We asked our data team if they could shed light on the value of club data. Here are some of the key things they came back with:
- Better gapping and bag set up
- Having access to individual club statistics – tee shots, approach play, short game, putting (everything!)
- Being able to compare club performance – has the new set been worth it?
- Greater confidence in your game
The first one seems, dare I say it, obvious.
But, you would be surprised at how many players don’t know their club gapping (how far each club goes).
There are a few ways to work out your gapping. Arguably the best way to get a distance that is relevant to on course conditions is to use a performance tracking product.
Why not a launch monitor? Well, they are undeniably accurate but they are used under perfect conditions on a driving range with no consequences.
How often do you go to the range and hit the ball incredibly, and then on the course, it’s like you are a different person? On course versus the range is different! There is no pressure on the range.
On the course you can get awkward stances, different lie types, and the pressure of finding a fairway or hitting a target.
Through performance tracking, you can learn how you perform from different distances, with different clubs, and in different lie types to fully understand your golf game.
This brings us onto the individual club statistics you can learn about your clubs.
Having detailed statistics on every club in your bag, covering every aspect of the game is a great asset to have.
Need to hit a fairway finder? What club gives you the best chance of finding the short stuff? Need to get up and down? What club gives you the best chance of saving your par?
With shot tracking, you can learn the answer to these questions.
It almost feels like cheating to know this much about your game. The pros do, so you should too when it’s this easy.
For instance, you may fall into the pitfall of using too much loft around the green.
Did you know the typical amateur golfer, 15hcp, uses a lob wedge around the green for 23% of their up and down attempts. However, they are only successful every 1 in 4 times.
Through tracking, you can identify the ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ clubs in your bag which can help you tailor your practice sessions – that is if you practice!
There are of course golfers who rather than practice, believe the key to lower scores can be found in new clubs.
If you are one of these golfers, for the first time you can directly compare the on course performance of old clubs against new clubs – was the $500 driver worth it? The answer might upset you, but you will have a definitive answer!
With Shot Scope performance tracking products, you can directly compare how clubs perform. Whether it is club distances, off the tee, or on the green you will learn more about your game with each round you play.
This allows the golfer to fine-tune their bag set up and potentially highlight some areas to consider changes.
Should you be using that 3 iron or would a hybrid be a better option? With only 14 clubs allowed in the bag, each one has to be worthwhile carrying.
Lastly, having the correct set up gives you confidence.
With a fitting, and clubs that you know are ‘working with you’ rather than against you, you can eliminate any doubt in your mind that the clubs are not the right ones for you.
Many of you will have been in a position where you are standing with a club in your hand, and you have no confidence in it whatsoever – not a good place to be.
At the other end of the spectrum, how good does it feel to have a club in your hand that you just feel comfortable with? (If this is a foreign feeling to you, maybe a change is needed).
Golf is a game of margins. Fine details can make a big difference.
Give yourself the best chance of success by learning how your clubs perform on the course through performance tracking with Shot Scope.
Better set up. Better understanding. Better scores. It’s that simple.
