Thread by @practicalgolf

Pro golfers are so good it’s really hard to fathom.

But what you see on TV isn’t real.

Broadcasts are only a snippet of the action & it’s hurting normal golfers' expectations.

It’s ruining the enjoyment of the game & keeping scores 🆙

Let’s solve this problem with a thread!

TV broadcasts are a highlight reel of the best golfers in the 🌎 who are playing the best at the moment.

Look at the bottom of leaderboards every week; you’ll see plenty of scores in the mid to high 70s

We’d have a much different expectation level if we saw only those players!

One of the best ways to adjust expectations is to share a few truths about each part of the game.

Most golfers overestimate what are good shots for the pros and even for themselves.

So let’s take a look at a few key stats in each phase of golf to clear things up.

Tee shots are usually the easiest to digest because the differences are so massive

A PGA Tour player averages 297 yards off the tee.

They are also remarkably accurate

The average male golfer usually averages somewhere between 220-240 yards off the tee.

But I have found the best way to define success off the tee for recreational golfers are two conditions:

• You advanced the ball close to your avg distance
• You have a clear path to the green with a reasonable lie

It’s not fairway or bust!

Approach play is where golfers start to get into trouble.

We see miraculous shots on TV that settle close to the pin.

However, landing the ball inside of 10 feet is not the standard for a good shot.

Not even close!

Here are PGA Tour averages from the fairway for various distances:

• 100-125 yds: 20'
• 125-150 yds: 23'8"
• 150-175 yds: 27'8"
• 175-200 yds: 34'1"
• 200-225 yds: 42'5"

These numbers are *remarkable*, but they are clearly not knocking it stiff to the pin each time.

Normal golfers can expect proximity numbers to be on a different planet.

You can essentially double all of those numbers for a scratch golfer, which represents the top 1% of recreational players.

Here are some benchmarks from the @shotscope across all handicap levels:

2 biggest takeaways:

• PGA Tour players cannot land the ball next to the pin all the time
• There is a MASSIVE difference in expectations between them and us

If you land your 7-iron 40 feet from the hole on the green, you have hit a GREAT shot

Don’t scold yourself!

And most importantly…

Stop thinking the pin is your target on every hole.

You are just increasing your chances of making bigger scores, not birdies.

Check out this thread for more:

https://twitter.com/practicalgolf/status/1523670155653705730

Now let’s take a look at wedge play.

Every week we see shots like these.

This is truly incredible. But I’m a +1.5 hcp and couldn’t hit this shot in my wildest dreams under pressure.

I’d probably blade it or chunk it 😬🤷‍♂️😂

https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1524932855343636482

So many golfers think they should be landing the ball within a 5-foot circle of the hole with wedge play.

A typical PGA Tour player will average about 7 feet from the hole from 10-20 yards off the green.

Again, remarkable!

Normal golfers, not even close:

You have to prioritize this question.

“What can I do to make sure I get on the putting surface?”

Everything else is secondary. Golfers are tossing away strokes by biting off more than they can chew. Chasing 5 ft proximity is a pipe dream 😉

15-20 ft is a good outcome for most.

Putting is where expectations are completely out of line!

Most golfers are seeing tour players drain 25-footers left and right on TV.

This. Is. Not. Reality.

Here are make rates from various distances from @MarkBroadie that should clear things up for you:

The biggest goals in putting are:

• Increase make rates inside of 10 ft
• Get it as close to the hole as possible outside of 10 ft

Speed control is king with the putter.

Lowering scores is usually mitigating 3-putts.

It is not a contest of how many longer putts you hole!

Last but not least, let's talk recovery shots

Every time they show a player in the trees, they seem to miraculously thread their ball through the branches onto the green

@chasingscratch0 I am staring you right in the face!

You all are blowing a ton of shots in these situations

Again, TV is not reality.

From most distances, tour players average *bogey* from a recovery situation.

Take the medicine and get the ball back to safety first.

Your scorecard will thank you.

To recap:

• Keep the ball in play off the tee
• Don't go pin hunting
• Don't get cute w/ wedges
• You are going to miss most putts; control your speed
• Don't play hero in the trees

AND STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF!

Now watch the #PGAChampionship keeping this in mind 😃

If you found this helpful:

• follow @practicalgolf for more advice

• Read 400+ articles on my website: practical-golf.com

• Sign up for my newsletter: eepurl.com/bd-5V1

• Listen to our podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

• RT the first tweet in this thread

And be on the lookout for my book next month, The Four Foundations of Golf.

I will help you lower your scores, and increase enjoyment by:

• Managing your expectations 😃
• Tightening up your strategy 🎯
• Practicing more effectively 🏌️‍♂️
• Sharpening your mental game 🤔