Over the years, in the quest of elevating their performance, in a skill and strategy-based game like golf, golfers have found out data and stats analysis as one of the most innovative ways to improve their game. Gone are the days when athletes used to depend upon intuitions, and past experiences to walk towards improvement, because in the present times, every sector of golf can be evaluated precisely through data. Not only has this system revived the game, but also has made the analysis of the game much easier and strategical for the players and the coaches alike.

Bharat Singh Rajawat, an NGAI certified Category A Teaching Professional at the Protouch Golf Academy, shared valuable insights for all his students on the importance of data analysis during their coaching and practice in upgrading their overall game. Coach Bharat Singh Rajawat opines:

“Data analysis provides a repertoire of information on the basis of which golfers can make accurate decisions and figure the areas for improvement. Data analysis is like an MRI scan which gives you a clear reflection of what you did during a round. The scores do not serve this purpose, but the data assesses your game in every segment.

A few areas where stats and data helps a golfer enhance their game have been discussed below:

1. Tracking Player’s Performance: Data analysis helps in keeping a track of player’s progress by allowing numerical data in the database to be analyzed and compared and helps in finding out which player has made how much progress and the areas o improvement. Websites or apps like Truehandicap.com, allow players to feed data about following areas in his game :

* Number of Fairway hits.

* Green in regulations made.

* Ups and Downs made.

* Number of putts taken in a round.

* Sand Saves.

* Penalties incurred.

2. Creating a Practice Plan: The gathered data help both the coach and the player analyze the strength and the weaknesses, and create a practice plan as per the requirement.
3. Making Course Strategies: With the knowledge of the strength and  weaknesses gathered, the coach makes proper course strategies that help the players in reducing their chance of losing strokes. Correct data helps a player assess which hole he should approach aggressively and which hole he should play safely.
4. Selection of Right Equipment: Technologies like TrackMan and Flightscope specialize in launch monitors that analyze swing characteristics, ball flight, and other data to recommend the most suitable clubs, shafts, and equipment that ensures the overall performance of the golfers.

Many amateurs do not understand the importance of maintaining stats. Often overlooking it, they focus on improving the technicalities of the game and that is one of the major reasons they struggle to perform. Pro golfers always prefer keeping a track of their data to enhance their overall performance. Therefore, data analytics has unlocked new possibilities to unleash a player’s full potentials, ensuring overall enhancement”.