Golf Stats You Need to Track
As golfers, we often obsess over our final score, believing it to be the ultimate measure of our performance. However, the reality is that the final score is merely the tip of the iceberg. It tells us only part of the story of our round of golf. To genuinely understand your strengths and weaknesses, and to chart a path towards lower scores, you must delve deeper by tracking key statistics.
Tracking the right stats can illuminate the aspects of your game that need the most attention. It can tell you where you're losing the most strokes and help you practice more effectively. Here's a closer look at the essential stats every golfer should track.
Fairways Hit
Hitting the fairway is crucial for setting up your subsequent shots. A drive that finds the fairway typically leads to better opportunities to hit the green in regulation. Tracking fairways hit can help you identify trends in your driving accuracy. Are you consistently missing to the right? Is your distance control off? By noting these patterns, you can tailor your practice sessions to address these specific issues.
On your scorecard, mark a fairway hit with an "x" in the bottom left corner of the hole square to indicate a fairway hit. If you miss the fairway, draw an arrow in the direction of the miss. This simple act of tracking can reveal significant insights over time. For instance, if you notice a high percentage of missed fairways, it might be time to focus on your driver accuracy or consider whether a more conservative club off the tee could improve your scores.
Greens in Regulation (GIR)
A green in regulation (GIR) means reaching the green in two strokes less than the par for that hole. For example, hitting the green in two shots on a par-4 or three shots on a par-5. GIR is a critical stat because it correlates strongly with scoring potential. The more greens you hit in regulation, the more birdie opportunities you'll have and the fewer difficult up-and-downs you'll face.
On your scorecard, indicate a GIR with a circle in the top right corner of the hole square. Additionally, write the number of putts in the same corner. Tracking GIR helps you understand your approach shot accuracy and distance control. If you're missing greens, are you short, long, left, or right? Similar to drives, mark an arrow in the direction of a missed green. This information is invaluable for pinpointing what to work on.
Penalty Strokes
Penalty strokes are the silent scorecard killers. They are the result of errant shots that find water, out-of-bounds, or other hazards. Each penalty stroke not only adds to your score but also disrupts your momentum and can be mentally taxing.
Track penalty strokes by placing a dot in the top left corner of the hole square. Understanding where and why you're incurring penalties can help you make strategic adjustments. Perhaps you need to refine your course management, or maybe it's time to work on specific shot shapes to avoid trouble.
Scrambling
Scrambling refers to the ability to save par after missing the green in regulation; it’s getting “up and down.” It involves getting the ball onto the green and making the putt. High scrambling percentages are indicative of a strong short game and mental resilience under pressure.
Use a caret symbol (^) in the bottom right corner of the hole square to denote a successful scramble. This stat is crucial because it shows how well you're managing your game when things don't go as planned. A high scrambling percentage can keep your scores low even when your ball-striking isn't at its best.
Putts Per GIR
While total putts give an overall picture of your putting performance, putts per green in regulation (Putts/GIR) provide a more nuanced view. This stat measures your putting efficiency specifically when you've hit the green in regulation. Ideally, you want to average less than two putts per GIR.
Putts per GIR is a better indicator of putting ability because it removes times when you miss the green by a small margin and chip up close. One putting in that situation isn’t a full picture of your putting skill. Maybe you putted from the fringe, it may seem like a 2-putt, but actually it was a missed GIR and a decent chip, or scramble.
By tracking this stat, you can identify if your putting is holding you back from capitalizing on good approach shots. Write the number of putts in the top right corner of the hole square. If you find that you're consistently three-putting greens in regulation, it may be time to focus on your lag putting and distance control.
Total Putts
Finally, total putts is a straightforward but essential stat. It reflects your overall putting performance throughout the round. Tracking total putts helps you gauge your putting consistency and identify rounds where your short game shines or needs improvement.
Write the total number of putts at the end of your round. This cumulative figure, when compared against your Putts/GIR stat, can help you understand if your putting issues are primarily from distance or close-range putts.
Putting It All Together
At the end of your round, gather your data and input it into an Excel document. Compare your stats against the averages for golfers of similar skill levels. Many handicap apps also offer robust stat tracking features that can simplify this process. By consistently analyzing your performance, you'll start to notice patterns and areas needing attention.
For example, if you notice you're hitting a high percentage of greens in regulation but have a high number of total putts, it’s clear your putting needs work. Conversely, if your GIR is low, but your scrambling is high, your short game might be masking issues with your approach shots.
Focusing Your Practice
Tracking these key stats brings focus, organization, and intentionality to your practice sessions. Too often, golfers practice in an unorganized manner, hitting balls aimlessly at the range or spending hours on the putting green without purpose. By knowing exactly where you're losing strokes, you can tailor your practice to the areas that will have the most significant impact on your scores.
In the end, the goal is to lower your scores by making informed adjustments based on concrete data. Your final score is the outcome, but these stats tell the story of how you got there and where you can go from here. Embrace the power of tracking, and watch your game improve faster than you ever thought possible.