Even for the most talented and consistent amateur golfers, finding the green in regulation on every hole is not a realistic ambition. The PGA Tour average is just 64 percent, so taking time to assess the danger and find the 'good' miss is crucial.
Rough and bunkers are common foes for golfers around the world, but which is the lesser of two evils? Thanks to the latest Arccos data, we can now answer this important question and help you avoid needless bogeys on the golf course...
Rough Or Bunker... Which Is The Better Miss?
Often the answer to questions like this depend on a number of factors, like distance to the hole and handicap index of the player, and while the former is true in this case, I was surprised to find the data was pretty consistent irrespective of ability level.
Ultimately, whether you are a scratch player or a 20-handicapper, playing from the bunker as opposed to the rough from anywhere inside 20 yards will cost you at least 0.2 shots on average. So, if you are a player that consistently finds the sand traps, those small margins can quickly add up and lead to a bigger score than you had hoped for.
The graph below shows the data in more detail, specifically the amount of shots gained by playing from the rough as opposed to the bunker at varying distances. Interestingly, the correlation suggests the further away from the hole you get, the less significant the impact on your scoring becomes.
Arccos data graph showing the amount of shots gained by playing from the rough as opposed to the bunker around the greens
What Are The Chances Of Getting Up-And-Down?
When missing the sand, and facing a shot of up to 25 yards to the green, a scratch player (59%) is more than twice as likely to get the ball up-and-down in comparison to a 20-handicapper (23%).
This upward trend, while slightly slower, continues with a 15-handicapper (29%), 10-handicapper (37%) and 5-handicapper (46%).
When you introduce sand to the equation, the numbers decrease slightly. A scratch player is now only expected to get up-and-down 39 percent of the time, and the gap to a 20-handicapper (13%) increases further as they are three times less likely to achieve this.
The gap between a 15-handicapper (17%), 10-handicapper (21%) and 5-handicapper (28%) also closes, evidencing further the difficulty increase when playing from the bunkers for amateur golfers.
How Does That Compare To The PGA Tour?
While we are regularly treated to the totally unrelatable sand save sorcery from PGA Tour golfers, it appears they really aren't so different from us – at least not in this case.
From inside 10 yards, PGA Tour players get up and down from the bunker 65 percent of the time, but that number shoots right up to 87 percent when playing from other lies (including rough).
The discrepancy reduces drastically for any distance between 10 and 30 yards from the green, as demonstrated in the graph below, but the data exemplifies the benefits of avoiding the greenside bunkers where possible.
-
John Wood Facts: 10 Things To Know About The NBC Sports BroadcasterJohn Wood had a career in the game long before he joined NBC Sports’ golf broadcast team – here are 10 things to know about the American
-
Breeding Greed Or Moving With The Times? Golf Monthly Staff Debate Apparent Inevitability Of Ryder Cup PayAfter a report from The Telegraph stated Team USA Ryder Cup players are set to be paid, four of the Golf Monthly team discuss the merits and pitfalls of the idea...
-
Amateur Golfers Make Less Than 40 Percent Of Putts From This Crucial Length'... Arccos Data Reveals Stark Putting TruthsWhen standing over a 'makeable' putt, many golfers would fancy their chances as they pull the putter head back... But this data might make them think twice!
-
Fresh Data Shows The Age Amateur Golfers Hit Their Longest Drives... Is This True For You?Driving distance isn't everything, but data suggests longer tee shots can lead to a lower handicap. So, at what age do amateur golfers hit their longest drives?
-
Data Reveals How Many 3-Putts Amateur Golfers Make Per Round3-putts are extremely frustrating and damaging to your scorecard, but how often do they occur for amateur golfers in the average round? This data reveals all...
-
Heading To The 1st Tee? Stop Right There! This Data Proves Why The Range Might Be A Better Choice...Getting better at golf requires more than just playing regularly on the course, with the data suggesting that practise time could be the key to success...
-
How Close To The Pin Do Amateur Golfers Hit Their Approach Shots?We often set unrealistic expectations on the golf course, which can leave us feeling deflated, so just how close can we expect to get with our approach shots?
-
Why You DON'T Need To Make More Birdies To Chop 5 Shots Off Your HandicapFor a mid-handicap golfer, the route towards shooting lower scores and improving your handicap index is clear... if you have access to the right data!
-
How Far Do Amateur Golfers Hit Their Irons? Find Out How You Compare…Ever wondered how your iron shots compare to other golfers in terms of distance? The latest Arccos data reveals all...
-
Is It Better To Hit 75% Of Fairways Or Three-Putt Only Once Per Round? New Data Reveals All...Using the latest data from Arccos, we explore which of these key areas could have the biggest impact on your scoring...
