Every Shot Counts: Using the Revolutionary Strokes Gained Approach to Improve Your Golf Performance and Strategy

Mr. Broadie has combined sophisticated data analysis with the PGA's state-of-the-art shot tracking database (Shotlink) to finally solve nearly all the age-old dilemmas in golf. It is a fascinating work, and heralds a new era in golf statistics, analytics, and ramifications to strategy. Without either (the analysis) and the data (shotlink) these truths would have continued to be hidden. What kind of mysteries are being solved here? Only all the important ones, like: *Why traditional golf statistics (GIR, driving distance average, Fairways-in-Regulation) can't rank players or predict winners. *Why calculating "averages" is incomplete at best. *What's more important, driving or putting? *How should we reconcile counting stokes (per hole), vs. inches (putts), vs. yards (drives) *What should you practice? *Where should you aim? *Why are the best players in the world the best? When Mr. Broadie matches the data to his formulas, the names that rise to the top are the who's-who of golf: Woods, Els, Donald, Lefty, Rory, and the rest. There's a reason these guys are all household names and it is NOT their GIR, FIR, or Average Drive. The "Shots Gained" statistic explains it all, for every shot, drives, approach, even pitches and putts. The entire game is laid bare, finally. I would not doubt that Mr. Broadie already has a sequel in the works (he should!) because the contents of this book could be applied to much deeper golf questions. This edition had to get all the easy targets out of the way, but they are whoppers. I can now see how every other golf book in history has fallen short. Nobody has had shot data like this in the history of golf, along with the skills to properly analyze it. It is not an exaggeration to say that 95% of golf books are now obsolete -- and now factually proven wrong. Right now it is spring, and my email box is full of ads and promotions that read (actual quotes: "How to Score Low! Did you know the pro's average 290 yards... blah blah" and "... master the short game with our wedges! ... drop the score on your scorecard!) ... I can now see the holes in these statistics (even the real ones) from a mile away. I know what to practice now, and it isn't 30-yard pitch shots and 30-foot putts anymore! ** Criticisms ** Very, very few. Almost all the information in this book is illuminating for golfers of all skill levels. Mr. Broadie takes extra pains to make his statistics relevant to 80, 90, and 100-golfers. I found the chapter on putting to be a bit tedious, for not much new insight. Many putting methods have covered these topics in detail over the years, and while Mr. Broadie's statistics confirm many of the truisms, they don't really add a lot of new insight. Those who haven't put in much study in the putting arena might find it helpful though. I found it quite comparable to the AimPoint school of putting technique, but without the specificity of the AimPoint charts (which is also used in PGA broadcasts to reveal putting lines, and is heavily physics based). I definitely wanted more strategic analysis on game-type situations (fodder for the sequel, perhaps!). A fascinating study on how to play holes with OB on one side is very useful. I wanted to see strategies for going to tight pins, long par 3s or short par 3's, fairway bunkers, and similar. Like I said, there is still plenty of room for a sequel. I don't often gush about products or books, but honestly I have read a lot of golf books, hang out on golf forums, and read all the magazines. This is the best golf book I have ever read. No joke.

Really a cool book! I'm a statistician by trade and had wondered what this "Strokes Gained Putting" stat was that was constantly being referred to on the TV broadcasts. The book makes it clear and also explains the other elements of the game (driving, approaches, short game) and the stats created for them. i suspect that the TV guys don't use them because it isn't simple to understand (either they don't know how to explain it or are afraid that their audience would be confused if they tried). The content in this book has forced me to look at what parts of my game need work, shown me how to improve those and enlightened me on this new stat. For those of you that are statistically inclined, the author has used pretty sophisticated statistics to develop the stats and has rigorously verified the results. I especially like the components of variation theme used to describe a round of golf (the author uses Dynamic Programming in lieu of COV).

This is an interesting and accurate explanation of the newer, more useful and accurate golf statistics, versus the less accurate one that have long been in use on the PGA Tour. SInce all of the information comes from PGA tour play, the use of the statistics is perhaps not as meaningful to amateur golfers, who are not so accurate or long as the pros. The reader must make these interpretations for himself, though the authors do touch on it. The main point is that all shots are nearly evenly important, putting no more than others. I enjoyed it, its a quick read, and I learned some interesting ways to think about golf strategy, which shots are most important, and how to assess the success of shots.

This book is an absolute must read for any serious golfer looking to understand the game better, and improve. While it does not give you any tips about how to swing the golf club, it definitely gives you a wealth of information about what goes into lowering your score on the golf course. In addition, some of the short game and putting statistics were eye-opening. As an avid devotee of data driven thinking, and an Arccos user, reading this book and the Four foundations of Golf really brought it all together for me, helping me drop about 10 strokes in my index over 4 years.

Because the PGA measures EVERY shot in EVERY tournament by EVERY pro, there is a data base of many millions of shots. Mark Broadie takes advantage of this data to analyzing each type of shot, from the tee, from the fairway, from bunkers, and on the green. He created the now universally used concept of "shots gained." We amateurs can use this information to focus on the parts of our game that will yield the greatest score improvements. I love data, so I've absorbed nearly every chapter of this book. And I love playing golf, so each round is a chance to think about ways to improve each aspect of my game. For example: In putting, I try to end the put in the hole of course, but if I miss, I want to be just beyond the hole on the high side of the break (most amateurs are short and low). I want to aim my drives away from the worst hazards and not always down the middle of the fairway. So using the concept of "What you measure you can manage," I now measure the hole score, plus putts, plus GIR+1 (for me, much more satisfying than GIR, or Greens in Regulation), Fairways hit, and bad shots. Just by thinking about these few variables, I've been able to lower my index by five strokes.

Best golf book because it's scientifically based.

Would recommend to most golfers but at only at a lower price...I think it was worth about 1/2 of what I payed (Kindle edition - $12is). The book has minor editing errors in the text and in the data/graphs but they really don't detract much from the presentation. The information seemed to be relevant and well researched. Mr. Broadie's information could have been presented in 1/3 of the amount of the book. Problem is, had he not explained the Strokes Gained method extensively I wouldn't have believed the conclusions. Most better golfers I have met may disagree with the author's findings but numbers don't lie and he used a mountain of data to present/support his points. After I am able to play again (out for medical - 6 months) I will adjust my strategy, practice, and efforts slightly due to the Strokes Gained method. I can see where I may shave a couple strokes off per round. For what it's worth as a reference for you, I'm a 15 hcp before reading the book. I already believe I can play at 10 hcp or less and using this book's info I can see a little more of how to do it. I've had rounds of 78 twice and had many, many 9's at + 3 but can't seem to put it all together enough to lower the hcp.

When I was in highschool I hated math and it hated me right back. I've come to tolerate it over the years and it has lessened its disdain for me. Now to the book. Its a lot of statistics to start and I'm only on the second chapter. But I do so love to play the game of golf. I'll have to return to this rating and update it after I finish the book (its been a slow read so far). The title was what intrigued me, because I am a true believer that Every Shot Does Count.