Why Golf is a SeeSaw

I was recently asked by my friend Tony Ruggiero, host of the Dewsweepers Golf Talk Radio show, "What is the most important stat that good players have and the average 15 handicap doesn't?"  In one form or another, I get this question a lot.  My quick and irritating answer is:  "There isn't ONE key stat because golfers are like snowflakes and each finds his or her unique way to reach their number."  That said, when I look into my database (now 111,000 rounds), and review hundreds of golfers combined, the averages do produce clear trends. 

The secret to scoring at every level is much more than the ability to hit good golf shots but  also the skill to manage one's game and limit the frequency and severity of bad shots - ERRORS.  I discovered this major deficiency in golf statistics over 20 years ago when I started ShotByShot.  In addition to recording the good results, I developed a way for players to rationally categorize and record their inevitable bad results.  Once brought to light, players can focus their improvement efforts to work to limit the specific errors that are the most frequent and costly in their game. 

I recently researched my database to confirm the relationship between Good Shots or Results and Errors.  It came as no surprise that up and down the handicap scale there is a direct and predictable relationship between the UP and DOWN sides of the game.  I call it Golf's SeeSaw Effect  - you can see from the graph above why.

Here's what makes up the two sides of the SeeSaw:

Good Shots/Results:

• Greens Hit in Regulation.
• Chip/Pitch shots to within 5 feet.
• Sand shots to within 8 feet.
• 1-Putts from 4 to 10 feet.

Errors:

• Tee shots hit out of play (requiring an advancement) or that result in a penalty.
• Chip/Pitch shots that miss the green.
• Sand shots that miss the green.
• 3-Putts from 30 feet and closer. 

This is what the SeeSaw graph above is telling you:  The 0 Handicap golfer will create 18 positive results and incur only 1 error in his average "scratch" round (0 differential from Slope Adjusted Course Rating).

Good Shots/Results = 18

• 12 GIR's
•  2.5 Chip/Pitch Shots to 5 feet.
•    .5 Sand Shots to 8 feet.
•  3 1-Putts from 4 to 10 feet.

Errors = 1

•  .4 Tee shots hit out of play
•  .2 Chip/Pitch Shots miss green*
•  .1 Sand Shots miss green
•  .3 3-Putts from 30 feet or closer

*How can a golfer miss the green with .2 Chip/Pitch shots?  Easy, the 0 handicap golfer averages 5 Chip/Pitch shots per round and will make an error (miss the green) once every 5 rounds.

Check your UP's and DOWN'S over the next few rounds to see where you are on the SeeSaw and WHY.