The “70% Rule” is still the winning formula on the PGA Tour
by Peter Sanders
In 1989, Peter Sanders founded Golf Research Associates, LP, creating what is now referred to as Strokes Gained Analysis. His goal was to design and market a new standard of statistically based performance analysis programs using proprietary computer models.
A departure from “traditional stats,” the program provided analysis with answers, supported by comparative data. In 2006, the company’s website, ShotByShot.com, was launched. It provides interactive, Strokes Gained analysis for individual golfers and more than 150 instructors and coaches that use the program to build and monitor their player groups.
Peter has written or contributed to, more than 60 articles in major golf publications including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf for Women.
From 2007 through 2013, Peter was an exclusive contributor and Professional Advisor to Golf Digest and GolfDigest.com. Peter also works with PGA Tour players and their coaches to interpret the often confusing ShotLink data.
Zach Johnson has been a client for nearly five years. More recently, Peter has teamed up with Smylie Kaufman’s swing coach, Tony Ruggiero, to help guide Smylie’s fast-rising career.
In June of 2010, a year before the Tour launched Strokes Gained Putting analysis, I published an article on my blog (www.NiblicksOfTruth.blogspot.com): “PGA Tour Winner’s – 70% Rule.”
I had been studying the winners of each tour event for years and realized that they all had specific success in three simple stats–and that the three stats must add up to 70 percent
Greens in Regulation – 70%
Scrambling – 70%
1-Putts from 5 to 10 feet – 70%
Not every one of the three had to equal 70 percent, but the simple addition of the three needed to equal or exceed 70 percent. For example, if GIR’s were 68 percent, then scrambling or putting needed to be 72 percent or higher to offset the GIR deficiency—simple and it worked!
I added an important caveat. The player could have no more than three ERRORS in a four-round event. These errors being
Long game: A drive hit out of play requiring an advancement to return to normal play, or a drive or approach penalty.
Short game: A short game shot that a.) missed the putting surface, and b.) took 4 or more total strokes to hole out.
Putting: A 3-putt or worse from 40 feet or closer.
In his recent win in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Kevin Na broke the rule… by a bit. He was all good on the 70 percent part of the rule
GIR’s: 75 percent
Scrambling: 72 percent
1-Putts 5-10 ft.: 73 percent
But not so good on the three-error limit
Long game: Two driving errors and one approach penalty (three errors).
Short game: A chip/pitch shot that missed the green and took FIVE strokes to hole out (one error).
No wonder it took a playoff to secure his win! But there was another stat that made the difference…
The stat that piqued my interest in Kevin’s win was connected to my 70 percent Rule. It was his strokes gained: putting stat: +3.54, or ranked first. He gained 3.5 strokes on the field in each of his four rounds or 14 strokes. I have never seen that, and it caused me to look closer. For perspective, I ran the putting performance of all of the event winners in the 2019 Tour season. Their average putting strokes gained was +1.17.
Below, I charted the one-putt percentages by distance range separately for Kevin Na, the 2019 winners, and the tour 2019 average. I have long believed that the 6–10-foot range separates the good putters on Tour from the rest as it is the most frequently faced of the “short putt” ranges and the Tour averages 50 percent makes. At the same time, the 11-20 foot ranges separate the winners each week as these tend to represent birdie putts on Tour. Look at what Kevin did there.
All I can say again, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS. Well done Kevin!
For a complete analysis of your game visit www.shotbyshot.com.
To receive Kevin Na's graphs, email: psanders@shotbyshot.com
Bad performances can linger for a long time with some golfers.
You can probably relate to how profoundly a bad game, routine or shot can hurt future performances...
There are many examples in golf where just one bad shot can set off a domino effect...
A golfer who hits a triple-bogey then finds them-self in a slump over the next several holes...
A golfer who was in the lead then on Sunday loses by one-shot leading to a loss of confidence for the next competition...
Why does it seem that a one bad performance can snowball and affect future competitions?
This effect is not the fault of a lack of skills. One bad game doesn’t rob you of your athletic talents and abilities. The issue at play is often a “memory” issue.
Follow this logic for a moment...
You have practiced, prepared and trained for a certain competition that goes a bit awry...
You make a few mistakes or just are not fully on top of your game and you are devastated by the result. Now, your memory kicks in.
You can’t seem to shake the memories of that bad performance. The memories of that performance seem to haunt you. As you prepare for the next competition, these bad memories creep to the forefront of your mind.
As the next competition commences, those images are replayed over and over in your mind stirring negative emotions and hurting your confidence.
Many golfers have trouble bouncing back when they carry the weight of “bad memories” or negative images of previous performances.
In professional sports, top athletes talk about the importance of having a “short memory” or forgetting about a bad performance and moving on to the next competition.
The L.A. Rams had a forgettable game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth game of the 2019 season. The Rams lost 55-40 but it was the way the team lost that was the problem.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff committed four turnovers with the last one leading to the game-deciding touchdown. Some veteran players committed costly penalties and the Rams’ defense had difficulty stopping Tampa Bay’s offense.
After the game, Goff talked about the importance of erasing the memory of the defeat and focusing on the next game.
GOFF: “Let this one go by as quick as possible and move on.”
A strategy to move on from the poor team performance was offered by Rams safety Eric Weddle.
WEEDLE: “Burn the film, quite honestly. Burn it and move on.”
Smart advice from Weedle. Replaying a bad game in your mind only contributes to further performances.
Moving on from a bad performance requires that you focus forward and not relive the past.
Moving On from a Bad Performance
Instead of replaying the images of mistakes and losses, visualize yourself performing successfully in your next competition.
Visualization helps you focus on performing well in future competitions rather than allowing memories of past performances to dominate your mind.
Strive to use past competition as a learning experience. What can you improve in the next week of practice based on your last competition?
By PGTAA member Dr. Patrick Cohn
TecTecTec – Amazon’s top-selling golf laser rangefinder brand – has expanded its selection of technologically advanced golf gear with the launch of ULT-G, an innovative and affordable GPS Golf Watch.
Exceptionally durable, stylish and comfortable, the ULT-G ($119.99) provides golfers quick and accurate distances to the front, middle and back of greens, as well as hazards and doglegs. Available for a one-time purchase of $119.99, with no subscription required, TecTecTec is giving users instant access to precise satellite-measured yardages at over 38,000 courses around the world.
“Our goal has always been to provide golfers with high-tech, quality products at attainable prices, and the ULT-G perfectly aligns with this philosophy,” says Renan Lore, Director of TecTecTec. “Whether a player prefers a laser rangefinder or a wearable golf GPS watch, they can find a product that fits their needs within our expanding catalog.”
The company is known throughout the golf industry for its renowned line of rangefinders, which feature an ultra-clear, multi-layered optical lens for excellent visual clarity and 6x magnification with diopter adjustment. Among the most popular models are the new ULT-X, and the Amazon category leader, the VPRO 500.
All purchases through the company’s website include customary free shipping, a two-year warranty, and a “love it or your money back” 30-day full refund guarantee. For more information, visit www.us.tectectec.com.
About TecTecTec
Founded in 2014, TecTecTec is headquartered in France with representation in Houston and Bali, Indonesia. The company provides golfers and hunters worldwide with high-quality products sold directly to consumers at affordable prices by eliminating middlemen. Progressive thinking, innovative research and development, manufacturing with the tightest quality controls and unwavering customer support led to TecTecTec rangefinders becoming annual bestsellers on Amazon. Beyond golf and hunting products, TecTecTec manufactures cameras, drones, projectors, security systems and speakers.
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