Golf stats are a fantastic tool that can support you in your quest to improve your game, which is why I have devoted so much time to understanding and analysing the numbers behind my own performances.
Utilising data can help us to benchmark our performance against other players at a similar handicap index, by telling us how often amateur golfers get up and down from inside 50 yards or how far the average club golfer hits their 7-iron, but it can also provide trends that signpost a route to shooting lower scores.
In this article, using the latest Shot Scope data, I compare the performances of low- and high-handicap golfers in a crucial putting measure and share why this could be the key to shooting lower scores...
The Key To Shooting Lower Scores In Golf
There is plenty of data and research that suggests increasing driving distance is one of the key ways to shoot lower scores, and I am not disputing that - so don't give up on the 20 best driving tips and drills in golf.
The ability to bomb it off the tee and leave a shorter shot in is a huge advantage, and something low-handicap golfers do better than most, but I believe tidying up your performance at the business end of the hole could also pay dividends.
More specifically, eliminating three-putts from your card is a great way to close the gap in your pursuit of a lower handicap, but rather than me preaching to you about the quite obvious benefits of this plan... let's allow the data to do the talking.
According to Shot Scope, the average scratch golfer 3-putts on average 0.8 times per round. When you compare scratch golfers vs 10 handicappers vs 20 handicappers in this measure, the correlation paints a bleak picture.
Avoiding 3-putts could save you up to five shots each round when compared to other amateur golfers
A 5-handicapper 3-putts around 1.5 times per round, which is still respectable, while a 10-handicapper averages around 2.4 per round.
That number increases further as we reach 15-handicappers (3.4), 20-handicappers (4.5) and 25-handicappers (5.8), with the latter effectively throwing away five shots on the greens every round in comparison to a scratch golfer.
Doing all the hard work from tee to green, whether you have crushed it off the tee or not, will be ultimately worthless if you then spend the next five minutes knocking your ball across the green in a desperate search for the salvation of the hole.
So, what can you do about it? Well, we have an expert tour coach on hand to help you save those precious shots - so that you can start to see your handicap come down.
How Can I Avoid 3-Putts?
According to expert tour coach, Liam James, the manual for how to stop 3-putting is broken down into four key areas (which you can read more about by clicking the link above).
The crucial skills to master are pace control when putting, grip pressure, aim (specifically aiming small) and being purposeful in your practice.
Clearly, understanding how to grip a putter and learning how to read greens would also be a great investment of your time.
Only when you have a clear calibration of line, speed and read can you reduce 3-putts, but with the best putting tips and drills this is achievable for every golfer.
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