Sam Truman, explains how to effectively measure your game and how to pinpoint areas to work on

How often do we as golfers get drawn into practising in the same way week after week? I would say it happens far too often. Golfers get stuck on the range hitting the same clubs to the same targets.

As golfers we need to make sure we are measuring our games effectively, so we can use our precious practice time wisely.

I’m going to help you measure your game on the course using a few useful techniques. These tips will help you figure out which parts of your game to work on and will help you get a really clear overview of your game, helping you reveal your strengths and weaknesses.

MEASURING SCORES The game of golf has had some big changes occur over the last few years with the introduction of a world handicapping system which helps standardise the handicapping process around the globe.

However, any handicapping process will come with its flaws. Whether that it’s not an accurate representation of your game at a certain point in time or that the scores are not measured under tournament circumstances.

With this in my mind, I suggest that players keep a casual play scoring record and a tournament scoring record. This will help you reveal how much the pressure of playing in a competition actually effects your scores.

The last tip to monitor scoring is to break your year down into quarters and keep a scoring average (to par) during those times. How much does your scoring average change during the calendar year?

MEASURING CONDITIONS To help understand your strengths and weaknesses, whenever you go

out to play keep a golfing diary. Make some consistent notes on course conditions (green speed, dampness, course length) and weather conditions (wind speed, temperature).

This simple habit may start to reveal that you struggle in certain conditions, i.e. you may suffer more so when the wind picks up which could suggest you aren’t good enough at knock down shots or that your normal ball flight is too high. shots it takes you to get it in the hole. At the end of the round what was your average? And what created that average? Was it the pitch/chip or was it the putts that worked/ didn’t work?

Putting: c Did you miss any putts inside 3ft? c Did you hole any putts outside of 15ft? c How many 3 putts did you have?

Hopefully all the ideas above will help you plan out your practice better and will help you improve your game for the upcoming season. Remember to gather a good amount of data before making a decision on your game. Gathering data on your game helps you monitor your own game but it also helps your coach understand your game outside of lessons.

WHICH STATISTICS TO KEEP? If you’re new to stats or simply don’t want the hassle of noting down every shot, I’m going to provide you with a few key stats that help you understand your game better.

Off the tee: c How many shots to the green did you have on Par 4’s and Par 5’s? – not being out of bounds, in a hazard or blocked out behind an obstruction.

Approach play: c Greens in regulation: A simple but great stat to always keep a note of. It’s a great stat that easily helps pinpoint other areas of your game that may be a weakness.

Short game: c Scoring zone success: On any shot within 50 yards of the flag (not on the green). Keep a note of how many

Sam Truman is a PGA Professional based at The Surrey Golf Lab, Reigate Hill Golf Club and is regarded as one of the best young performance coaches in the region. Current roles include: • Performance Coach – Hugh Marr Golf • Surrey Boys (U12’s & U14’s) and Girls (U18’s) County Coach • Elite Academy Coach for

Whitgift School Under the tutorship of European Tour Coach Hugh Marr, Sam prides himself in providing the best holistic coaching experiences for his players. Sam works with all levels of golfers from the young aspiring junior all the way up to European tour professionals. Sam is able to provide clients with access to the most up to date golf coaching technology at one of the best practice facilities in the UK Clients are exposed to Trackman club and ball tracking and also the SAM Putt Lab Analysis System in the new indoor putting studio. For more information follow Sam on: @SamTrumanGolf @SamTrumanGolf E: SamTrumanGolf@gmail.com