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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 8, 2013 15:42:20 GMT -5
I’m often asked by my readers what current PGA Tour player’s game I would prefer to have based upon my statistical research. To answer their question, I decided to look at the data and split the game into certain key metrics and base it upon a Tour player’s history. Hopefully for those at home, this will get people pointed in the right direction as to which players to observe when it comes to certain categories of the game. DRIVING THE BALL Variables to consider: - Driving distance. - Fairway percentage. - Average distance from the edge of the fairway. - Percent of times in a fairway bunker. - “Missed Fairway — Other.” Based on those variables, I use an algorithm that determines how effectively a player drives the ball. I call it “driving effectiveness.” I also consider how well a golfer drives the ball off the tee when he is not hitting his driver. Looking at ShotLink data, I can tell you that most golfers would be surprised how many Tour players struggle hitting a 3 wood off the tee. We also have to consider ball height as in general, as high ball hitters have statistically fitted into today’s modern courses. I believe this is because the modern TPC courses are filled with forced carries. With that, I would pick Boo Weekley, who has finished in my top 10 in Driving Effectiveness in each of the last three seasons. He’s one of the best fairway wood players in the game as well. He hits it long, accurate and precise. Honorable Mention: Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell, Hunter Mahan, Graham DeLaet Top Newcomer: Jordan Spieth Read More: www.golfwrx.com/108224/hunt-breaking-down-the-best-players-on-tour-by-category/ |
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Post by fullback on Jul 8, 2013 17:07:11 GMT -5
Very interesting.
Your topics are excellent and your writing is concise.
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Post by cwdlaw223 on Jul 8, 2013 21:18:17 GMT -5
Why do they struggle with the three wood?
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 9, 2013 7:44:38 GMT -5
Why do they struggle with the three wood? My belief is that the size of the 3-wood head gives them issues. If we examine the components of the 3-wood, it should allow them to hit a lot more fairways because it's a shorter shaft length, heavier in static weight, the ball launches higher and spins more. The only component of the club that would lend way to giving golfers issues is the size of the head is smaller than a driver. This is one of the things I will discuss in detail in 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis. 3JACK |
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Post by cwdlaw223 on Jul 9, 2013 8:14:11 GMT -5
I think the face height also contributes to problems. I just bought a new 913f.d to deal with this issue. Strictly a driving 3 wood.
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Post by teeace on Jul 9, 2013 14:31:19 GMT -5
Why do they struggle with the three wood? My belief is that the size of the 3-wood head gives them issues. If we examine the components of the 3-wood, it should allow them to hit a lot more fairways because it's a shorter shaft length, heavier in static weight, the ball launches higher and spins more. The only component of the club that would lend way to giving golfers issues is the size of the head is smaller than a driver. This is one of the things I will discuss in detail in 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis. 3JACK Can part of that be also mental and pressure of tight holes affects to that shot. I mean usually there is also reason to use 3 wood instead of driver |
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 9, 2013 15:09:20 GMT -5
All I will say is 'no.' When 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis comes out, it will explain why. I can't give it away now.
3JACK
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Post by cwdlaw223 on Jul 9, 2013 17:26:53 GMT -5
I'm surprised and agreed with Tee.
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burner
Beat up Radials
Posts: 14
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Post by burner on Jul 9, 2013 17:28:34 GMT -5
Why do they struggle with the three wood? My belief is that the size of the 3-wood head gives them issues. The only component of the club that would lend way to giving golfers issues is the size of the head is smaller than a driver. But the sweet spot is just as big, so I am afraid that I don't buy that one Richie. |
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 9, 2013 18:49:41 GMT -5
My belief is that the size of the 3-wood head gives them issues. The only component of the club that would lend way to giving golfers issues is the size of the head is smaller than a driver. But the sweet spot is just as big, so I am afraid that I don't buy that one Richie. The amount of MOI around the sweetspot is different. 3JACK |
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Post by rj on Jul 9, 2013 21:34:50 GMT -5
But the sweet spot is just as big, so I am afraid that I don't buy that one Richie. The amount of MOI around the sweetspot is different. 3JACK 3JACK[/quote] "The amount of MOI around the sweetspot is different." In comparison to every other club in the bag? If so how does that relate to a problem for tour players with just the driver and 3 wood, wouldn't it be an issue for every club compared to another club? I'm leaning towards what Teeace said about the mental aspect for increased pressure to hit the fairway with a club that a tour pro should be able to do easily... except when under pressure! Also not all 3woods are created equal or for that matter are drivers etc. |
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 10, 2013 7:49:54 GMT -5
The MOI is around the sweetspot is less in irons as well. But, irons travel so much shorter and spin so much more than a 3-wood that it becomes easier to hit them accurately and precisely. The trade-off is that you lose more distance and now have a longer shot into the green than you do if you had hit a 3-wood off the tee. But, it's in play and usually a better lie.
The problem lies with the 3-wood's club design. It's basically designed to be the 2nd most inaccurate and 2nd most imprecise club in the bag. The driver is designed to be the most inaccurate and most imprecise club in the bag. This is due to the distance these clubs travel and the amount of curvature they can put on a ball.
But what I have seen in my research on Tour, Tour players are much much much more inaccurate and imprecise with the 3-wood off the tee than golfers imagine. And it has nothing to do with pressure as my research has looked at the data when the same golfers have hit Driver and 3-wood off the same tee box.
I plan on going over this extensively in 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis. And I will probably take part of this research and use it as a preview before the book comes out. I will just say that the research results flat out shocked me. But now it becomes commonplace. Like watching Johnson Wagner on Sunday hit 3-wood three different times and missing the fairway each time.
3JACK
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Post by teeace on Jul 10, 2013 8:22:47 GMT -5
The MOI is around the sweetspot is less in irons as well. But, irons travel so much shorter and spin so much more than a 3-wood that it becomes easier to hit them accurately and precisely. The trade-off is that you lose more distance and now have a longer shot into the green than you do if you had hit a 3-wood off the tee. But, it's in play and usually a better lie. The problem lies with the 3-wood's club design. It's basically designed to be the 2nd most inaccurate and 2nd most imprecise club in the bag. The driver is designed to be the most inaccurate and most imprecise club in the bag. This is due to the distance these clubs travel and the amount of curvature they can put on a ball. But what I have seen in my research on Tour, Tour players are much much much more inaccurate and imprecise with the 3-wood off the tee than golfers imagine. And it has nothing to do with pressure as my research has looked at the data when the same golfers have hit Driver and 3-wood off the same tee box. I plan on going over this extensively in 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis. And I will probably take part of this research and use it as a preview before the book comes out. I will just say that the research results flat out shocked me. But now it becomes commonplace. Like watching Johnson Wagner on Sunday hit 3-wood three different times and missing the fairway each time. 3JACK Still one comment about this. In my thoughts there is a reason to choose 3wood instead of driver. Self confidence is sometimes that reason and can make bad or good things happen. I have seen those guys hitting 3woods at range and they really can put those to the same spot there, opposite than drivers. One reason can be also that it's the club what we use less on practice. All players put much effort to the clubs they use most and it means driver and irons. I'm sure you got stats about that, but I think tour players hits driver at least 10 times more in one year than 3 wood on course. There might be tournaments where 3 wood is not even once out of the bag and driver 14 times per round. By that they are not so familiar with 3 wood and when used maybe once a day from tee they don't get right feeling for that club as the stroke is much different than with any other club. |
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Post by fullback on Jul 10, 2013 9:34:38 GMT -5
I think only 1° difference between face and path will result in about 4% side deflection.
Since the tour average 3-wood carry of 243 yards, that's over 30' of side deflection without considering rollout.
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 10, 2013 9:35:56 GMT -5
I could see the 3-wood being used less in practice. A recent client I picked up told me that he couldn't remember the last time he practiced with any of his clubs from the 3-wood to the 5-iron. And he's a multi-time winner on Tour.
Although he told me that he just hasn't liked his 3-wood since 2010. And he tends to practice 3-woods off the tee if he has some tough holes that he feels he'll need to hit it off the tee.
But, I think the design of the 3-wood...with it being the 2nd longest club in the bag, not only in shaft length, but in distance off the tee; along with manufacturers having struggled with the 3-wood design ever since going to titanium heads in the driver, has presented some major issues for golfers. With persimmon, the size of a driver versus a 3-wood was not nearly as different. When OEM's first tried titanium in 3-woods, they were too big and had issues hitting them off the deck. Then they went to high strength steels and they have caused a myriad of issues as well. Either the head designs are more geared towards hitting off the deck and being woefully inept off the tee or whatever.
I also think that OEM's haven't really gotten down the science behind finding the best fit for a 3-wood shaft. They focus mostly on the driver and the irons instead.
3JACK
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