The Coach by ATX Guides
Stop guessing what to work on.
Practice plans, benchmarks, and Austin course strategy from the ATX Golf Performance team and Coach by ATX data. Built for golfers between a 5 and a 20.
Practice plans
What to Work On
- What to Work On·Jul 10, 2026·5 min read
Chipping vs Pitching: When to Use Each
Amateurs almost always pick the wrong shot around the green. Here's the simple decision tree a coach uses, plus the one rule that beats every "feel" approach.
- What to Work On·Jun 30, 2026·5 min read
How to Stop the Big Miss Off the Tee
Every amateur has a big miss — slice, hook, or duck. Here's how to identify which one yours actually is and the three setup changes that shrink it fast.
- What to Work On·Jun 23, 2026·5 min read
Should I Take Lessons or Buy a Launch Monitor?
$1,500 will buy you either a year of lessons or a personal launch monitor. Here's how to decide which one moves your handicap faster.
- What to Work On·Jun 12, 2026·6 min read
The 30-Minute Weekly Practice Plan for Working Golfers
A coach's weekly practice plan for adults with jobs and kids. Thirty minutes, twice a week, broken down by what to do and why. No range required.
Stats explained
Know Your Numbers
- Know Your Numbers·Jul 14, 2026·5 min read
How to Get a Golf Handicap Without Joining a Club
You can calculate a WHS-style handicap without paying a club or GHIN membership. Here's how the math actually works, which apps do it right, and where the 'official' line matters.
- Know Your Numbers·Jul 14, 2026·4 min read
Sand Save Percentage by Handicap (Real Numbers, Not Tour Numbers)
Real sand save percentages by handicap, from amateur tracking data. Why the average golfer saves about 1 in 5 — and how to nudge that up with the right practice.
- Know Your Numbers·Jul 7, 2026·5 min read
Putting Averages by Distance: The Only Table You Need
Real make percentages by distance, by handicap, from amateur tracking data. Where you're average, where you're losing strokes, and what to practice.
- Know Your Numbers·Jun 26, 2026·5 min read
Proximity to Hole: The Stat Nobody Tracks But Should
Proximity to hole — average distance your approach shots end from the pin — is the strongest predictor of approach skill. Here's what yours should be.
Austin, TX
Austin Golf
- Austin Golf·Jul 3, 2026·6 min read
Where to Practice in Austin: A Ranked Range Guide
A coach's ranked guide to practice facilities in Austin, Texas. Best mats, best grass, best short-game areas, and where to go when the others are packed.
- Austin Golf·Jun 16, 2026·5 min read
Roy Kizer Strategy Guide: Austin's Best Muni Value
Roy Kizer is flat, walkable, wide, and cheap — and most amateurs still score poorly on it. Here's how to take advantage of the friendliest course in Austin.
- Austin Golf·Jun 2, 2026·6 min read
Avery Ranch Strategy Guide: How to Score on Austin's Trickiest Layout
Avery Ranch in northwest Austin punishes the wrong miss on almost every hole. Here's how a coach plays it — and the three holes where most amateurs lose their round.
- Austin Golf·May 15, 2026·6 min read
Best Golf Lessons in Austin: An Honest Buyer's Guide
A working coach's honest guide to buying golf lessons in Austin, TX. What to look for, what to avoid, and how to make every lesson dollar count.