What we'll cover this week

• Old myths busted by data

• The slice is strong with this one

• Get hit with a towel for longer drives

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

What I’ve learned this week

The slope at the end of the putt is most important for the break of your ball.

It is more important to read the slope of the green shortly before the hole than at the beginning of the putt. When the ball has more speed, the green doesn’t impact it as much as it does at the end when it has less speed. #gravity

Useless golf videos we’ve watched this week, so you don’t have to:

15 = 241 minutes saved

Greens in Regulation. The Worst.

Have you ever played with an old-timer who’s a little GIR fanboy?

Their main goal is to reach as many greens in regulation as possible, and it’s their only goal besides annoying you all day.

Next time, you can chuckle all day long and not pay attention to their ramblings. GIR isn’t worth anything, and you should not track it. To give you an idea, see below.

GIR Stats from Season 22/23:

This list features some recognizable names and even some Tour/Major winners. Yet, the majority don’t ever appear on the leaderboards. They are all great players and much better than most of us will ever be. And still, if GIR was such an essential indicator of a good golf game, why aren’t the other big names on this list?

The answer can be found in this week’s Content of the Week:

Content in a nutshell:

• The “Godfather of Golf Analytics” found out: Greens-in-regulation is an outdated stat.

• Tee-to-Green/Total Strokes Gained is THE metric to monitor for every self-respecting golfer. Measure it religiously.

• If you don’t break down the different strokes gained-metrics, you will never know where your true weakness lies if you only go by total strokes per hole, GIR or your gut.

• Golf is as much math and statistics as other sports. Use it to your advantage.

• If you hit longer, your scoring average is much lower per hole. (because your approach shots get easier, as discussed last week)

• Strokes Gained on Approach shots from 100 - 150 yards is the most significant indicator of success among professional golfers.

• “Drive for show, putt for dough” isn’t the whole picture. Look at the most admired and successful golfers today; they are very consistent with longer-than-average drives.

Video length: 7:15

We’ve compiled a list showing the leaders in GIR earnings vs. Tee-to-Green leaders for last season 22/23.

It seems like there is an actual correlation between Tee-to-Green/Total Strokes Gained rankings and wins on Tour 🤷‍♂️ 

TL:DR—To play optimum golf, you should track strokes gained and never look at greens-in-regulation metrics.

Slice so bad, it’s like a boomerang

Either the ball flew around the entire globe, or he has a MEAN slice.

Deals for the feels

The golf trip of a lifetime awaits: 4 nights, 3 rounds, Cabo (Mexico), $1,500/person.

It’s not just any course. Of course, it was designed by Jack Nicklaus: Quivira Golf Club. Epic scenery is included.

I don’t even want to know how many golf balls are lost to the waves on this hole…

The tranquility of this hole…

The hotel is quite nice as well. One could even say SPECTACULAR!

You can choose between 4 - 7 nights and 3 - 5 rounds at five golf courses near your hotel. Prices start at $1,509 per person, and even the top-end prices aren’t that high compared to what you get.

Golf Digest ranks Quivira as one of the best 100 golf courses in the world, so there’s that.

Book your trip on this PGA-affiliated site.

* Please note: none of these are affiliate links. These are genuinely great finds that we recommend without compensation.

What to train this week

It's time to get some power into your driver without bulking up.

1. Tilt your shoulders on setup

2. Be less static during the upswing

3. Fully rotate through the swing

Danny Maude shows how to do it in this fantastic video. Just build the “swing towel” yourself, and you’re set. You can even practice at home without knocking down your ceiling lamps 😜 

Quick bites for the road

Quiz

Feedback & send your stories

That's it for this week. Keep on training and be a real athlete in an utterly unathletic sport.

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How did you like this issue of Rabbithol?

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If you liked this newsletter, refer it to a friend. If you hated it, send it to the ONE person you desperately want to beat (on the course).

Quiz answer

Even though there is some debate about Foxburg Country Club in Pennsylvania being the oldest (continuously used) golf club in the US, we support Foxburg.

It was opened in 1887 and has operated continuously for 137 years. Membership rates are very reasonable, between $75 and $590, and green fees are between $15 and $39.

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Dreams of owning a golf course. Just like everybody else?