Intermediate Tip of the Month
Practice All Parts of the Game

It is no secret that hitting a well-struck driver is way more fun than making a six-foot putt. The problem is, they both count the same for your score. The chart below shows how the game breaks down for an average golfer. To be as accurate as possible, John removes "gimmes" from the stats before calculating percentages. He believes it skews the numbers if we count all of our 1 - 2 foot putts.

Notice how important putting and the short game still are. If you add tee balls and wedge play to the total, you are right around two thirds of your score. If you are like most golfers, I'm betting your practice time is spent hitting a lot of mid irons, "working on your swing". While improving your swing is very important, when it comes time to prepare for the golf course and lower your scores, you will need to spend time on all parts of the game to reach your best scoring potential. Make 2004 the year you really improve by spending your practice time on all parts of the game.

Putting  -  33%	Driving and Wedge Game  -  17%
Short Game  -  17%	Fairway Shots  -  28%
Trouble Shots  -  5%