So, you have purchased your golf analysis software and now have some 'stats'. But, like the terrier that chased the bus and, for once, managed to catch it, what do you do with them?
Unlike our proverbial terrier who sat waiting for the bus, the stats that you accumulated have nothing to do with chance. They are as a result of your correctly having recorded the information on which the stats are founded. So that's the first, arguably the most important, issue. Always remember the old computer adage, "Garbage in, Garbage out!"
Getting Professional Advice
To get the most out of your golf analysis software you cannot do better than to discuss your stats with your local PGA Teaching Pro. He, or she, will be able to relate what is happening on the golf course to what you are doing on the practice tee. Your Pro, as a registered PGA member, will have the knowledge and experience to identify discrepancies in the way that you strike the ball and the results you are achieving under actual playing conditions. This might mean an adjustment to your swing, your course management or simply your mental approach to the game. But what if you can't afford the expense? Perhaps the following pointers, relating to some fundamentals of the game will help you.
The Tee shot
"Drive for show and putt for dough", or so they say. But, in truth, the tee shot sets up the rest of the game. If you are hitting the fairway or first cut most of the time then scoring well is that much easier. If driving is a problem your stat will tell you where you are missing - right (the common fault), left or 50, 50 either side.
Ask yourself questions such as. "Is there a common thread to my wayward drives?" Are you trying for that little bit of extra distance; perhaps you are 'holding back' and not making a full swing when confronted with tight fairways and water hazards. The stat will tell you the "what"; you need to identify the "why". Finally, learn to live with what you have in terms of your physique and swing. Don't try to keep up with players younger, stronger or more supple than yourself. Live with your left to right fade and start the ball down the left side rather than fight it and end up with a duck hook.
The Shot to the Green
However many strokes you have taken to get there, the shot to the green is really the one to take note of. The majority of club golfers miss the green short rather than long. Yes, this can be because the wind is stronger than we think; but oft-times it is because we think we are stronger than we are. Two important stats are Greens in Net-regulation and Percent accuracy with Club Group Type (e.g. medium or short irons or wedges). Net-regulation is a term I coined to identify the average club member's equivalent of greens in regulation used by professionals and single figure handicap players. If you are hitting a high percentage of greens in 'regulation' plus your handicap stroke(s) you are doing exceptionally well and playing steady golf. When it comes to club groupings, you would expect that the percentage shots hitting the green with wedges and short irons should be higher than medium or long iron groupings. So very quickly you can focus your practice on the weaker areas and take more care in club selection during play.
The Short Game
The extent to which you get 'up and down' after chipping or pitching around the green or from greenside bunkers probably has the greatest impact on your ability to score well. Stats that are broken into subsets of 'distance from the pin' (say up to 10 feet, 10 to 15 feet and so on) will provide good feedback on how well you are managing the chip and pitch shots. The fact that you make a putt from 20 feet or more gives a warm feeling - but if you chipped and pitched more effectively you would take a lot of pressure off yourself and shave a handful of strokes off your handicap. Equally, if a good percentage of your greenside bunker shots are finishing more that 10 to 15 feet from the pin you know where you should spend a goodly portion of your practice time! Putting, well that's another story!
In Summary
Your golf analysis software is effectively another club in your bag. So use it wisely!
Barry Pratt has been playing golf for over 50 years and got to single figures. He is a keen statistician and developed a golf analysis software program in conjunction with teaching pros. To get a copy please visit http://www.scoretraq.com
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