My Golf Stat Tracking Story - Ed Dimambro

Post by Golfer, Ed Dimambro. Follow Ed on Twitter @dimambroe 

Why I started Stat Tracking

Having played for over 10 years now and wanting to try to get to the much sought after ‘next level’ in golf, the most popular response I would come across from coaches/players publications was, ‘Do you know your strengths/weaknesses with regards to your golf game?’

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Ed started Stat Tracking in Spring 2016

This set my mind whirring considering all the possible ways to rank what I thought was my weakness. Whilst my personal opinion as to my strength/weakness would have been not a bad place to start, there was far too much room for recent experiences to sway my view. For example, how many times have you finished a round of golf with a couple of missed shorter putts and tell everyone how badly you have putted? Typically this would be generalised to the fact you putted badly all day, just remembering the last 2 missed ones and not the fantastic distance putting from 30+ feet all day because you haven’t hit it close enough to really consider them makeable putts. Guilty as charged on that one!

The solution seemed obvious when suggested to me by a fellow golfer, stat tracking. Brilliant.

I set myself the task from that day to HONESTLY enter my stats after each round from that day so that I could evaluate exactly where my game was performing well and other areas not so. Typically I will upload them straight after the round using the iPhone app from Golfshake (It can also be done online, but I personally find it much more efficient to quickly upload them onto my phone which will update my online account for me).

When I want to really drill into the stats, I use the website as you have access to much more information when setting goals. For a quick recap of the last 5 rounds the app is great, you can then decide what to work on before the next round but, for having a little look at goals for the winter then the desktop has much more in-depth stats that you can really see where the game needs work.

Having a look at end of season golf stats on @golfshake clearly shows where the game needs work! Pitching/chipping/putting. ???? pic.twitter.com/bCt0dcs0Xg

— Ed Dimambro (@dimambroe) October 16, 2016

From the 14th June to 15th October I had a collection of 29 rounds and have a very clear idea of just what I need to work on this winter. Basic stats I will look at most often are fairways in regulation, greens in regulation, scrambling and putts. Nice and easy summary of the game how well I have hit it off the tee, into greens, chipping and putting. I love the fact you get an email shortly after inputting your stats onto the iPhone app from Golfshake with a summary of the round, really useful and just what I need to plan a midweek after work range trip.

The Learning: My Strengths and Weaknesses

What I have learned for this winter, armed with 522 holes worth of stats is that the trend for my game was very clear to see.

I am very happy with my stats for both fairways in regulation and greens in regulation; fairways 68.27% and greens 72.22% (European Tour average 2016 fairways 58.5% & greens 66.5%). 

I then looked at my putting stats and short game… oh dear. Average putts per round 32.86 (Average on European Tour this season is around 29.5) and scrambling 44.52% (European Tour average 52.4%). I knew that this area of my game wasn’t my strongest, but to see it in numbers really highlights it and hits home.

Like most I love hitting drivers on the range, who doesn’t! I plan to spend time working on putting, 41 3-putts this year which would show long distance putting isn’t the best and that inside 6 feet could do with some work. I also plan to dedicate myself to all kinds of short game shots, chipping, pitching and bunker play to improve scrambling.

Do love @golfshake iPhone app stat tracker ease of use and email with round info afterwards! ???????? a must have! pic.twitter.com/smR3Ckx0Su

— Ed Dimambro (@dimambroe) October 15, 2016

This year so far has been my best and I have reduced my handicap down from a 2 to 0.2 and I can certainly attribute a good majority of that to the stat tracking giving me good feedback and an objective view of my game so that I can go and practice the areas that had previously let me down.

Now to get stuck in to targeted winter practice and dream about what 2017 might have in store! 

Ed is a scratch golfer who represents Cambrdigeshire at County First Team Level and finished 8th in the Midland Order Merit in 2016. You can follow Ed's progress on twitter @dimambroe