Golf Swing Key Concepts - Part VI

This key concept is more of a statistical approach and how it relates to parts 1-5 in this series.

In the first 5 parts of the series I've talked solely about concepts with the golf swing and its relation to ballstriking success. So, why is that stressed so much in a game where the main goal is to shoot the lowest score possible?

Well, take a look at the top 5 statistics that correlated to scoring average on the PGA Tour over the past 3 years.

1. GIR
2. Putts/GIR
3. Double Bogey or Worse Rate
4. Scrambling
5. 'Go For Its'

The common theory about improving the golf game is to work on your short game and in particular your putting. But looking at these statistics shows a different story and it's not just because GIR is ranked #1.

Even with putts/GIR ranked #2, a golfer that can consistently get the ball closer to the hole for birdie is more likely to sink more putts even if they are a lesser putter. Most double bogeys or worse happen from a bad tee shot or a shot that goes into a hazard or O.B. And while scrambling is very much entrenched in short game skill, the closer you can get to the green the more likely the golfer will be able to get up and down. 'Go For It's is the amount of times a golfer goes for a par-5 in two...another statistic geared towards ballstriking, particularly length.

As a golfer gets really good and wants to take their game onto the next level and make some money, then they'll need to be able to make putts. But for the overwhelming majority of time, golfers cannot make serious improvement because their clubface, clubpath and low point control does not improve so their ballstriking does not improve.

That's a big reason why golfers and instructors obsess about the swings of Hogan, Tiger, Nicklaus, Snead and Moe. They not only controlled the clubface, club path and low point masterfully, but they also did it with very dynamic swings.






3JACK