Golficity Data Dive – Improve Your Scores by Breaking Your Lob-Wedge Addiction

This article is the first installment in the Golficity Data Dive series, which is based on Shot Scope data analyzing more than 18 million shots recorded on more than 40,000 courses around the world. Armed with an abundance of data from amateurs golfers of all different skill levels, Shot Scope has identified some trends and patterns that higher handicap golfers often fall victim to and, with a few simple strategy changes, can help them play better, score lower and, as a result, have more fun while out on the course.

Who doesn’t want to have Phil’s short game? I mean, every time Phil has a wedge in his hands, particularly his 64°, you know something special is going to happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So, naturally, many amateur golfers have mistakenly led to believe that they should immediately pull their highest lofted lob-wedge out of the bag anytime they’re within 20 yards of the green.

The problem is, we don’t have Phil’s short game and, sadly, pulling out your lob-wedge is probably costing you lots of strokes.

Indeed, according to Shot Scope, high handicap golfers pull their lob-wedge out 42% of the time they’re around the green, while better players use it only 8% of the time.

That’s right, better golfers are using their lob-wedges approximately 5 times less than higher handicappers and, instead, implement a more even spread of club usage from 8 iron to putter.

Only further reinforcing the argument that high handicappers should keep their lob-wedges in the bag more often is that while 8 to 20 handicap golfers are using their lob-wedge 38%, this club only accounts for 8% of up-and-downs made.

So why are better players using their irons and lower lofted wedges instead of their sand and lob-wedges? 

Simply put, your 8-iron, 9-iron and PW all have a greater margin of error, in addition to being significantly easier to execute the bump-and-run shot with. And once you get comfortable with the greens, it’s a lot more confidence inspiring to get the ball rolling instead of trying to properly execute that perfect chip, hot and stop shot (instead of thinning it across the green or chili dipping your wedge and hitting the ball a whole 6 inches).

As a result, the first step many high handicappers can do is leave the 60° in your bag. In fact, try to make it a habit during the next few rounds to pick one club less than you normally would for the same shot.

So next time you’re out there try diversifying your short game club selection a bit. As the data suggests, breaking your lob-wedge addiction may just lead to better scores around the greens.

Player data and graphics courtesy of Shot Scope