Case Study #1
Test Subjects
Pro- Teaching Pro Scott Seifferlein. Handicap 2
Amateur- Tom. Average Score of 110
Player Facts: Pro Av. Drive 250, Am Av. Drive 180
Golf Course Slope Rating 142
Golf Course Distance 6,322
Holes Played 13
Rules of Engagement: Amateur uses pro’s long game and scores in for pro inside of 50 yards. Amateur using pro’s short game and Pro scores in for amateur inside 50 yards.
Outcome:
Am using pro’s short game score = 83 w/ 21 putts over 13 holes
Am using pro’s long game score = 58 w/27 putts over 13 holes
Stats:
Pro Fairways- 70%
Am Fairways- 20%
Pro GIRs- 61.5%
Am GIRs- 0%
Of 83 strokes w/ pro finishing amateur ball 48 were amateur strokes outside of 50 yards and 35 were pro strokes inside of 50 yards.
Of 58 strokes w/ am finishing pro ball 24 were pro strokes outside of 50 yards and 34 were am strokes inside of 50 yards.
Conclusion: Amateur benefits significantly more using pro’s long game than using pro’s short game in this initial case study.
Variables: This conclusion would certainly vary depending on the handicap of the amateur, the am’s strengths and weaknesses, difficulty of the course, familiarity of the course and many other factors.
Pro Comments- In this case study the golf course was difficult (142 slope rating) and had multiple water hazards which the amateur donated a half dozen golf balls. Throw out the three water holes and the score would have been 53 to 45, still in favor of using the pro’s long game but much closer. I personally felt my short game could have been sharper and that would have reduced the score from 83 down to 80 or 79 but it is also of interest how the amateur missed in many locations where I had to hit lob shots out of poor sidehill lies. It is significantly easier to chip and pitch off the long game miss of the pro player vs. chipping and pitching off the long game miss of the amateur player.
Case Study #2
Test Subjects
Pro- Teaching Pro Scott Seifferlein. Handicap 2
Amateur- Scott. League Handicap 18
Player Facts: Pro Av. Drive 250, Am Av. Solid Drive 230
Golf Course Slope Rating 129
Golf Course Distance 5,989
Holes Played 18
Rules of Engagement: Amateur uses pro’s long game and scores in for pro inside of 50 yards. Amateur using pro’s short game and Pro scores in for amateur inside 50 yards.
Outcome:
Am using pro’s short game score = 95 w/ 29 putts
Am using pro’s long game score = 80 w/ 36 putts
Stats:
Pro Fairways- 43%
Am Fairways- 21%
Pro GIRs- 59%
Am GIRs- 11%
Of 95 strokes w/ pro finishing amateur ball, 49 were amateur strokes outside of 50 yards and 46 were pro strokes inside of 50 yards. Pro was 37.5% on up and down conversions inside of 50 yards playing off of Amateur’s ball.
Of 80 strokes w/ am finishing pro ball 35 were pro strokes outside of 50 yards and 45 were am strokes inside of 50 yards. Am was 33% on up and down conversions inside of 50 yards playing off of Pro’s ball.
Conclusion: Amateur benefits significantly more using pro’s long game than using pro’s short game in this case study.
Variables: This conclusion would certainly vary depending on the handicap of the amateur, the am’s strengths and weaknesses, difficulty of the course, familiarity of the course and many other factors.
Pro Comments- In this case study the golf course was of average difficulty with much out of bounds left. The Amateur self admitted his tee shot game was below average and suffering more left hooks than usual. This resulted in 5 stroke and distance penalties for lost balls and out of bounds, two lateral hazard penalties and 2 punch out sideways penalties. That is 14 penalty strokes. The pro also had a case of the duck hooks but medicated more properly and only suffered 2 stroke and distance penalties, 1 water ball and 1 punch out. However, even throwing out all penalty shots and punch outs for both the amateur and pro, the score would still have been in favor of using the pro’s the long game 74 to 81. I personally felt my short game could have been sharper and that would have reduced the score from 95 down to 92 or 91 but it is also of interest how the amateur missed in many locations where I had to hit difficult pitches and lob shots to short side hole locations. It is significantly easier to chip and pitch off the long game miss of the pro player vs. chipping and pitching off the long game miss of the amateur player.
Scott Seifferlein
www.GrandRapidsGolfLesson.com
The Better Golf Blog 