I thought it might be fun to see which categories get the most attention, or generate the most views and comments. The results, or the ranking of the categories from most viewed to least viewed, actually mirror most folks focus on the golf game, or what they like to talk about and/or practice. Thus, and as expected, most folks love to talk about golf, thus General Discussions comes in 1st. After that the downswing seems to be the primary swing issue, coming in 2nd. Then the backswing, coming in 3rd. Close to being a tie.
Then there's a 40% drop off in views in Driver Help, coming in at 4th. Considering how many people I see on the range hitting drivers, and complaining about their driver swing, swearing they'll never hit their driver again, or wanting more distance, I was surprised to see this category coming in behind both Backswing and Downswing Help. I would have expected a similar number of views.
Address/Setup comes in 5th behind Driver Help. Address/Setup is one of the most important fundamentals in golf, yet not that interesting. Is it possible the average golfer overlooks, or under-estimates the importance of a solid Address/Setup routine? I rarely see folks working on their setup routine on the range or on the course, so the ranking of this category seems to make sense.
After that, Playing Golf Help is even less interesting, coming in at 6th, but then again, every time I play golf I see folks who have very poor course management skills. I constantly see players who could easily cut 5-6 strokes per round by employing decent course management strategy. They get themselves into all kinds of trouble, shoot at pins that they might hit 1% of the time, etc, then end up in traps, rough, or all kinds of very hard short game shots. Which leads me to....who would have thought....
The Short Game Help category, the only remaining swing-related category, comes in LAST. Nearly half of the game of golf is the short game. The majority of lost strokes on the course are due to poor short games and putting. Even more ironic, the short game and putting are the easiest parts of the game to practice because neither requires athleticism. But, like I see every day on the range, few practice the short game and putting.
In summary, most love to talk about general golf stuff. After that the downswing and backswing are challenging issues. Driver Help is needed, but not as much, and folks have pretty much nailed their Address/Setup routine. After that people don't need much help with course management, and really don't need any help with their short games.
@GolfLivesMatter my playing experience pretty much matches your findings and research. My scores definitely lower if more time is spent with the Short Game. I have thrown away strokes by not getting out of Bunkers near the green; poor contact out of rough; and, hitting off hard pan or leaves/pine needles. It has saved me strokes on errant drives off the T. I no longer play Super Hero out of the trees but chip into the Fairway and SAVE strokes…my Course Management. LOL.
Understand. I’ll check with you in August.
Great comment, @Steven!
There has been some chatter in the forum a while ago about a gathering of SagutoGolfers. I think it would be a lot of fun for y'all if someone wants to take the point on that and take this great forum community from virtuality to reality.
Great Stuff!!@GolfLivesMatter
It is baffling I guess.
Even here like Tom Saguto says "life too short to play bad golf" but he quantifies it with have fun!
So all that stated about what you see at the range is true from what I see also.
Sadly most are just hitting balls to get lose to go play and that is fine , just go have fun.
But if you want to score better you will have to make changes not just to your swing but routines and what you do with the time. YOU CAN DO BOTH! Score better and have fun!!!!!!
I am fairly new here since middle of February of this year. I do play in a league and am competitive. But and big but, don't live in the past shot and truly enjoy the game each outing. If I have a tough round realize I'm still out here playing among good enjoyable people. If I am having a good round even better.
I know I am never going to hit a driver 280...heck a good drive for me is 225 plus! But usually like you noted I am only using it 14 times at most, so putting it in a good position for playable 2nd shot to me is more important then getting a few more yards.
And if you putt every green in regulation(of course less than that is the goal) That is 36 shots. Take out Par 5's and now you have 10 iron shots long to mid and add another 4 for Par 3's (my league has an extra Par 3,course Par 71). At my or most levels ( your the statistics guy) maybe 30% GIR? So your looking at maybe 13 + more strokes lets say from 60yds in.
All that being said, I guess we (here that is) decide what you want out of your game and what is going to make it fun for you!
Me I committed to more serious (or focused ) and consistent practice and it's makes the game fun. Because when I hit not a KFC or off putt or chip I have knowledge usually of why, for me that makes it fun and interesting.
When I go to the Practice facility, just to practice and am not hitting the course (I committed to this once a week). I hit 90 balls starting with wedges and lower irons then work my way up. The bulk of my swings go to irons and fairway woods then driver in that order.
Then on to chipping and the putting.
So my practice session this past Tuesday(day before I play in league) was a 2 & 1/2 hour session.
It is showing fruit!
Another big also, routine for setup and chipping and putting in play is huge!
And positive mental attitude and always moving on from previous shot and playing in the now has made the game fun and enjoyable less stressful for me.
My 2 cents
Just hope I don't bore everyone with my games updates and progress. You ALL help me to be accountable to my love and fun of the game, it's what works for me.
@Tom Saguto a thought and know you have a lot on your plate.
Wouldn't it be fun and interesting in the future(obliviously next season). Since this "university" is national and world wide. Maybe think about a place to go have a golf vacation for a few day where everyone could get together play and mix?
Sort of Saguto Golf Academy Convention?
Just a thought.
interesting stuff. thanks. My theory on why Driver help is 4th. It really is a subset of the downswing, which most folks visit?. If you follow @Tom Saguto 3 issues with driver that might explain why there are fewer posts...they work, especially the lateral hip movement, add the Hogan trail elbow and you'll be striking driver nicely. So, what I'm saying is that Tom's 'stock answer' in regards to driver does wonders. fixed it for everyone :)
I want to add this: My LPGA instructor is about 42 years old. She still hits drives 280-290. She plays 6750 yard tees and can shoot 3-4 under. She can smoke the top men's club players from the back tees. And yet, despite after much trying, back in her younger days she couldn't quite make it on the LPGA tour. She did play in a few US Opens, but didn't make the weekend cuts.
She told me her short game and putting was top-notch, but yet STILL not good enough under constant pressure vs. the other ladies. The other thing she said was she sometimes lacked in course management, meaning she'd get too aggressive and "go for" pins that probably wasn't the best idea in terms of the percentage chance of success. Beyond that, she said she woefully underestimated the required day-in, day-out mental toughness required to compete at that level.
And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is why @GolfLivesMatter continuously lives up to his title as our community's "KFC Crispy Analyst"! 😆
Seriously, who'd have thunk it to run the stats on forum categories?? Oh yeah - him....
My only contribution to this great analysis is that the General Discussions category has been a bit of a catch-all staging area for a variety of topics on various aspects of the swing and the game in general.
Very interesting (and rather revealing) stuff!
Well, I’m curious as to why you don’t agree with Mark Brody and others in regards to most shots lost on short game and putting. The statistics clearly show that approach shots and tee shots hold the most value. It’s much more common to see a player take a penalty and/or hit poor shots and arriving at the green in more than regulation. It’s much less common to see amateurs striping the ball to the green then four putting every time. I know people often feel their strokes are lost in the short game. But a very large and extensive research and data clearly shows otherwise.