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Accuracy. Distance. Which is extra necessary?
Consider the very best gamers you realize. Do they hit towering bombs off the tee? Or does it appear to be they’re all the time placing for birdie?
To assist present some context, we gleaned some information from the greater than 200 million recorded photographs in Shot Scope’s database.
Let’s have a look.
Accuracy
Many golfers probably imagine that extra expert golfers are extra correct than golfers with greater handicaps. Nonetheless, Shot Scope’s information means that isn’t precisely the case—a minimum of not when contemplating the proportion of fairways hit per spherical. Actually, scratch golfers (0 hdcp) hit fewer fairways than some other handicap vary.
As some extent of reference, PGA TOUR execs hit a median of 47 p.c of fairways. Actually, course setup (narrower touchdown areas) and usually agency and quick circumstances play into this determine.
It’s additionally value noting that LPGA Tour execs 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 case you think about 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 velocity and gear specs may be in the identical ballpark, in terms of talent and scoring common, the LPGA Tour participant is universally superior to any scratch golfer.
Needless to say all averages embrace some outliers. Some golfers might need extra frequent, although much less extreme, mishits. For others, it may be the alternative: fewer mishits however the magnitude of every miss is way higher.
Influence on Scoring
On this case, the info is evident. No matter handicap or talent, golfers are comparatively constant relating to the proportion of fairways hit. Nonetheless, we’d anticipate 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.
Based mostly 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.
Based mostly 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 may be inclined to argue that Golfer B ought to transfer up a set of tees (or two) and also you’d probably be appropriate.
Nonetheless, the illustrative level is that distance has an incredible affect on a golfer’s capacity to shoot the bottom rating doable. Furthermore, gaining (or dropping) distance isn’t remoted to a single membership. In case you achieve 10 yards together with your driver, you’ll probably hit your different golf equipment additional as nicely.
It’s a data-driven world, we’re simply residing it in.
What subject or query ought to we dig into subsequent? Share some ideas.
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