Playing Percentages
Today’s blog is about playing percentages-“the feel” versus “the real.” This illustration is of a 372 yards Par 4. Each triangle on the hole represents the club and distance needed to reach the green, while the legend to the right represents the required tee shot distance and the most important data, what the green in regulation percentage is with the required approach club.
Just by looking at the data, what is the best choice club by which to attack the green? The answer would be the 9-iron. 81% of the time that this golfer attacks the green with the 9-iron, they make it on. The second-best option is the Pitching Wedge, and then third is the Gap Wedge.
Here is why the majority of golfers struggle even making par. The idea is “I must hit it the farthest that I can, so my second shot is short.” It almost makes sense, except “far” and “fairway” usually are not in the same sentence. They pull, they slice, they do everything under pressure but hit the fairway to make that second shot easier. What if there was a way to go less than driver and find the fairway?
A 3-fairway wood hit 236 yards will render this golfer with their highest percentage approach club-the 9-iron. Consider this: If every green was hit within regulation, and you three putt each hole, you would have the score of a 90. 72+18 extra strokes is a score of 90. So, if you score higher than 90, that means your approach game is in need of some help.
Now, how does one get their approach percentages? Now there are applications that you can download on your phone like The Grint or 18 Birdies, but may I recommend ARCCOS. You will be playing percentages well with this system as sensors are placed on each club. Then when you hit the ball, the sensors are Bluetooth connected with your phone to tell you how far you hit that shot, and what your fairway and green in regulations are.
It literally tracks your statistics and provides you real time data to help you improve. The best part is it becomes your virtual caddy based on your history, so that you can make smarter decisions on the golf course and score better.
-David