Golf by the Numbers: How Stats, Math, and Physics Affect Your Game

by Roland Minton

Overview

How do the world’s greatest golfers improve their game? Practice, sure, but Roland Minton says mathematics and statistics are also key to their success. Golf by the Numbers analyzes the mathematical strategies behind the sport, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at how numbers drive the game.

Computers, GPS trackers, swing simulators, and high-speed cameras have introduced new and exciting ways of seeing and understanding the complicated and endlessly fascinating game of golf. Players like Phil Mickelson are so good because they review the results of every swing they take. Minton’s comprehensive analysis of statistics taken from the PGA Tour’s ShotLink system walks readers through the mountains of data that pros use to inform and refine their play. The result is an insider’s perspective of how the world’s greatest golfers apply mathematics to the sport.

Minton discusses randomness in golf (especially how much luck is involved in putting) as well as aggressive and cautious strategies both on and off the greens, and he explains, by the numbers, just how Tiger Woods was so dominant from 2004 to 2009.

Here is a book that tells some truly engaging stories of modern golf, featuring famous players and memorable tournaments, all through the lens of elementary probability theory. Minton’s informal style and clear and direct explanations make even the most detailed discussions accessible to all curious-minded golfers. His mathematical morsels are not only enjoyable to read—they may even help you improve your game.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421403151
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 5.80(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Roland Minton is a professor of mathematics at Roanoke College and coauthor of several calculus textbooks, including Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions and Calculus, Multivariable: Late Transcendental Functions.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Part 1 General Golf Analysis 1

1 The Shape of Golf 3

2 Golfer's Spread: Variation in Golf 22

3 Good Luck Putting: Randomness on the Greens 43

4 The Rivalry: Cautious and Risky Strategies 59

5 Handicap Systems and Other Hustles 82

Part 2 Analysis of PGA Tour Statistics 99

6 The ShotLink Revolution: Golf Statistics 101

7 Lags and Gags: Putting Statistics 120

8 Chips and Flops: Short Game Statistics 137

9 Iron Byron: Approach Shot Statistics 154

10 The Big Dog: Driving Statistics 172

11 Tigermetrics: Player Rankings 189

12 More Rating Systems and Tiger Tales 210

Appendix A Supplementary Tables 229

Appendix B Player Profiles 235

Notes 251

Glossary 271

References 285