One of my goals this year has been to become more intentional with my practice. Not just hitting balls. Not just spending time on the range. But understanding where I'm actually losing shots and focusing my efforts accordingly.
This week I completed a full TrackMan Combine test as part of that process. For those unfamiliar, the Combine is a standardised test of 60 shots to ten different targets, ranging from 60 yards through to driver. It measures distance control, accuracy and consistency — providing an objective assessment of your game.
// TrackMan Combine · Full results
70
Overall score
5
Estimated handicap
60
Total shots · 10 targets
Given that I currently play off five, there was a certain satisfaction in seeing the numbers align with reality. More importantly though, the data provided something far more valuable than a score. It provided clarity.
The Difference Between Feeling and Fact
One of the things I love about TrackMan is that it removes opinion from the conversation. As golfers, we often form opinions based on our last round or the shots we remember most. We convince ourselves that driving is the issue. Or that putting is costing us. Or that our iron play isn't quite where it needs to be.
Our memory isn't always reliable. Data is.
When I reviewed the results, one thing became immediately obvious. My full swing game is in reasonably good shape. From 100 yards and beyond, the scores were consistently strong. In fact, my highest score came from 100 yards, where I averaged just over 12 feet from the target.
The Real Opportunity
The biggest surprise came when I looked at the shorter distances. My scores from 60, 70, 80 and 90 yards were noticeably lower than those from 100 yards and beyond. A clear pattern emerged.
// Score by distance — where the gap lives
I am much more comfortable making a full swing than I am controlling a partial one. The challenge isn't generating distance. The challenge is controlling it. And that's where scoring happens. The difference between a birdie opportunity and a difficult two-putt often comes down to what happens inside 100 yards.
Practising What Matters
Like many golfers, I'm guilty of practising the things I enjoy. There's a reason most driving ranges are full of golfers hitting drivers and 7-irons. They're fun. A flushed 7-iron is one of the best feelings in golf. Standing there hitting 70-yard wedges repeatedly isn't nearly as exciting.
// The uncomfortable truth
What's fun to practise
Driver. Full 7-iron. Long irons. Shots that feel powerful and satisfying on the range.
What actually lowers scores
Wedges from 60–90 yards. Partial swings. Distance control under pressure. Boring and necessary.
The quickest route to lower scores is rarely dramatic. It's usually found in the shots we hit most often. For me, the biggest opportunity isn't finding another ten yards off the tee. It's becoming more precise with the scoring clubs.
An Unexpected Positive
One other interesting takeaway was that I used a different golf ball throughout the test. For the first time, I put the Seed SD-01 SYNCR 2.0 into play rather than my usual Titleist Pro V1.
// New ball test · Seed SD-01 SYNCR 2.0
Seed SD-01 SYNCR 2.0
First outing under structured TrackMan testing
Distance control
Predictable
Wedge performance
Strong throughout
Overall impression
After a few shots, I stopped thinking about it — it simply did its job
Next step
On-course testing — wind, feel around greens, putting, pressure
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give it is that after a few shots, I stopped thinking about it. One TrackMan session isn't enough to make a final judgement, but it certainly made a positive first impression.
The Business Lesson
// Golf and business — same lesson
Improvement isn't always found where the biggest noise exists. The temptation is to focus on the spectacular — the major project, the big account, the shiny new initiative.
Yet the biggest gains are often hidden in the fundamentals. Small improvements in high-frequency activities compound over time.
In sales
Better qualification, tighter discovery, more consistent follow-up.
In golf
A wedge shot from 80 yards, hit with precision and intent.
Neither is particularly glamorous. Both have an enormous impact on results.
// Final thought
Without measurement, practice can easily become random. With measurement, practice becomes purposeful.
The data suggests my path to improvement isn't about hitting the ball further.
It's about getting the ball closer. And for a golfer trying to move from a five handicap towards the next level, that's a valuable lesson to learn.