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Probable GOLF Instruction
Lower scores by making better choices on the course. New golf technology; more distance.
Applied physics & math to improve golf. Free golf tips based on the latest scientific research.

Probablility of Shot Patterns

Golf statistics, specifically those related to a player's shot patterns can be very revealing and useful. PGA Tour Professionals would benefit the most from knowing their shot patterns since they are the most consistent ball strikers.

If you would like an analysis of your shot pattern, you can send me some of your round statistics, I'll analyze it and send you back a report. Just download an Excel Spreadsheet using the link, Download Excel Round, and e-mail me your results.

Identifying and understanding your shot patterns can help you make smarter decisions on the golf course. When should you aim at the pin and when should you aim at a different part of the green? Club selection is crucial: it all depends on your shot pattern. The mathematics of golf can calculate probabilities for hitting each club. This page explains the golf tip that will enable you to shoot a lower score by improving your club selection.

Consider a shot to a pin which is tucked front/left on the par 3, 17th hole which is 158 yards long. A water hazard guards the front portion of the green. You are one down in your match and hitting first. Should you aim at the pin? Probably not but it does depend on your shot pattern. If you land your selected iron within 15 feet of the pin 95% of the time, then the odds are in your favour. But even Tiger Woods isn't that consistently accurate. It's more likely that you hit at least 60% of your shots left and short meaning that if you aim at the pin, you are likely to go in the water and lose your match. It would be better to aim right and a little long. If you hit it where you aim, you'll still have a putt for birdie. If you do what is likely and hit it left and short, you'll be closer to the pin.

Club Shot Pattern Test : In 2003, Golf Digest performed some tests involved hitting a series of shots on 12 iron models introduced recently. Golf Digest Chief Technical Advisor Frank Thomas designed the test.

Golf Digest Equipment Panelist Gene Parente and his staff used their swing robot at Golf Laboratories Inc. to perform the test. During the test, each 6-iron was hit eight times on each of 13 different points on the clubface. The points included five vertical rows centered on the center line of the scored area of the clubface and three horizontal rows separated by one-quarter inch with the first row beginning one-half inch above the sole. A total of 104 shots were hit with each iron, and the totals were combined to produce a composite result. The data was analyzed by Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia University.

Golf shot dispersion pattern for mis-hits.

Mis-hit positions on the golf club face and the corresponding shot pattern.

WHAT THEY FOUND: The concentric ellipses on the iron face (above) represent a composite image of two-, four- and six-yard losses in carry distance from the typical iron's hot spot (point of maximum carry as well as the center of ellipses). Of the 13 points, the average for point No. 1 produced the maximum carry distance, and the remaining points' distances fell off by varying degrees. For example, point No. 2 produced a shot that landed about five feet to the right of the target and nine feet short of the target, and point No. 11 landed about 13 feet right and 36 feet short. Mis-hits to the left or right of point No. 1 produced better results than those up or down from No. 1. On average, the best points are 1, 2, 4 and 9 (average miss: about seven feet), and the worst were spots 3, 7, 11 and 13 (average miss: approximately 36 feet).

By determining your own unique shot pattern, you can more accurately club for your shots and get better results. Why club to hit into the "red zone" above if you're only able to execute 5% of the time?

Below are my statistics for the last 20 rounds with medium irons 5 through 7. Close is considered within 5 yards of the pin. Note that 30% of my shots finish short and 29% finish left. Notice that my entire shot pattern is documented. In each rectangle is recorded the number of irons hit to that area (yellow) and the percentage of irons hit to that area.

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Below is a mapping of the green to which I have been referring. One can determine which part of the green to aim at by calculating the various outcomes of aiming at each part of the green. The region which yields the lowest score is the best choice. For instance, aiming at the pin is likely to result in penalties and extra strokes due to water. Aiming at the right side of the green is likely to result in a three putt.

All of the possibilities can be taken into account. The results are listed below.

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Note that in the above the aim is 10 yards left and 10 yards short of the middle of the green. Aiming at the flag would most often result in a score of 3.88 strokes while aiming 10 yards right and 10 yards long would result in a score of 3.29, over half a stroke more. Aiming at the flag on all 18 holes (assuming similar pin placements and hazards) would increase your score by 10.7 strokes!! Note that the highest score would be made if the aim were 10 yards short and 10 yards left of the pin.

For a specific example of how the calculations are done, click here to few them in one of the issues of my newsletter.

The key to applying your shot pattern to your game is discipline. Applying your shot pattern to determine your aim on each shot will guarantee (based on the probabilities) your lowest average score day in and day out. Of course, we have all gone against the odds on occasion and won, but most times we suffer the consequences of playing risky shots.

If you'd like to see how one would calculate the likely, average score on a
hole based on aim and existing shot pattern, click on the Mathematics link.

I provide a service to golfers who are interested in determining their shot patterns. If you'd like to try this service for free, I'm offering a free trial. Download an Excel Worksheet that you can complete and send back to me for analysis (5 to 10 rounds of data). Click here Download Excel Round

If you'd like to purchase this service, click the Order Services option. I'll send you the necessary forms so that you can track your statistics for 10 rounds. You'll send me the results, I'll input them into a program I have created and send you a report of your shot patterns and short games statistics. I'll also tell you which part of your game to work on to produce the most significant improvements.

Find below the results of my shot patterns with various clubs.

601 Capri Road, Enderby, B.C. V0E 1V3 Canada
Phone: 250-838-7760 FAX: to fax, email an attachment
probablegolf@yahoo.ca or golfexpert@probablegolfinstruction.com Site maintained by Ken Tannar.

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