A big thank you to our sponsors who keep this newsletter free to the reader:

Today’s issue is brought to you by Divot Board:

My low point control has improved A LOT using Divot Board. I made a video showing one of my training games. Check it out below.

Divot Board is having their year-end sale going on.
Plus save an extra 10% off with code CROSSFIELD10

Click here to get one.

And also brought to you by Hack Motion Golf:

How your wrists work in the swing is critical. The Hack Motion wrist sensor is an amazing training aid. My coach (Mark Crossfield) did a great review of the Hack Motion. Watch that review video here.

For the best price use code GOLFSALE

Get your Hack Motion here.

Weekly Quiz!

To see the correct answer, click the “CONTINUE” button at the bottom of the next page.

Good luck! 😀 

GIR+1: A Better Way to Think About Hitting Greens

I was chatting with a friend recently about greens in regulation (GIR). He was frustrated because as a 15 handicap, he wasn't hitting many greens in regulation. This got me thinking about a different way to look at this stat.

Let's talk about something I call "GIR+1" - hitting the green in regulation plus one shot. This means you're on the green putting for no worse than par. On a par 5, you're on in 4 or better. Par 4, you're on in 3 or better. Par 3, you're on in 2 or better.

Off to the Arccos database we go (Use code DATALOU15 to save 15%). Arccos still has a massive holiday sale going - plus an extra 15% with the code above. Don’t miss out!

The first table above shows total GIR+1 per round by handicap index. Take a look at those numbers. A scratch player is getting on the green putting for par (or better) about 17 times per round. A 20 index is doing this about 12 times per round.

I wanted to dig deeper into this, so I broke it down by par 3s, 4s, and 5s. Look at the second table above. Notice that on par 4s and 5s a scratch is getting on GIR+1 about 90% of the time, while a 20 index only does this it about 62% of the time.

Now here's where it gets really interesting. Look at that last table showing double bogeys or worse per round. A 20 index is making nearly 7 double bogeys (or worse) per round, while a scratch player is only making less than 1 double (or worse) per round!

My Thoughts

I've said this so many times, but the key to lower scores is NOT making more birdies - it's avoiding those big numbers. If you're a mid to high handicap player, focusing on GIR+1 might be a great way to think about your game.

You don't need to hit every green in regulation. Just get on the green giving yourself a putt for par. Even if you two-putt, you've avoided those card-wrecking double bogeys.

For those mid to high handicappers - instead of beating yourself up about not hitting enough greens in regulation like my friend was doing, start thinking about your GIR+1. It's a more achievable target, and as you increase your GIR+1, your scores will drop.

The math is simple:

More GIR+1 = Less big numbers = Lower scores!

Finally...

• Advertise your business to 35,000+ readers of this newsletter.

• Shop Arccos Golf here. (Use code DATALOU15 to save 15%)

• Join Team Titleist here.

• Shop StrackaLine Green Books here. (Use code DATALOU15 to save 15%)

• Listen to the “Hack it Out Golf” podcast on Apple or Spotify.

• Submit ideas or feedback here.
  
  Have a great week!