FIR stat recording ?

[lee34]

So for my stats I always count FIR, GIRs and number of putts.

However recently I've been considering being more lenient with my FIRs a bit like NGIRs if you will.

Normally I'm strict so if the ball isn't sat on the fairway it gets an X rather than a tick. As a 24 handicapper I'm wondering whether I should put a tick in my FIR box if I'm happy with my drive. So it may be in light rough just off the fairway but it was a good drive and I'm happy with it.

what are your thoughts on this ?

[Hacker James]

To me there is no such thing as FIR, only Fairways hit. Either you do, or you don't. Its not quite like horse shoes. The purpose of maintaining stats of any kind is as a benchmark for your progress or what needs improvement. I might,however, look at the "rankings" on the PGA Tour differently as a means of comparison between the players.  

[DaveP043]

I don't keep formal stats, but I review every round mentally.  For me, a drive is acceptable if its hit reasonably solid and finishes in an acceptable spot.  If I miss a fairway by an inch, or even by 10 feet, that's still pretty decent, unless that inch puts me in a hazard or some other bad place.  Sometimes my aiming point is at the edge of a fairway, to be sure to avoid serious trouble on the other side.  I can hardly beat myself up for missing those shots by a hair to the "rough" side.  So for you, as a tool to evaluate your own game, I'd see no problem with revising your personal definition.  Don't use that stat to compare to anyone else, though, since you could be comparing apples and oranges.

[lee34]

2 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I don't keep formal stats, but I review every round mentally.  For me, a drive is acceptable if its hit reasonably solid and finishes in an acceptable spot.  If I miss a fairway by an inch, or even by 10 feet, that's still pretty decent, unless that inch puts me in a hazard or some other bad place.  Sometimes my aiming point is at the edge of a fairway, to be sure to avoid serious trouble on the other side.  I can hardly beat myself up for missing those shots by a hair to the "rough" side.  So for you, as a tool to evaluate your own game, I'd see no problem with revising your personal definition.  Don't use that stat to compare to anyone else, though, since you could be comparing apples and oranges.

Good reply 

[kpaulhus]

I think you should keep whatever stats you feel will help progress your game and enable you to evaluate where you need to focus your practice. Who cares if your stats don't match exactly what the PGA Tour defines as a FIR. If it helps you get better and enjoy the game more do it however you want. 

Now, with that said, don't go boasting about 60-70% FIR if what you record is your own variation of what a FIR actually means. 

[iacas]

I think FIR is one of the more pointless statistics.

In fact, better players tend to hit fewer fairways than worse players.

[Lihu]

7 minutes ago, iacas said:

I think FIR is one of the more pointless statistics.

In fact, better players tend to hit fewer fairways than worse players.

Sure, 180 yard drives will be easier to hit fairways than 280 yard drives.

 

[lee34]

Thanks for all your replies.

As a 24 handicapper it's mainly gonna be a tool to see where I can improve etc. So from now on I'm basically going to count a FIR as a drive I'm happy with.

It won't be comparable with others etc as I realise that it isn't entirely accurate but will help show me where I need to spend more practice time etc.

There have been several times I've hit a great drive but because it's trickled off the fairway I haven't counted it. IMO this is wrong as an amateur because I've done what I wanted to do. Significantly shortened the hole and given myself a good chance of hitting a GIR.

[RandallT]

Yah, I agree with all the above. I'll just add:

I see you've purchased LSW, @lee34. There's a tool in the member content of LSW where you can give yourself a score for each shot (and categorize them). For drives, it doesn't matter if you hit a fairway or not. You give it your own score based on how well you hit it and if the result was acceptable to you. 

That way, you can assess somewhat numerically which area of the game might need the most work. And that is ultimately why most of us keep our own stats: put them to work to help figure out where to improve.

I suppose also use our stats to measure any progress, but that progress will only come if we do the bolded part above well!

[Lihu]

2 minutes ago, lee34 said:

Thanks for all your replies.

As a 24 handicapper it's mainly gonna be a tool to see where I can improve etc. So from now on I'm basically going to count a FIR as a drive I'm happy with.

It won't be comparable with others etc as I realise that it isn't entirely accurate but will help show me where I need to spend more practice time etc.

There have been several times I've hit a great drive but because it's trickled off the fairway I haven't counted it. IMO this is wrong as an amateur because I've done what I wanted to do. Significantly shortened the hole and given myself a good chance of hitting a GIR.

Exactly, so instead of FIR, perhaps record your driving distances as a means to show improvement?

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, Lihu said:

Exactly, so instead of FIR, perhaps record your driving distances as a means to show improvement?

Everyone will have a different criteria, but for me distance is only part of the requirement for a good drive,  it also has to be in decent position.  A long drive OB or in the trees isn't good, no matter how far it goes.  Similarly, a topped drive that goes 50 yards, but ends up in the center of the fairway is no good too.  Reasonable (or better) distance plus a certain degree of accuracy make it a successful drive for me.

[Lihu]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

Everyone will have a different criteria, but for me distance is only part of the requirement for a good drive,  it also has to be in decent position.  A long drive OB or in the trees isn't good, no matter how far it goes.  Similarly, a topped drive that goes 50 yards, but ends up in the center of the fairway is no good too.  Reasonable (or better) distance plus a certain degree of accuracy make it a successful drive for me.

For you, it might make more sense to focus on accuracy along with maintaining your distance?

However, I think that a 24 handicap has a lot more room for improvement distance wise off the tee?

[Piz]

Perhaps you could replace FIR with IWAC (In With A Chance).  Any drive that leaves you in good shape for your next shot is a successful one.  

[Hacker James]

all said and done, you can do anything you want to to suit your individual purposes. There is really no competition involved, except perhaps around the green in a skins game.

[iacas]

Here's why fairways hit is virtually useless:

Like @Lihu said, it's easier to hit the fairway when you're closer to it (shorter tees) and hit it shorter (less time for it to travel offline).

[Ernest Jones]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

Here's why fairways hit is virtually useless:

Like @Lihu said, it's easier to hit the fairway when you're closer to it (shorter tees) and hit it shorter (less time for it to travel offline).

Right. I could easily hit every fairway if I tee'd off every hole with 9i. 

[Wanzo]

40 minutes ago, iacas said:

Here's why fairways hit is virtually useless:

Like @Lihu said, it's easier to hit the fairway when you're closer to it (shorter tees) and hit it shorter (less time for it to travel offline).

interesting, I would not have thought the fairways hit goes up like that along with handicap, but I guess it makes sense if distance goes down.  I hear the sentiment that it's virtually useless, but I'd say if you are a 5 hcp and your 50% fairways hit, it could shine a light to practice on driving more if it's a glaring weakness when comparing to these stats.  But like others have said, probably a more effective method would be to give every drive a score not based on fairway hit or not, but some combination of is it where you were aiming and does it allow you to hit the next shot you were hoping to hit.

[saevel25]

3 hours ago, Wanzo said:

 I hear the sentiment that it's virtually useless, but I'd say if you are a 5 hcp and your 50% fairways hit, it could shine a light to practice on driving more if it's a glaring weakness when comparing to these stats.  

50% fairways isn't too bad. It also can depend on course management as well. Sometimes rough is better to play from if it cuts a lot of distance off the hole, or takes a hazard completely out of play.