Golfers using the Shot Scope GPS watches and rangefinders have been tracking millions and millions of golf-shot data points on the Shot Scope app for close to a decade. This massive collection of shot data allows the Shot Scope team to reveal performance trends and tendencies across different handicap ranges and for all levels of golfers, collectively.
What we’ve found is that golfers at every skill level do many things well but, as we all know, there’s always room for improvement. What Shot Scope has pinpointed are key data points that can show golfers the exact shots that they need to improve on the most.
Over a five-year period of data tracking of players who were serious enough about game improvement to track their shots with Shot Scope app, Shot Scope reveals that the Average Score per Round improved slightly from 15.31 (2019) to 14.97 (2024), showing a modest gain in overall performance. Average Handicap also improved from 14.6 to 13.9.
Golfers in 2024 were slightly stronger across the board, with short game sharpness and putting improvements likely playing the biggest role in the overall scoring gain. Users in the study gained seven yards of Driver Distance (increased from 207.6 yards to 214.6 yards) and 7-iron distance increased from 125.9 to 130.1 yards.
The study suggests golfers in 2024 hit the ball farther. Combined with earlier findings (e.g. better GIR percentages and higher driver usage), this points to an evolution in distance-driven performance, likely aided by technology, training, and improved shot planning.
Accuracy, especially off the tee, is still an issue for golfers of most levels, however. “Tee Shots in Trouble” statistic remained roughly the same over the five years measured. So shots OB, in hazards, bunkers and also 20 yards out from the edge of the fairway (likely in deep rough or behind trees) were still an issue. With only a slight drop from 8.45 to 8.39 shots per round in trouble, we found Driving Accuracy and Strategy off the Tee to be an area in which golfers could use some expert advice.
For that, we called on a leading expert in golf instruction, Danny Maude, the renowned British PGA professional and top YouTube golf instructor with more than 1.1 more than million subscribers.
We asked Danny his advice on reducing penalty shots and getting the ball in play more often off the tee and this is the insight he shared:
Danny Maude on Smarter Tee Shots – How to Keep the Ball in Play
Avoiding penalty shots sounds simple, but it’s one of the biggest game-changers for lowering scores. Most of the time, penalties come from a poor decision before the swing, not a poor swing itself.
The first thing I tell my students is this: you don’t have to hit driver on every hole. So many golfers automatically reach for it because “that’s what you do off the tee.” But if the fairway’s tight or there’s trouble on one side, why risk it? Grab a club that gets you in play and sets up a stress-free second shot. Par becomes a lot easier when your first job — finding the short grass — is done.
Next, play to your pattern, not to perfection. Every golfer has a shot shape — maybe a fade, maybe a gentle draw. The mistake is aiming straight down the middle hoping you’ll “hit one pure.” Instead, pick your start line and let your natural shape work back into the fairway. That’s how the pros do it — they play the shot they know, not the one they wish for.
Finally, visualize the safe side. If there’s water right, imagine your fairway ending ten yards left of center and make that your target. You’re giving your brain permission to swing freely instead of steering it. A relaxed swing almost always finds more fairways.
So the next time you’re on the tee, ask yourself:
- What’s the easiest club to get me in play?
- What’s my natural shot shape?
- Where’s the smart side to miss?
Answer those three before you swing, and you’ll instantly take the big numbers off your card — no swing change required.
How to Avoid the “Disaster Hole”
Every golfer’s been there. You’ve just hit one in the trees or found the rough and suddenly your brain says, “Right, I’ll just pull off something special here.”
And that’s usually where the disaster starts.
The truth is, the best players in the world don’t avoid mistakes — they just stop the damage before it explodes. When they’re in trouble, they don’t go for the hero shot; they take their medicine, get the ball back in play, and give themselves a chance to save bogey.
So here’s my simple rule: the moment your lie or angle makes you say “if I can just…” — don’t. That little phrase is the red flag. It means the shot you’re about to attempt only works if everything goes perfectly. And golf rarely gives us perfect.
Instead, ask yourself, “Where can I hit this next shot so that my worst score is bogey?” If that means chipping out sideways, fine. Bogeys don’t ruin rounds — triples and quads do.
It’s also about emotional control. After a bad swing, there’s a natural urge to make up for it straight away. But golf doesn’t work like that. Sometimes the smartest move is to accept the bogey, stay calm, and keep the big picture in mind.
Remember, good rounds aren’t built from perfect shots — they’re built from smart recoveries. Learn to spot when it’s time to take your medicine, and you’ll turn blow-up holes into solid scores more often than you think.
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Practice The Shots You Have More Often NOT The Shots You Simply Like To Practice
The first thing I’d do is practice this shot away from the golf course. Sounds obvious, right? But I can’t tell you how often I see players smashing full 7-irons and drivers on the range — and almost never working on the shots they’ll actually face out on the course.
One of the biggest game-changers for my senior students is spending time on the 20- to 50-yard pitch shot. Many of them can’t quite reach the green in two, which means they’re regularly left with this distance — and it’s a tough one if you haven’t taken the time to prepare for it.
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