Hey Mike...  I totally agree that keeping stats are a great way to improve your game.

I have been keeping stats for quite some time and found my GIR was high, and my Fairways hit was high. Most Fairway misses were to the right, and unfortunately for me my total putts was high. One has to be careful however in analyzing the stats as I thought my stats were telling me that my putting was really bad, so I practiced my putting over and over and over. In the end, my real issue was that my shots into the greens were just too far from the pin. Once I got my new AP1's that were fit for me professionally, I found I was better at hitting closer to the hole which ultimately eliminated a lot of my 3 putts and started dropping my scores. I also found that my up and down percentage was quite low so I am still working on my chipping. I use my Garmin SG6 to track all this info while I play which is really handy.

So - definitely keep the stats and use them to improve and remember that the answer is not always the obvious one.

I agree with you Mike - It is fun when you start tracking your game and zero in on the specific issues that are hurting your game. It allows you to focus on one thing at a time instead of getting frustrated. Golf is meant to be a challenge, but should be fun !

Have a great season !

Darius

Hi Michael,

There is a lot of validity in what you're saying.  Playing for stats is essentially another way of saying "focus only on the shot at hand".  It plays into a lot of the psychology aspects ofteh game (forget about the last shot, it's over...).

Your approach also implies, for instance, that you don't go hunting for sucker pins, instead go for the fat of the green.  Which is another way if saying you;re taking the big numbers out of play.

If you do well with the stats, the score should take care of itself... in theory.  I still think that you should have an overal strategy when you approach the hole, but most sucessful strategies will involve hitting the fairway and getting a GIR, and minimizing the number of putts.

Regards,

--
Kevin

Strongly agree with all of your intake. Darius I like how you added that you thought it was your putting that way bad but in your case it was that your shots were not close enough to the pin. This is why us players really have to look closely after our round every so often and even sit down after and see where you went wrong. Just like the pros do after their rounds look into their score and try picturing the hole to help them figure out where they could have scored lower which tells them what the could possibly work on. 

I just think if you play 3 times a week. One of those rounds could be a stats game. Maybe a round with out a bunch of buddies where one can focus. Stats do tell you some things but like you said Darius some players might start working on the wrong things. And Kevin my coach for the last two years told me when I was struggling with hitting more greens he said go for the flat part of the green even if you have a 30 foot putt you still have that GIR that I'm looking for. 

Great to hear everyone input on stats. 

Play well

Mike M

Michael and Kevin couldn't have explained it any better! As I am going through a course management take on my game this year, I have noticed my scores come down and that is without any lessons yet!! I think we are too concerned with hitting that "amazing" shot tight to the pin that we barely set up for a birdie putt. Its amazing how fast the strokes add up. It is a great way to mix up the game every once and a while plus you will see how your scores will lower and it does help you let go or get over the last shot. Keep up the great advice TT members and staff!