1st installment of a 2 part series for Dunyasi magazine
If you have read previous articles, you realize our focus is to improve your golf game through better knowledge about golf. Rather than providing golf swing instruction, we attempt to highlight skills sets which will help you play better golf.
We previously discussed the “Value of strategic golf”, assigning percentage values to each type of golf shot and highlighting the importance of the “short game”:
- Tee shots – 19.45%*
- Approach and bridge shots – 30.55%*
- Putts – 50%*
- *based on a par 72 round
To stress this point even further, on June 1, 2007 the USGA Research and Test Center released this years “Statistical Analysis of PGA Tour Skill Rankings 1980-2006”. According to the USGA, “Correlating the money won rankings to skill rankings, can be used to determine the relative importance of key skills to winning…” The analysis includes complex statistical evaluation charts. The following two excerpts from this study underline the importance of the short game:
“Greens in Regulation (GIR) and Putting Average rankings have relatively strong correlations to money won rankings.”
“Compared to GIR and Putting Average, Driving Distance ranking has a relatively low correlation to Money ranking. It has remained fairly stable over the period studied.”
From the statements above, driving distance ranking (which exhibits a low correlation to money ranking) has remained fairly stable for 26 years. So, this study contemplates the recent technology advances, which is the subject of so much debate. To many, this may seem a curious finding, based on all the emphasis given to driving distance increases. However, it also neatly underlines the enduring influence the short game has on scoring and winning.
These statistics, based on the world’s best golfers, supports the assertion that the short game is vitally important to scoring well in golf.
How do you use this information to improve your scoring? The reality is, too many players focus on distance, when they should focus on accuracy. Most golfers lack the skill to consistently execute long, difficult golf shots. But, this doesn’t discourage them from relentlessly attempting them. The result is frequently disastrous to their scorecard.
Take a hint from these professionals: Peter Thompson, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. Each one is a multiple British Open winner and each one is a consummate golf strategist. Each approaches golf with unbridled cerebral intensity, cleverly outwitting the challenges of the most tactical golf course. They are not disturbed about sacrificing length, if they feel they can gain an advantage by playing for position.
Perhaps you don’t have the same skills as these players. But consider the fact that none of these players completely mastered every skill. There is not a single professional golfer that has been able to lead every statistical category in golf. Each golfer, amateur or professional, has strengths and weaknesses. Play to your strength.
Statistics, as shown previously, indicate the best investment you can make is in your short game, i.e. putting and approach shots. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to isolate a few skills you can master.
In the next installment, we will talk about playing a tactical short game and how to make tactical decisions that will lower your scores.
In the meantime, if you are still obsessed with the desire to gain distance rather than lower your scores, think about this:
The record for the longest drive in history has not been seriously challenged for 33 years!!Mike Austin's record setting drive came in 1974, and measured 515 yards (468 meters). It was struck with a steel-shafted, persimmon driver and a balata ball at the U.S. National Senior Open in Las Vegas. Austin was 64 year old at the time of the legendary shot.A truly amazing feat! A 64-year-old man, using a persimmon (wood head) driver with a steel shaft, hitting a 468 meter drive!! All the new technology, intense physical training and talent of the world’s best players haven’t been able to match this feat for 33 years and counting. Certainly a memorable feat!
An interesting footnote to this event is: Mr. Austin’s scorecard recorded a bogey on this par-4 hole. He missed the green with the drive, chipped on the green with his second shot and took three putts, for a bogey 5.
In the words of Paul Harvey, "And now you know the rest of the story...."
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