Mark your cards – this system will improve your game
Hands up if you only record the number of strokes per hole when you play a practice round? I know that I tend to, but we really shouldn’t, writes James Hutchison.
Paying attention to other golf statistics, such as putts per hole and fairways hit, may also help to improve your game.
If you can build a complete picture of your golfing ability, illustrated by facts and figures, you will begin to learn where your strengths and weaknesses lie. For example, you may hit every fairway but take three putts per hole, so your score may be the same as if you had found the trees from every tee, but scrambled well and made a total of just 22 putts.
By isolating where you are performing below par, you will be able to address specific issues whenever you practise.
Here are a number of key metrics that you should consider noting each time you play a social round, that will enable you to pinpoint the holes in your game.
Fairways hit
Each time you hit a fairway from the tee, score a point in one column on your card. You will soon get an idea of how good your driving is.
Greens in regulation (GIR)
Score a point if you hit the fairway and then make the green with your second shot (or third on par-fives). If you can do this on every hole, you will certainly begin to score well.
Putts per hole
Count your putts for each hole and you will be reminded where so many of your shots are played.
Putts per GIR
Count the number of putts you take after reaching a green in regulation. This is a more useful guide than putts per hole, because if you regularly miss the green with approach shots, you may constantly chip close to the pin and single-putt.
Scrambles
The frequency with which you score par or better after missing the green in regulation will highlight the quality of your chipping.
Sand saves
Monitor the number of times you take two strokes or fewer to complete a hole after escaping from a greenside trap to find out how much work you need to do on your bunker play in practice.
If you keep an eye on some of these metrics, you will have some real evidence of exactly where your game falls down and what you need to work on in order to rectify it.
