Accuracy. Distance. Which is extra necessary?
Consider the perfect gamers . Do they hit towering bombs off the tee? Or does it look like they’re at all times placing for birdie?
To assist present some context, we gleaned some knowledge from the greater than 200 million recorded pictures in Shot Scope’s database.
Let’s have a look.
Accuracy
Many golfers seemingly imagine that extra expert golfers are extra correct than golfers with greater handicaps. Nevertheless, Shot Scope’s knowledge means that isn’t precisely the case—at the very least not when contemplating the proportion of fairways hit per spherical. The truth is, scratch golfers (0 hdcp) hit fewer fairways than some other handicap vary.
As a degree of reference, PGA TOUR professionals hit a mean of 47 p.c of fairways. Definitely, course setup (narrower touchdown areas) and customarily agency and quick situations play into this determine.
It’s additionally price noting that LPGA Tour professionals hit greater than 70 p.c of fairways—23 p.c greater than their male counterparts.
Distance
Then again, distance differs considerably between handicap ranges. Scratch golfers have an enormous benefit over their fellow amateurs, hitting drives 68 yards additional on common in comparison with 25 handicappers. Nonetheless, a scratch golfer is roughly 40 yards shy of the typical PGA TOUR driving distance.
In the event you contemplate solely driving distance, a scratch golfer is much nearer to an LPGA Tour participant than to a PGA TOUR golfer. To be clear, whereas swing pace and tools specs is perhaps in the identical ballpark, with regards to ability and scoring common, the LPGA Tour participant is universally superior to any scratch golfer.
Remember that all averages embody some outliers. Some golfers might need extra frequent, although much less extreme, mishits. For others, it is perhaps the alternative: fewer mishits however the magnitude of every miss is way larger.
Affect on Scoring
On this case, the info is evident. No matter handicap or ability, golfers are comparatively constant relating to the proportion of fairways hit. Nevertheless, we’d count on to see that golfers with a shorter common driving distance battle to hit a big share of greens in regulation.
A fast instance…
Golfer A is a scratch golfer, Golfer B is a 20 handicap.
Each play a par-4 of 395 yards.
Golfer A drives the ball 260 yards, leaving 135 yards to the inexperienced.
Primarily based on Shot Scope common distances, Golfer A will use a 9-iron for the method shot.
Golfer B drives the ball 204 yards, leaving 191 yards to the inexperienced.
Primarily based on Shot Scope common distances, Golfer B will use a 3-wood for the second shot and can hit it roughly 169 yards, ending 22 yards in need of the inexperienced.
If we have a look at the info barely otherwise, Golfer A hits the inexperienced 62.5 p.c of the time from 135 yards.
Golfer B hits the inexperienced solely seven p.c of the time from 191 yards. You is perhaps inclined to argue that Golfer B ought to transfer up a set of tees (or two) and also you’d seemingly be appropriate.
Nevertheless, the illustrative level is that distance has an incredible impression on a golfer’s skill to shoot the bottom rating attainable. Furthermore, gaining (or shedding) distance isn’t remoted to a single membership. In the event you acquire 10 yards together with your driver, you’ll seemingly hit your different golf equipment additional as nicely.
It’s a data-driven world, we’re simply residing it in.
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