Equipment
Lydia Ko uses Game Golf in preparation for her win
If you watched Lydia Ko’s pre-shot routine during her practice round on Wednesday, it may have looked slightly different than it did on Sunday, when she earned her first LPGA Tour victory as a professional at the Swinging Skirts Classic.
What was different? During her practice round, Ko could be seen “tagging” her clubs to a device on her hip before each shot, using Game Golf technology to collect statistics. Although the 6-under-par 66 on Wednesday may not have impacted her win, the greater awareness of her game due to Game Golf may have played a role.
Game Golf is a technology that allows golfers to place tag markers on the butt-end of their golf clubs and “tap” it against a sensor device, which clips to their belt/pants, before each shot. Its GPS tracking system captures the player’s location, the tag marker measures the distance and golf club being used, then the technology generates statistics from the round. All the player has to do is upload it to the web application.
Read more about Game Golf ‘s technology here.
The results from the upload allow the player access to stats, distances, and a visual representation of their round (as seen below).
Pictured above is the visual representation and statistics from Lydia Ko’s practice round, where she shot a 6-under 66.
Check out her stats and average distances:
- 100 percent fairway accuracy.
- 72 percent greens in regulations.
- 1.4 putts per hole.
- 100 percent scrambling.
Ko’s club distances (median distance):
- Driver: 256
- 3 Wood: 236
- 5 Wood: 227
- 6 Iron: 170
- 7 Iron: 138
- 9 Iron: 121
Game Golf allowed Ko and her fans take a comprehensive look into the numbers from her practice round leading up to her first professional victory. Did it help her preparation, and ultimately her win of the LPGA Swinging Skirts Classic? No one can be sure, but we’re looking forward to more information like this in the future from top-ranked players.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Gary McCormick
Apr 30, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Great – I’m hitting every club the same distance as girl who is 40 years my junior… ;^)
Seriously though, reading about Lydia Ko’s game is one thing, and watching it unfold in person is another. I followed the last group around Lake Merced on Sunday afternoon, notebook in hand, watching her match Stacy Lewis and Jenny Shin (who actually shot a lower score than either Stacy or Lydia in the final round) pretty much shot for shot. Their three approach shots – blind approach shots – to a tough front flag on the 18th green constituted one of the most remarkable instances of shotmaking under pressure I have ever seen.
thefullsp
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:26 pm
I think we can all take a lesson from the LPGA players… Buttery smooth swings and find the centre of the club sooooo consistently. Good distance for her as well…
spank
Apr 29, 2014 at 4:14 pm
The gap is because she could have hit a punch shot could have been wind or elevation also. It’s not her exact distances she hits the ball. Could have been half shots also
paul
Apr 29, 2014 at 1:40 pm
6 iron probably a typo. She plays a few hybrids as well. I can’t wait to order one of these amazing tools.
RobN
Apr 29, 2014 at 1:05 pm
What the… a 32 yard gap from the 6 iron to the 7 iron?
c m jaxun
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:41 pm
huge gap between 6 and 7 iron. any particular reason that someone can see?
Laddie
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Awesome.