We've featured 'How score tracking can seriously improve your game ' previously when we analysed the Golfscoretracker data in 2008 and found on average players tracking their scores saved 3 shots throughout the year.

It's no surprise then to say that for 2009 those tracking their scores once again saved on average 3 shots. Part of this is down to regular games, over 50% of members played at least 1-2 times per month, practice and most importantly the desire to improve and lower their golf handicap.  Tracking scores is key to this and being able to monitor your progress and in setting targets.

Most high handicappers with some hard work, practice and game strategy, all could go some way to reducing their handicap by focusing on certain areas of the game.

The Golfshake averages show that high handicappers 3 putt 20% of the time, that's almost 4 holes, compared to 10-14 handicappers only doing it once every other round.

Whilst it's important to get off the tee and hit the fairway, 21+ handicappers average a respectable 60% of Fairways in Regulation compared to a very close 70% for 15-20 handicappers. The more important statistics to help the higher handicapper is Greens in Regulation where those stats change drastically to 28% and 56% for the 21+ and 15-20 ranges respectively.

Ruling out the 3 putts will serve all golfers well in reducing the shots per round and more importantly the handicap but to truly reduce your handicap and get down to the elusive single figures then averging 31 putts or less is the benchmark for single figure golfer and 29 for those below 5.  On the Pro tours the worse putters only just creep above 30 putts with the best at around 27 putts per round.

Everyone's heard the saying 'Drive for Show, Putt for Dough'  and with most golfers taking at least 33% of their shots on the putting surface something most be said for putting practice.