3 Common Golf Stats Myths that HURT your scores w/ Mark Broadie
Jun 14, 2018
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Mark Broadie, creator of the Strokes Gained concept, debunks common golf stats myths. He talks about the weight of golf strokes, the biggest areas of gain in scoring, strokes gained application in other sports and education, misconceptions about approach shots, and his helpful book and app for golfers.
Strokes gained is a crucial metric in golf that allows players to measure their performance and make data-driven decisions.
Capturing and analyzing data using strokes gained provides players with valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
Deep dives
The Importance of Strokes Gained in Golf
Strokes gained is a crucial metric in golf that allows players to measure their performance and make data-driven decisions. While traditional stats like fairways hit and putts per round may seem informative, they can be misleading and unhelpful. Strokes gained takes into account the relative value of each shot, allowing players to focus on areas that truly make a difference. Driving distance, for example, is a significant factor in scoring, whereas the difference in make percentage of three-foot putts is minimal. Approach shots are the biggest differentiator in scoring, followed by driving, putting, and short game. To improve, players should focus on their approach shots, ideally within 150 yards, as this part of the game plays a significant role in lowering scores.
Using Strokes Gained to Measure Progress and Set Goals
Capturing and analyzing data using strokes gained provides players with valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses. By benchmarking their performance and setting goals based on strokes gained metrics, players can make informed decisions about their practice routines. Coaches play a crucial role in guiding players by leveraging this data to identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. Whether it's driving accuracy, approach shots, or putting, monitoring strokes gained helps players align their practice efforts with their goals and ultimately improve their overall scoring average.
Misconceptions and Unrealistic Expectations
Many golfers have misconceptions and unrealistic expectations about their performance based on what they see on TV or in highlight reels. The reality is that even professional golfers don't hit their shots as close to the pin as one might think. On average, a PGA Tour pro will hit half their approach shots within 23 feet of the hole from 150 yards in the fairway. This proximity measure is significantly better than the average golfer, who puts only half their shots within 56 feet of the hole from the same distance. Managing expectations and understanding the challenges of the game, especially when it comes to approach shots, is crucial for improving one's game.
Strokes Gained Beyond Golf
The concept of strokes gained can be applied to various areas of life beyond golf. Measuring progress towards a goal is a universal concept used in business, finance, science, marketing, and more. Strokes gained is akin to measuring the value added in different sports, such as run value in baseball or expected points gained in football. It can even be applied to education, where measuring a teacher's contribution based on student improvement is more meaningful than absolute test scores. The application of strokes gained thinking extends to other aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of measuring progress in achieving desired outcomes.
We sit down with the creator of the Strokes Gained concept, Mark Broadie to talk about golf stats myths and how a lot of our common conceptions of golf stats like FIR and GIR aren’t helping us make smart decisions.
Get all the details here http://golfsciencelab.com/3-common-golf-stats-myths-mark-broadie
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