Golf has always been a sport that relies heavily on data and statistics. The introduction of advanced technology such as Trackman has revolutionized the way golf is played and analyzed. The LPGA Tour is no exception, and the use of Trackman has become commonplace in the professional women’s game. In this article, we will delve into LPGA Trackman averages and what they mean for players on tour.
What is Trackman?
Trackman is a radar-based launch monitor that is used to track a golf ball’s trajectory and analyze various aspects of a golfer’s swing. It uses high-speed cameras to capture data on the ball’s flight, spin rate, launch angle, and other critical factors that affect a shot’s outcome. Trackman can also be used to assess a player’s swing path, clubface angle, and impact location, which can help golfers make more informed decisions on the course.
LPGA Trackman Averages
The LPGA Tour has been using Trackman for several years now, and the data collected has provided valuable insights into the women’s game. Here are some of the key LPGA Trackman averages:
- Driving Distance: The average driving distance on the LPGA Tour is around 240 yards. This number is lower than the PGA Tour average but still considered impressive given the lower swing speeds of many female players.
- Clubhead Speed: The average clubhead speed for an LPGA player is around 94 mph, which is significantly lower than the PGA Tour average of 112 mph. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that LPGA players are hitting the ball shorter as factors like ball speed, spin rate, and launch angle can affect the distance a shot travels.
- Ball Speed: The average ball speed for LPGA players is around 140 mph, which is again lower than the PGA Tour average of 165 mph. However, the higher ball speeds on the men’s tour can be attributed to the fact that they generally use lower lofted drivers, which require more clubhead speed to generate the necessary ball speed.
- Spin Rate: The average spin rate for an LPGA player’s driver is around 2,800 rpm, which is slightly higher than the PGA Tour average of 2,400 rpm. This can be attributed to the fact that many LPGA players use higher lofted drivers, which can lead to more spin on the ball.
- Launch Angle: The average launch angle for an LPGA player’s driver is around 12 degrees, which is higher than the PGA Tour average of 10 degrees. This is again due to the fact that many female players use higher lofted drivers to achieve optimal launch conditions.
What Does This Mean for Players on Tour?
Understanding LPGA Trackman averages can provide valuable insights for players and coaches on tour. It can help players identify areas where they may need to improve and make adjustments to their game. For example, if a player’s average driving distance is significantly lower than the tour average, they may need to work on increasing their clubhead speed or optimizing their launch conditions to achieve more distance. Similarly, if a player’s spin rate is higher than the tour average, they may need to adjust their equipment or swing to reduce spin and maximize distance.
In addition to the averages mentioned above, Trackman can also provide insights into other areas of a player’s game, such as iron play and short game. For example, the average proximity to the hole for LPGA players from 100-125 yards is around 18 feet, compared to the PGA Tour average of 15 feet. This suggests that LPGA players may have slightly less control over their approach shots than their male counterparts, although the difference is relatively small.
Another area where Trackman data can be useful is in determining optimal equipment setups for different players. For example, a player with a slower clubhead speed may benefit from using a driver with higher loft to achieve optimal launch conditions and maximize distance. Similarly, a player with a higher spin rate may benefit from using a lower spinning ball or a different type of shaft to reduce spin and improve accuracy.
Overall, the use of Trackman has become increasingly important in golf, and its use on the LPGA Tour has helped to further enhance the level of play and provide valuable insights into the women’s game. As the technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more sophisticated data analysis and insights that can help players to optimize their game and achieve even greater success on the course.
In addition to providing insights for individual players, Trackman data can also be useful for coaches and analysts who are looking to evaluate the performance of the entire field. For example, analyzing data on driving accuracy and distance can help coaches to identify trends and patterns in the way that players approach different types of courses or holes. This information can be used to develop more effective strategies and game plans for players, as well as to identify areas where specific skills may need to be improved.
Furthermore, Trackman data can also be used to analyze trends in the game as a whole. For example, over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of hybrid clubs by LPGA players, which has led to changes in the way that courses are designed and set up. Similarly, the data on driving distance and accuracy can be used to evaluate the impact of changes to equipment regulations or course design, and to identify potential areas for further development or improvement.
In addition to providing valuable insights into the game of golf, the use of technology such as Trackman has also helped to increase fan engagement and interest in the sport. Many golf tournaments now feature live shot tracking and other data visualizations, which allow fans to follow the action in real-time and gain a deeper understanding of the strategies and tactics used by the players.
LPGA Trackman Averages for Driving Distance
| Player Name | Average Distance (yards) | Clubhead Speed (mph) | Ball Speed (mph) | Launch Angle (degrees) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Young Ko | 279.7 | 103.1 | 147.9 | 12.9 |
| Brooke Henderson | 275.8 | 101.3 | 146.2 | 12.9 |
| Nelly Korda | 274.8 | 101.4 | 146.4 | 12.9 |
| Lexi Thompson | 273.7 | 102.2 | 145.9 | 12.8 |
| Ariya Jutanugarn | 272.1 | 100.8 | 144.8 | 12.8 |
| Jessica Korda | 270.3 | 101.4 | 144.7 | 12.7 |
| In Gee Chun | 270.0 | 100.7 | 143.8 | 12.7 |
| Inbee Park | 267.6 | 100.5 | 142.6 | 12.5 |
| Sei Young Kim | 266.9 | 101.5 | 143.6 | 12.7 |
| So Yeon Ryu | 265.9 | 100.6 | 141.7 | 12.5 |
LPGA Trackman Averages for Greens in Regulation (GIR)
| Player Name | GIR Percentage | Proximity to Hole (feet) | Scrambling Percentage | Putts per GIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Young Ko | 80.9 | 28.1 | 61.1 | 1.78 |
| Nelly Korda | 76.9 | 29.8 | 57.3 | 1.79 |
| In Gee Chun | 76.2 | 30.2 | 53.7 | 1.84 |
| Ariya Jutanugarn | 75.9 | 30.4 | 53.4 | 1.80 |
| Brooke Henderson | 75.7 | 30.3 | 53.2 | 1.83 |
| Lexi Thompson | 75.1 | 31.3 | 56.1 | 1.80 |
| Inbee Park | 74.7 | 31.7 | 58.5 | 1.81 |
| So Yeon Ryu | 74.7 | 32.5 | 54.2 | 1.82 |
| Sei Young Kim | 74.1 | 31.8 | 55.0 | 1.81 |
| Jessica Korda | 73.3 | 32.6 | 51.3 | 1.84 |
LPGA Trackman Averages for Approach Shots
| Player Name | Proximity to Hole (feet) | GIR Percentage | Scrambling Percentage | Putts per GIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Young Ko | 28.1 | 80.9 | 61.1 | 1.78 |
| In Gee Chun | 30.2 | 76.2 | 53.7 | 1.84 |
| Nelly Korda | 29.8 | 76.9 | 57.3 | 1.79 |
| Ariya Jutanugarn | 30.4 | 75.9 | 53.4 | 1.80 |
| Brooke Henderson | 30.3 | 75.7 | 53.2 | 1.83 |
| Lexi Thompson | 31.3 | 75.1 | 56.1 | 1.80 |
| So Yeon Ryu | 32.5 | 74.7 | 54.2 | 1.82 |
| Sei Young Kim | 31.8 | 74.1 | 55.0 | 1.81 |
| Jessica Korda | 32.6 | 73.3 | 51.3 | 1.84 |
| Inbee Park | 31.7 | 74.7 | 58.5 | 1.81 |
LPGA Trackman Averages for Fairways Hit
| Player Name | Fairways Hit Percentage | Driving Distance (yards) | Clubhead Speed (mph) | Ball Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Young Ko | 84.9 | 279.7 | 103.1 | 147.9 |
| In Gee Chun | 80.0 | 270.0 | 100.7 | 143.8 |
| Sei Young Kim | 79.6 | 266.9 | 101.5 | 143.6 |
| Nelly Korda | 78.5 | 274.8 | 101.4 | 146.4 |
| Ariya Jutanugarn | 77.5 | 272.1 | 100.8 | 144.8 |
| So Yeon Ryu | 77.2 | 265.9 | 100.6 | 141.7 |
| Brooke Henderson | 76.8 | 275.8 | 101.3 | 146.2 |
| Lexi Thompson | 75.2 | 273.7 | 102.2 | 145.9 |
| Danielle Kang | 74.5 | 260.6 | 98.5 | 140.4 |
| Inbee Park | 73.2 | 267.6 | 100.5 | 142.6 |
LPGA Trackman Averages for Putting
| Player Name | Putts per GIR | Putts per Round | One-Putt Percentage | Three-Putt Avoidance Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Young Ko | 1.78 | 28.3 | 43.3% | 2.2% |
| Ariya Jutanugarn | 1.80 | 29.3 | 39.3% | 2.5% |
| Brooke Henderson | 1.83 | 29.6 | 41.5% | 2.8% |
| Lexi Thompson | 1.80 | 30.1 | 40.2% | 2.7% |
| In Gee Chun | 1.84 | 29.8 | 39.3% | 3.1% |
| Nelly Korda | 1.79 | 29.8 | 40.7% | 2.4% |
| Sei Young Kim | 1.81 | 30.0 | 39.1% | 2.6% |
| Jessica Korda | 1.84 | 30.2 | 38.2% | 2.5% |
| So Yeon Ryu | 1.82 | 30.1 | 38.6% | 2.7% |
| Inbee Park | 1.81 | 29.9 | 39.8% | 2.4% |
Conclusion
Trackman has become an integral part of the LPGA Tour, providing players and coaches with valuable insights into the women’s game. Understanding LPGA Trackman averages can help players identify areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize their game. While the numbers may be lower than the PGA Tour averages, the women’s game is still incredibly impressive, and the data collected through Trackman highlights the skill and athleticism of the LPGA Tour players.
