Lesson 2 of 5
What To Do
Generic stat sheets track fairways, greens and putts. JJ says that does not show the entire story. If you hit 15 greens but average 40 feet from the hole, you will probably three-putt before you one-putt from there, and you might finish with 33 putts. Someone who hits 8 greens but averages 15 feet will make a couple, get some up and downs and have no three-putts. They may have 27 putts. Is the first player a worse putter? No.
JJ was introduced to a better stat sheet at Ohio State by Donnie Darr, who used it with his players at Oklahoma State. The key number is birdie opportunities per round. Rickie Fowler averaged 11 birdie opportunities while hitting 12 greens and was a first team All-American. A player who averaged 13 greens but only 7 birdie opportunities was All-Region and never got a PGA Tour card. Birdie opportunities per round are what matter.
How To Do It
Step 1: Tee shot
For each hole, write the club you hit off the tee and whether you hit the fairway. For example, "Driver / Yes."
Step 2: Approach
Write the distance you had to the hole, the club you hit and how far you actually hit it. JJ says this really helps you find your weakness and dials in your distance control.
Step 3: Birdie putt and opportunity
How close was your putt for birdie? Then mark whether the hole was a birdie opportunity or a bogey possibility.
Step 4: Putts and score
Write your putts on the hole and your score. Keep track every round and you will start to see your patterns.
Step 5: Track the big three
Also count penalty strokes, three-putts and shots from inside 100 yards that missed the green. These three usually cost amateurs the most. Watch the trends across 5 rounds on your Reports page.
Everything you save here is stored in My Playbook.
When To Use It
- After every round, along with your review
- Every 5 rounds to look for trends
- When you plan your practice for the next week
Common Mistakes
- Judging your putting by total putts alone
- Only counting greens hit, not birdie opportunities
- Tracking stats but never looking at the trends
- Tracking so many numbers that you stop doing it
Practical Exercise
Honest Numbers Breath
Use this before you look at your stats. Breathe in for 4. Hold for 4 and remind yourself the numbers are just information. Breathe out for 4 and let go of judgment. Hold for 4 and look for one pattern.
Pattern: 4-4-4-4 seconds, 2 cycles. The voice counts each second for you.
Ready
Takeaways
- Generic stats do not tell the whole story
- Birdie opportunities per round are what matter
- Track distance, club and how far you hit it
- Penalties, three-putts and missed greens inside 100 cost the most
- Look at trends over 5 rounds
Reflect
Use It Next Round
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