MESSAGES · DATA RULES
Median instead of best — the most important data rule after 60.
Senior golfers save the best shot of the season and plan around it. This systematically leads to approach shots that come up short. The most important senior data rule is simple: Save the median, plan the median, accept the median.
MA 7-iron goes 145 meters — I've been saying that for 15 years. In reality, the median is 125 meters. This 20-meter difference has cost me more strokes than any wrong tee choice. Every second 7-iron approach systematically came up short. With median values on my bag card, I now hit the green almost twice as often. A simple rule, gigantic effect.
Best values systematically distort senior decision-making. Human memory stores outstanding experiences – the best 7-iron shot of the season becomes the standard expectation. In reality, the median is typically 8-20 m below the best value. Those who plan with the median get onto the green – those who plan with the best value end up in front of it.
Three examples of best-vs-median bias
Three Steps to Median Discipline
The single most expensive mistake in senior golf is planning shots with maximum distances instead of median distances. It costs every senior player strokes—every single round.
— Dr. Mark Broadie, Strokes-Gained researcher, Columbia Business School
Three Principles of Median Discipline.
Bag card as a senior standard
Median values in writing in the bag — prevents emotional decisions under pressure.
Delete Best Memories Consciously
Mark one best-case mental estimate as best (not median). Prevents memory bias when planning.
Follow-up measurements semiannually
Median values shift. Bi-annual Launch Monitor update — avoids outdated bag cards.
On this page
What Median-Discipline Doesn't Replace
Median values determine the right club choice — but they don't replace practice itself. Those who plan with medians but hit the club poorly only benefit partially. Median discipline + hit quality training = the complete senior approach leverage.
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