New Book - Golf Statistical Analysis

[MarcKilgore 18]

The new book from Mark Broadie is out

Every Shot Counts: Using the Revolutionary Strokes Gained Approach to Improve ... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C1N5W84/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_TTWmtb0M2R4VS

 

I find this very timely, as we are talking about the "most wanted" clubs.  I just downloaded the Kindle version and am going to give it a read while there is still snow on the ground. For those of you who do not know who Mark Broadie is, he's the professor that came up with the "putting strokes gained" statistic. From the brief discussions I've read, he's pretty much proved that driving is the most important part of the game - not putting - contrary to popular belief. His analysis has shown that tee shots account for 28% of the shots gained in a round, versus 17% for putting.

[The Artful Duffer 2]

Golf and math?! Sweet.(No seriously, I love these kinds of reads) I am definitely gonna check this one out.

[revkev 21,702]

I also want to read the book. I'm not sure that I totally buy into his theory as yet. I the end the drives I hit are real drives just as the putts that I hit are real putts. It seems to be fanciful math that claims a shot that I hit 14 times needs to be practiced and perfected ahead of one that I hit 32 times.

 

I know he applies his numbers to amateurs but I'm not convinced that the comp works.

[GolfSpy WD 12]

Thanks for the tip! I picked up a copy and it'll be the next book I read.

[MarcKilgore 18]

I'm around 1/3 through the book, and the thing that I still think is that you need to practice what is easiest for you to fix - not necessarily in agreement with what he says. For me, if I chunk two chip shots in a round (which I just freaking did last weekend), that's much easier for me to address than lengthening my drive off the tee.  I do however, agree with him on his putting analysis. Unless you totally suck at putting, you probably are better off spending that time working on other parts of your game, as there are diminishing returns. Example... practicing 15-20 foot putts are a waste of time because even the great putters miss most of them.  I'm not done with the book yet, so it would be unfair for me to comment further until I finish.

[revkev 21,702]

I'm around 1/3 through the book, and the thing that I still think is that you need to practice what is easiest for you to fix - not necessarily in agreement with what he says. For me, if I chunk two chip shots in a round (which I just freaking did last weekend), that's much easier for me to address than lengthening my drive off the tee. I do however, agree with him on his putting analysis. Unless you totally suck at putting, you probably are better off spending that time working on other parts of your game, as there are diminishing returns. Example... practicing 15-20 foot putts are a waste of time because even the great putters miss most of them. I'm not done with the book yet, so it would be unfair for me to comment further until I finish.

But that is not radical. Dave Pelz figured that one out quite some time ago. Avoiding three putts is a huge deal. You avoid three putts by working on your distance control with the putter and working on holing short putts. I don't care what this guy says lacking those two skills will kill your score unless of course you stick all your irons close.

 

This isn't rocket science or brain surgery or even Greek.

[Shambles 3]

There might be something to the idea. It's obvious that the Drive is a very important part of the game as witness the LPGA vs the PGA player. On the same fairway the PGA player will be playing a mid to short iron for the green after his Drive whereas the LPGA will be using a long to mid, sometimes even a fairway. Diferent skill sets defined by the length of the Drive. Both appear to be reasonably equal in the short game and the Putt.

 

Personally I would rather be the aggressor against Par than the defender against Bogey.

 

 

Shambles

[revkev 21,702]

I'm not saying that the data and the reading of the data is not without its merit.  I'm just not buying the entire package at this time.  It's still about what is necessary to get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of strokes.  Seems to me that he's interested in how I do vs. another player of my relative ability while I'm concerned with how to tame the course.  I think if I can take care of the course I'll hold my own against players of my ability.