Ask any amateur golfer what's holding their game back and the answer is usually the same: the driver. It's too inconsistent. The ball goes left. The ball goes right. If they could just hit it straight, everything else would fall into place.
For most golfers, this isn't true.
Where amateur golfers actually lose shots
Research consistently shows that amateur golfers lose a disproportionate number of shots in their short game — specifically within 100 yards of the green. Chips that don't make it to the green. Pitches that fly the green. Bunker shots that take three attempts.
The driver gets the attention because bad drives are visible and memorable. But the short game is where rounds are actually won and lost for most amateur players.
The confirmation bias problem
When you miss a fairway, you notice it immediately. It's obvious and frustrating. When you take an extra chip to get onto the green, it often doesn't register the same way — you're already thinking about the putt.
This is confirmation bias in action. You remember the bad drives because you expect them to be a problem. The short game mistakes slip by unnoticed, one shot at a time.
How data changes the picture
When you track your rounds consistently — logging how each area of your game performed, not just your total score — a more accurate picture emerges.
Many golfers who start tracking their rounds discover that their driver is actually performing reasonably well, and that their handicap is being held back by something they'd barely considered.
What to do about it
The first step is to track your rounds honestly. Rate your tee shots, irons, short game and putting after every round. After eight to ten rounds, patterns will emerge.
The second step is to direct your practice toward what the data shows, not what your gut tells you.
PostRound does both. It tracks your rounds, identifies your weaknesses and builds a training plan focused on the areas that are actually costing you shots.