I got a couple questions about the 100 ball skill test I mentioned the other day and even though I’m still just testing it on myself, I figured I’d give the basic idea and framework in case you have ideas or want to experiment with your own game.
I think of the 100 ball test as a Weekly Business Review (WBR) for my golf game.
It’s divided into ten 10-ball tests that each cover a specific skill needed to play good golf.
For the sake of the WBR metaphor, I call these my Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The KPIs are…
1. Putting - Start Line
2. Putting - Distance + Line Control
3. Chipping - Distance
4. Pitching - Distance
5. Face Strike
6. Ground Strike
7. Start Line
8. Curvature (face/path relationship)
9. Trajectory
10. Driver ball speed
Each of these is it’s own separate game with a maximum score of 10-15 pts.
I don’t think the specifics of the game and scoring are all that important as long as you’re measuring the right thing at appropriate difficulty (something you can achieve ~7 of 10 times).
For example, with the putting start line test, I put 2” gates at 18” from the ball. Every putt that makes it clean through is 1 pt. Every miss = 0 pts & I just record which side I hit.
To simulate a bit of pressure, I’ll throw in a couple yellow “Birdie balls” worth 2 pts.
The entire philosophy behind this skill based approach is influenced by what I’ve learned from @adamyounggolf & @practicalgolf, and they’re also my first resource when I want to improve at any of these KPIs.
Credit also to @LouStagner for championing the quantified approach.
If I had to add a few more KPIs into the mix (for me specifically and my off-season strength focus), I’d add:
11. Deadlift
12. Pull-ups
13. Squat
14. Bench press
15. Vertical jump
The hope is that improvements here manifest in the Driver Ball speed KPI.
I like this approach because it gives me a way of decomposing the elements of hitting good golf shots & measuring my progress with each.
It also helps focus my practice time.
Right now work hours are long and days are short, so I can’t afford to practice without purpose.
Going through each of these tests and recording it all can take a while, so I normally break it up into two sessions. It takes me about an hour and a half total, but may take longer when you’re figuring it out the first couple times.
Anyway, I have a redeye into Charlottesville tonight for the Velcren Invitational (Wahoo!!!) and am probably going to be too excited to sleep, so if you have questions let me have ‘em!
You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: typefully.com/hutch_golf/DyjUhAz
Hutch🏌️♂️📉
@hutch_golf
Professional data nerd. Amateur golfer. Data Science & AI @arccosgolf. Trying to make golf improvement easier for myself & others. Promo code ‘Hutch15’