The Loop

Chances are you don't hit your clubs quite as far as you say you do

January 29, 2015

We all know recreational golfers who, out of ego or ignorance, embellish their skills on occasion. (OK, maybe more like on regular occasion.) Save for a purposeful eye roll, it's difficult to challenge them given a lack of objective data.

Enter GAME Golf, which debuted its stat-tracking/GPS technology in 2013, creating sensors that golfers attach to their clubs that help calculate the true distances they hit the ball with each one. The company markets its device as a way for golfers to "be right" with their club selection by knowing how far they really hit their woods, irons and wedges, improving their course management.

In 2014, GAME Golf users played more than 170,000 rounds. At the end of the year the company aggregated these statistics to offers a look at how "skillful" regular golfers actually are. Not surprisingly it varies greatly, depending on skill level.

For instance, take GAME Golf users who shot average scores between 75-80. Breaking down topline stats from these golfers, the company found their average driving distance of 235 yards, found the fairway off the tee 51 percent of the time and hit 52 percent of their greens in regulation.

For golfers who averaged scores between 90-95, their stats aren't quite as solid. These players had an average driving distance of just 196 yards. Their fairways hit number was lower, but not drastically so, down to 43 percent. But where their significant difference was in ball-striking as their GIR mark was just 23 percent.

By basis of comparison, Graeme McDowell, a GAME Golf endorser uploaded, used the technology to track his game. Based on rounds he uploaded, McDowell averaged 270 yards off the tee, hit 77 percent of fairways and 72 percent of greens in regulation.

Meanwhile, using ShotLink data for the entire PGA Tour in 2013-14, the average drive on tour last season was 281.6 yards, the average fairways hit for players was 61.3 percent and the average GIR was 64.08 percent.

GAME Golf GAME Golf PGA Tour pros

75-80 shooters 90-95 shooters ShotLink stats

Average driving distance 235 yards

196 yards

281.6 yards

Fairways hit 51%

43% 61.3% Greens In Regulation 52% 23% 64.08%

So, the next time the 15-handicapper in your foursome boasts about the 260 yards he averages off the tee, feel free to give him more than an eye roll.

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