

67%

43%

Average Chip/Pitch Accuracy %

Average Putts

Putting Average

Average Bunkers

Average Sand Saves

Average Scrambling %

63%

32

1.78

3

#DIV/0!

29%

1.3 GIR's on average (!) is alarming, but my putting average is 1.83 so clearly saving me a lot of shots!

Made some assumptions e.g. Accuracy % based on where I wanted the ball to end up and where it did actually end up, if not then counts as an error and therefore marks the % down.

If nothing else, it gives you something to look at and build upon. I like to record monthly averages as well to see if I'm showing improvement or recession in any category. That way it helps you know each month where to focus some of your practice efforts.

One thing I have noticed in my stats, and I predict you will as well, is that as your GIR's go up, so will your putting. The reason for this is because you will typically be farther from the hole when you hit the GIR, therefore having less one putts and more three putts. Still though, improving your GIR percentage will GREATLY improve your scoring average, because more times than not you will 2 putt for par. If you can bump up that GIR and keep your putting average below 2, you will see vast improvement.

[Wardy]

If nothing else, it gives you something to look at and build upon. I like to record monthly averages as well to see if I'm showing improvement or recession in any category. That way it helps you know each month where to focus some of your practice efforts.

One thing I have noticed in my stats, and I predict you will as well, is that as your GIR's go up, so will your putting. The reason for this is because you will typically be farther from the hole when you hit the GIR, therefore having less one putts and more three putts. Still though, improving your GIR percentage will GREATLY improve your scoring average, because more times than not you will 2 putt for par. If you can bump up that GIR and keep your putting average below 2, you will see vast improvement.

Yep agree mate, it's a good way to set targets and I feel this is always important when wanting to achieve results. The practicing part I agree on as well, it's what I've tried doing recently.

Makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. I guess you could be off the green slightly (missed GIR) and chip really close and then slot a 1 putt in, whereas hit the green for a horrible downhill path to the hole and 3 putt.

I was thinking about how to improve my GIR specifically, but really it's a combination of good driving and accurate iron shots, which my stats show I don't have at the moment. I'm actually purchasing some new irons this week (as I'm using some inherited ones at the moment), which I hope will improve my game as my Vokey wedges have recently

[Maddog10]

Yep agree mate, it's a good way to set targets and I feel this is always important when wanting to achieve results. The practicing part I agree on as well, it's what I've tried doing recently.

Makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. I guess you could be off the green slightly (missed GIR) and chip really close and then slot a 1 putt in, whereas hit the green for a horrible downhill path to the hole and 3 putt.

I was thinking about how to improve my GIR specifically, but really it's a combination of good driving and accurate iron shots, which my stats show I don't have at the moment. I'm actually purchasing some new irons this week (as I'm using some inherited ones at the moment), which I hope will improve my game as my Vokey wedges have recently

Hitting fairways and solid irons shots are obviously critical to improving your GIR %. Golf is a compounding game in the sense that every shot effects all of the following shots. To improve your score, you need to improve GIR's. To improve GIR's, you need to improve FW's. Then there are an endless amount of factors that contribute to each of those as well.

The single-most thing that helped me improve my GIR % though is to completely forget about aiming at the flag. Aim at the middle of every single green. This gives you the most room for error both long and short as well as left and right. In return, you give yourself two putts to make par, most of which you will convert. Occasionally you are going to mess up and make some 3-putts, but you may also luck into a 1-putt every once in a while.

[Wardy]

Hitting fairways and solid irons shots are obviously critical to improving your GIR %. Golf is a compounding game in the sense that every shot effects all of the following shots. To improve your score, you need to improve GIR's. To improve GIR's, you need to improve FW's. Then there are an endless amount of factors that contribute to each of those as well.

The single-most thing that helped me improve my GIR % though is to completely forget about aiming at the flag. Aim at the middle of every single green. This gives you the most room for error both long and short as well as left and right. In return, you give yourself two putts to make par, most of which you will convert. Occasionally you are going to mess up and make some 3-putts, but you may also luck into a 1-putt every once in a while.

It's another good point. I was told when I last had a lesson, to aim for the centre of the green, but tend to forget that out on the course and get caught up trying to aim for 'pin seekers'. I'll try and embed that focus this weekend and see how I get on

[liquor box]

I think most people would do that. On days when I hit greens all day I will leave 20-40ft putts and tend to 3 putt a fair bit. On days with a low GIR I tend to miss the green by 3-5 feet and chip close to the hole and get a fair few one putts.

I added a distance stat to my records to indicate if my three putts are from a long distance

[Wardy]

I think most people would do that. On days when I hit greens all day I will leave 20-40ft putts and tend to 3 putt a fair bit. On days with a low GIR I tend to miss the green by 3-5 feet and chip close to the hole and get a fair few one putts.

I added a distance stat to my records to indicate if my three putts are from a long distance

I like that idea, might have to do that. Although, I need to actually get some GIR's first