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The Hidden Stat That Predicts Making the Cut

"I just want to be more consistent."

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a golfer say that, I’d be writing this newsletter from a private island. Usually, when players talk about consistency, they mean their ball striking. They want to stop hitting the big slice or hitting 4 inches behind the ball with their wedge.

But according to a massive study from the DP World (European) Tour and RSM, there is a different type of consistency that might matter just as much, and it’s a lot easier to fix.

The study tracked over 22,000 shots across five tournaments to analyze player routines. The findings revealed a direct link between the consistency of a player's routine and their ability to make the cut.

The Consistency Gap

The researchers measured the time players spent over the ball across rounds one and two. They found that players who were more consistent with their time were 50% more likely to make the cut than players who were less consistent.

When they broke it down by shot type, the numbers became even more staggering:

• Approach Shots: Greater consistency made players 90% more likely to make the cut.

• Putting: Greater consistency made players 80% more likely to make the cut.

• Tee Shots: Greater consistency made players 70% more likely to make the cut.

It’s Not Just About Time

The study didn't just look at the stopwatch; it looked at behavior. Specifically, they tracked how many times a player looked at the target before pulling the trigger.

The result? Players who were consistent in their number of looks to the target were significantly more likely to make the cut.

If a player looked twice at one putt, then three times on the next, and once on the third, their performance suffered. The players playing the weekend tended to do the exact same thing, every single time.

My Thoughts

This data highlights a massive inefficiency for amateur golfers. We tend to ignore the one thing we have complete control over: Our Routine.

You might not be able to replicate a Tour pro's swing speed, but you can absolutely replicate their discipline.

The Action Plan:

1. Count Your Looks: Whether it’s one look or two, pick a number and stick to it for every single shot.

2. Commit Before You Step In: The study suggests that spending too long over the ball leads to "conscious control" (overthinking), which hurts performance. To stop this, follow Edoardo Molinari’s advice from the report: Do all your thinking regarding wind and club choice before you address the ball. Once you step in, your decision is made… no second-guessing allowed.

Consistency starts before you even swing the club. 

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