Is Stat keeping Hazardous to your Game ?

sberend Professional Champion
Go to Last Reply 181 Views 24 Replies 1 Like
Keeping 'Golf Stats' is something that most of us do here on this website, some, may only be on here to 'Track Handicap' and interact with others in Forums & Blogs. But, a majority of us love to "Stat Watch". So, I pose the question, can tracking all of your 'Golf Stats' actually be detrimental to your game? I personally have been tracking my golf stats for the last 15 years, and love doing so, it has almost become an obsession of mine. When I play well I can't wait to get home and record my score and stats for that round, but on the flip side, when I play bad, I dread it. I've noticed in the off-season (which is when I generally DON'T keep my Stats) I seem to play better, I'm more concerned with scoring and NOT with Fairways Hit, Greens Hit, Putts, etc., etc. Does this sound like any of you? I don't play any different in the off-season, I'm not more consevative or more aggressive, I just play my game. Sometimes I feel that 'My Stats' get into my head during a round, if I only hit 2 of 7 fairways or 2 of 9 greens on the Front 9, I start to put additional pressure on myself in those areas. The logical thing would be to stop keeping 'Stats' all together, but like I said, I'm obsessed with numbers and a glutton for punishment. Just wondering if anyone else feels that Stat keeping could be Hazardous?
HIGH_LANDER Legend
# 16 3/26/2010 6:45:03 AM
I think the one stat that will help your game is ? How many times did I miss hit the ball? I not talking just missed it. When you miss hit your ball is most of the time when you find youself in trouble. See how many missed shots made it a bad score. Duck,missed shots,like O.B. WATER,LOST BALL,that would fall under Penalty,right. are you saying missed shots,like topping the ball,shanking the ball,etc,thanks You tell me. Why did your ball go out ? off the toe dead right and into the water or OB or duck hook it in. Yea that counts. That is not how you wanted to hit it. If you hit a good shot but the ball hits cart path,rock, sprinkler head in or near the fair way then goes OB, water, ect that was not poor hit ball that was poor luck. I don't count poor luck or even good luck. It's how well did the club hit the ball. You know when you hit a good shot when it hits your club not where the ball goes. Duck,thank you,i argee.
HIGH_LANDER Legend
# 17 3/26/2010 6:46:04 AM
If you've followed any of my work and spreadsheet offerings, you know how much I'm into stats. The two points that I have pondered regarding the process "getting in the way" is the actual gathering of data during the round, and the hightened sensitivity to a round going south. The data gathering, to me, has become second nature, however, I have often thought that if all I had to do was play the game I might play the game better. I think I sometimes rob my ability to emerse myself into the game with too many technical thought, including data gathering. I've learned to let it go and play the game more. I can usually remember every shot for days after a round anyway. The other aspect of statistical jeopardy is really no different from trying to lower your handicap. Of all the details I keep track of, my handicap index and average score will sneak in and try to sabotage a round after a bad shot or two. My goal for this year is to end up with an average score of 89 or better and a 15 handicap. If I yank one out of bounds, that's not too bad. But when I top a fairway wood or grossly fat ass an iron approach, that just kills me. I have learned that the most important thing for me to do after a bad shot is to run mental damage control. Forget the swing thoughts, I need my emotions in check. I'll give up some distance an the next few shots to get a solid shot off the club face. It would be nice to come up with a GPS integrated device that would track everything with minimal commands. The more art I put into my game, and the less technical thoughts, the better I seem to play. Big T...great read.
sberend Professional Champion
# 18 3/26/2010 12:56:07 PM
I understand the benefits of keeping your 'Stats', to pinpoint what your weaknesses are in your game. But can negative 'Stats' get into your head during a round ? The object of the game is to get the 'little white' ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. So does it matter if we hit the ball all over the planet, if we score well ? The outcome of the hole should be the main objective, not the route that we get there. You can miss a Fairway by 2 yards & then miss the Green by 3 feet, chip it close & 1-Putt for Par -- statically, it was a poor hole (missed Fairway & Green), but you made a Par (which is the objective). I guess it all depends if you're a 'Stats Filler' or a 'Golf Scorer'.
HIGH_LANDER Legend
# 19 3/26/2010 1:03:44 PM
I understand the benefits of keeping your 'Stats', to pinpoint what your weaknesses are in your game. But can negative 'Stats' get into your head during a round ? The object of the game is to get the 'little white' ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. So does it matter if we hit the ball all over the planet, if we score well ? The outcome of the hole should be the main objective, not the route that we get there. You can miss a Fairway by 2 yards & then miss the Green by 3 feet, chip it close & 1-Putt for Par -- statically, it was a poor hole (missed Fairway & Green), but you made a Par (which is the objective). I guess it all depends if you're a 'Stats Filler' or a 'Golf Scorer'. WOW,GREAT READ.It's not the route,but how MANY!
Duckhunter Legend
# 20 3/26/2010 3:25:40 PM
Maybe I'm a freak but I can remember every shot on every hole for a week by looking at the card and the layout of the holes. If for some reason you can't rememebr every shot,you can use the score on the hole to verify your memory. It works for me. I must be a freak. I can replay every shot from my last round without looking at any card.
1hacker Professional Champion
# 21 3/26/2010 5:37:53 PM
Could be hazardous yes but after a few rounds to identify one or two of my biggest problems I have started to only keep a few most on my phone's program then the two I am focusing on. When those start to improve to my goal I start keeping more for a few then again pick the weakest couple and work on them. But I do agree when I'm keep them all I do see a decline in some of my good stats. I just remember to realize why and go on. Works for me
1hacker Professional Champion
# 22 3/26/2010 5:40:40 PM
I've always felt that stats got in the way of playing golf, for exactly the reasons you described. Here's the deal: Don't let problems leave the golf course. What I mean by that is to pay attention to the shots you missed, and immediately after the round, go over to the range and fix them. Believe me, the range right after a round is where you do your best practicing, because all your misses are fresh in your mind--they're much easier to fix that way. Say you weren't hitting many fairways. Go take the driver out there and hit about 10 balls until you find it again. Then you're done! It might only take 5 minutes, but you can leave the golf course in a positive frame of mind, knowing that you sorted the problem out. If you just hop in the car immediately after a round, though, you take the problems home with you. That's when you start thinking about them. You start reading about quick fixes in golf magazines, and other "tricks" that might help you. Then when you come back to the course, out comes some totally contrived swing, on top of your brain telling you "Hit more fairways than last time, doofus!" I've even stopped keeping track of putts, because even that can be misleading. I might have a day where I'm striking the ball ALMOST good, and leaving it on the fringe on 5 or 6 holes. Those don't count as putts even if I use a putter, so I might end up looking like I just took 25 putts to complete the round...but in reality it was more like 30, you know? Anyway, I say go to the range right after the round. Don't let problems leave the golf course to become 'statistics.' I get to cheat as after a game I do get in the car and think about my game as I drive home then I can go out to my barn and work on the shots for a while and can be more satisfied with the shot or shots. If not for that I would have to agree with you and work it out before getting in the car.

sberend

Professional Champion

Go to Last Reply

181 Views 24 Replies 1 Like

Keeping 'Golf Stats' is something that most of us do here on this website, some, may only be on here to 'Track Handicap' and interact with others in Forums & Blogs. But, a majority of us love to "Stat Watch". So, I pose the question, can tracking all of your 'Golf Stats' actually be detrimental to your game? I personally have been tracking my golf stats for the last 15 years, and love doing so, it has almost become an obsession of mine. When I play well I can't wait to get home and record my score and stats for that round, but on the flip side, when I play bad, I dread it. I've noticed in the off-season (which is when I generally DON'T keep my Stats) I seem to play better, I'm more concerned with scoring and NOT with Fairways Hit, Greens Hit, Putts, etc., etc. Does this sound like any of you? I don't play any different in the off-season, I'm not more consevative or more aggressive, I just play my game. Sometimes I feel that 'My Stats' get into my head during a round, if I only hit 2 of 7 fairways or 2 of 9 greens on the Front 9, I start to put additional pressure on myself in those areas. The logical thing would be to stop keeping 'Stats' all together, but like I said, I'm obsessed with numbers and a glutton for punishment. Just wondering if anyone else feels that Stat keeping could be Hazardous?

HIGH_LANDER

Legend

# 16 3/26/2010 6:45:03 AM

I think the one stat that will help your game is ? How many times did I miss hit the ball? I not talking just missed it. When you miss hit your ball is most of the time when you find youself in trouble. See how many missed shots made it a bad score.

Duck,missed shots,like O.B. WATER,LOST BALL,that would fall under Penalty,right.
are you saying missed shots,like topping the ball,shanking the ball,etc,thanks

You tell me. Why did your ball go out ? off the toe dead right and into the water or OB or duck hook it in. Yea that counts. That is not how you wanted to hit it. If you hit a good shot but the ball hits cart path,rock, sprinkler head in or near the fair way then goes OB, water, ect that was not poor hit ball that was poor luck. I don't count poor luck or even good luck. It's how well did the club hit the ball. You know when you hit a good shot when it hits your club not where the ball goes.

Duck,thank you,i argee.

HIGH_LANDER

Legend

# 17 3/26/2010 6:46:04 AM

If you've followed any of my work and spreadsheet offerings, you know how much I'm into stats. The two points that I have pondered regarding the process "getting in the way" is the actual gathering of data during the round, and the hightened sensitivity to a round going south.

The data gathering, to me, has become second nature, however, I have often thought that if all I had to do was play the game I might play the game better. I think I sometimes rob my ability to emerse myself into the game with too many technical thought, including data gathering. I've learned to let it go and play the game more. I can usually remember every shot for days after a round anyway.

The other aspect of statistical jeopardy is really no different from trying to lower your handicap. Of all the details I keep track of, my handicap index and average score will sneak in and try to sabotage a round after a bad shot or two. My goal for this year is to end up with an average score of 89 or better and a 15 handicap. If I yank one out of bounds, that's not too bad. But when I top a fairway wood or grossly fat ass an iron approach, that just kills me. I have learned that the most important thing for me to do after a bad shot is to run mental damage control. Forget the swing thoughts, I need my emotions in check. I'll give up some distance an the next few shots to get a solid shot off the club face.

It would be nice to come up with a GPS integrated device that would track everything with minimal commands. The more art I put into my game, and the less technical thoughts, the better I seem to play.

Big T...great read.

sberend

Professional Champion

# 18 3/26/2010 12:56:07 PM

I understand the benefits of keeping your 'Stats', to pinpoint what your weaknesses are in your game. But can negative 'Stats' get into your head during a round ? The object of the game is to get the 'little white' ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. So does it matter if we hit the ball all over the planet, if we score well ? The outcome of the hole should be the main objective, not the route that we get there. You can miss a Fairway by 2 yards & then miss the Green by 3 feet, chip it close & 1-Putt for Par -- statically, it was a poor hole (missed Fairway & Green), but you made a Par (which is the objective). I guess it all depends if you're a 'Stats Filler' or a 'Golf Scorer'.

HIGH_LANDER

Legend

# 19 3/26/2010 1:03:44 PM

I understand the benefits of keeping your 'Stats', to pinpoint what your weaknesses are in your game. But can negative 'Stats' get into your head during a round ? The object of the game is to get the 'little white' ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. So does it matter if we hit the ball all over the planet, if we score well ? The outcome of the hole should be the main objective, not the route that we get there. You can miss a Fairway by 2 yards & then miss the Green by 3 feet, chip it close & 1-Putt for Par -- statically, it was a poor hole (missed Fairway & Green), but you made a Par (which is the objective). I guess it all depends if you're a 'Stats Filler' or a 'Golf Scorer'.

WOW,GREAT READ.It's not the route,but how MANY!

Duckhunter

Legend

# 20 3/26/2010 3:25:40 PM

Maybe I'm a freak but I can remember every shot on every hole for a week by looking at the card and the layout of the holes. If for some reason you can't rememebr every shot,you can use the score on the hole to verify your memory. It works for me.

I must be a freak. I can replay every shot from my last round without looking at any card.

1hacker

Professional Champion

# 21 3/26/2010 5:37:53 PM

Could be hazardous yes but after a few rounds to identify one or two of my biggest problems I have started to only keep a few most on my phone's program then the two I am focusing on. When those start to improve to my goal I start keeping more for a few then again pick the weakest couple and work on them.
But I do agree when I'm keep them all I do see a decline in some of my good stats. I just remember to realize why and go on. Works for me

1hacker

Professional Champion

# 22 3/26/2010 5:40:40 PM

I've always felt that stats got in the way of playing golf, for exactly the reasons you described. Here's the deal: Don't let problems leave the golf course.

What I mean by that is to pay attention to the shots you missed, and immediately after the round, go over to the range and fix them. Believe me, the range right after a round is where you do your best practicing, because all your misses are fresh in your mind--they're much easier to fix that way. Say you weren't hitting many fairways. Go take the driver out there and hit about 10 balls until you find it again. Then you're done! It might only take 5 minutes, but you can leave the golf course in a positive frame of mind, knowing that you sorted the problem out.

If you just hop in the car immediately after a round, though, you take the problems home with you. That's when you start thinking about them. You start reading about quick fixes in golf magazines, and other "tricks" that might help you. Then when you come back to the course, out comes some totally contrived swing, on top of your brain telling you "Hit more fairways than last time, doofus!"

I've even stopped keeping track of putts, because even that can be misleading. I might have a day where I'm striking the ball ALMOST good, and leaving it on the fringe on 5 or 6 holes. Those don't count as putts even if I use a putter, so I might end up looking like I just took 25 putts to complete the round...but in reality it was more like 30, you know?

Anyway, I say go to the range right after the round. Don't let problems leave the golf course to become 'statistics.'

I get to cheat as after a game I do get in the car and think about my game as I drive home then I can go out to my barn and work on the shots for a while and can be more satisfied with the shot or shots. If not for that I would have to agree with you and work it out before getting in the car.

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