Understanding the importance of golf statistics can significantly improve your game and help lower your scores. Two key stats that can make a big difference in your round are fairways hit and putts per round. While these are important, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Ed Oldham explains that there is a golf stat that is even more crucial in predicting your average score. According to Oldham, the stat that has the most influence on your score is greens in regulation, as determined by stat guru Mark Broadie in his book Every Shot Counts. Approach shots and greens in regulation have the biggest impact on your overall score, making it essential to focus on hitting more greens to lower your scores.
To hit more greens in regulation, Oldham suggests prioritizing clubface control, solid contact, and selecting smarter targets. The clubface has the most influence on where the ball goes, so practicing variable practice to improve clubface control can be beneficial. Additionally, working on hitting the ball in the center of the clubface and then the ground can help improve contact. By focusing on hitting the ground on the target side of the ball instead of behind it, you can improve your ball-striking consistency. Using a tee ahead of the ball during practice sessions can help reinforce this concept.
Understanding your dispersion pattern on approach shots can also help you hit more greens in regulation. By aiming your pattern more towards the middle of the green rather than at the pin, you can increase your chances of hitting the green. Oldham recommends aiming at the middle of the green, especially on longer shots, to improve your chances of hitting more greens. Prioritizing hitting more greens in regulation can lead to lower scores and a more enjoyable round of golf.
In addition to focusing on hitting more greens, it is important to understand how different golf statistics impact your score. While fairways hit and putts per round are important, greens in regulation have the most influence on your overall score. By improving your ability to hit greens in regulation, you can predict your average score more accurately. By following Oldham’s tips for hitting more greens in regulation, you can improve your ball-striking consistency and lower your scores on the course.
