STROKES GAINED- I have read Every Shot Counts by Mark Broadie and when it comes to accuracy and distance, I see a dilemma. Now, before I get into the weeds with this, I am by no means challenging the book or the author. I agree with that book 100%. My disagreement is with your skillset. I will explain more later. For now, to sum the book up in its entirety, on tour to be longer-regardless as to whether you are in the fairway or the rough-is to score better. It is undeniable, the stats themselves prove that. So, distance is king to raking in the cold, hard cash while having a superb short game will make sure you finish well, but you won’t hardly win.
When you analyze the professional’s understanding of the game, there is an inherit knowledge that most amateurs think that they have. That is the major problem. You know what you know and what you do not know cannot help you or make you rich. It is Wilson’s Law. The infinite value of knowledge. If you challenge yourself to have the most amount of intellect and knowledge that you can possibly fathom, a byproduct of that is wealth. In terms of golf when you apply this law, is the more knowledge you have from the external factors, your own game, how far you hit your clubs, the precipitation in the grass, the humidity, the barometric pressure, the firmness of the soil, the sharpness of your grooves, etc., that will provide you with the better score through each hole if you apply those factors into your decision as to the shot shape-that is the beginning ball flight path and the ball spin that you apply to bend the ball in the direction that you choose.
Most professionals know how to shape the ball. While some prefer fades, and others prefer draws, the key is that they understand by repetition the importance of knowing where their ball is going to go. An amateur golfer who “wants to hit it straight” while their body is aligned “for a fade” has no business utilizing strokes gained as a reference for their gameplay. That shot result will be located in the bustling, metropolitan center of Slice City, where the majority of balls go, being sent on a journey by their owner who lacked the comprehensive knowledge or failed to apply said knowledge and the result is a ball 40-50 yards diagonal in the deep rough. If I were to watch a golfer hit five slices in a row, all resulting 35 yards right of target for a right-handed golfer, and I adjust them 35 yards to the left, I would have no clients. “That guy does not know what he is talking about.” On the contrary, the knowledge I have provides me insight to the solution that they do not understand. In most cases, the issue is the grip, followed by alignment, clubface closure rate, hands too far forward at impact, and a very steep over the top that results in cutting across the body, perhaps even a chicken-wing of the lead arm. Not just those characteristics, but those are the most prevalent as I have seen.
What this means is amateurs have a 90% solution to their game. The lacking 10% is the understanding of gear effect and how the club path, face angle, and impact position on the face at will result in a spin that ensures the ball will NOT go straight. To score well in golf, distance is certainly a plus, but Greens in Regulation (GiR) evens the playing field if you are not so long off of the tee. This means that as an amateur, finding the green in the shortest number of strokes possible will yield you a better score. You do not need distance if your slice is going to add 35 extra yards to your next shot with a more difficult lie. Two 200-yard shots on the fairway will get you on most greens. Consider learning how to shape the ball and once you apply the ability to put the ball where you want it, then gaining distance is the next thing on your to-do list.
-David