Are all putts over ten feet lucky?

[Tiger]

Following my earlier thread it has become apparent that a number of people think ANY long putt is a lucky one. I'm not convinced.

There are some putts that I think when they've left the face that I've hit them too hard or soft or on the wrong line. If they go in - that's lucky.

But if I pick the line having read the green. Practice my swing to get the optimum pace. Set it on it's way on that intended line with a pace that I feel is bang on. Then watch with growing anticipation as it curls across the slope and drops into the centre of the cup just as I had imagined: that's surely judgement and execution rather than luck - no?

Discuss...

 

[Ethan]

Following my earlier thread it has become apparent that a number of people think ANY long putt is a lucky one. I'm not convinced.

There are some putts that I think when they've left the face that I've hit them too hard or soft or on the wrong line. If they go in - that's lucky.

But if I pick the line having read the green. Practice my swing to get the optimum pace. Set it on it's way on that intended line with a pace that I feel is bang on. Then watch with growing anticipation as it curls across the slope and drops into the centre of the cup just as I had imagined: that's surely judgement and execution rather than luck - no?

Discuss...

Unless you are putting in a lab with perfectly flat surfaces, there is an element of luck in any putt going in from more than a few feet away.

But it is not luck if you are able to get it in the general area of the hole consistently, and if you can do that, and have the average amount of luck, you will hole some.

 

[CallawayKid]

You're asking me?!

CK

 

[Swinger]

Only the ones that go in!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Outside of ten feet the chances of holing a putt diminish exponentially, so I think that there is an element of luck to it.

 

[Mightymoose]

No.

 

[pokerjoke]

I think there is an element of luck in a Ten foot putt or more.
I dont know the exact stats for a pro putter from ten foot,but i would presume its 6 or 7 out of ten.
So what about the other 3 or 4 putts.
1 degee out with the stroke and the putt is missed.
Left to right downhill putts or vice versa on lightening fast greens,i think an element of luck is needed.
Also lip outs are common on fast greens,and we all feel unlucky when we get one.
If i had ten birdie putts from ten feet in a round i think i would be happy to get 3.

 

[TonyN]

Of course there is an element of luck to it. There is with almost everything we do.

But of course alot of, if not most of the putt is down to skill.

1) The ability to read the line, recognise any breaks, account for, and aim off accordingly. Thats your judgment.
2) Distance, taking into account any elevation and adding or decreasing to the stroke what you would normally use for a flat putt of the same length.
3) Any other variable factors, grain, wind direction, moisture etc.

Obviously, anything you have decided not to take into account or have missed, like pitch marks etc, you leave down to luck.

The more you prepare and plan for the more you can take credit for, the less.. the less!

 

[Region3]

I'd agree there was an element of luck in a holed putt over a certain distance, but I'd have it more like 15' which is about the distance (break and speed aside) I go from thinking I can hole it to being happy to leave it dead (even though I'm still trying to hole it).

 

[MashieNiblick]

For me any putt UNDER 10 feet is lucky.

Seriously though, I think, as always, it depends. Sometimes I see a line and believe if I hit it on that line at a certain speed it will go in. If it does, is that luck?

Other times, I have only a vague idea and I'm really trying to finish reasonably close. When those go in, that is pure luck.

 

[Hendy]

some luck for sure.. you want to see some of the putts the mate was making last week over 10 foot.. still swear to this day someone or something thing was controlling his golf ball lol

 

[Imurg]

There are so many aspects of the whole action of swinging the putter back and through plus the nuances of the green that there has to be a slice of luck on any putt over 6 inches. The further away you are the bigger the slice.

 

[Shaunmg]

There's a lot of luck in golf; good luck and bad luck.
Who was the golfer who once said "the more I practice the luckier I get"
So the more you practice putting, the more lucky 10ft putts you'll hole

 

[EZprophet]

Dave Pelz did an experiment with a putting machine that repeats a perfect stroke every time. Apparently he put it on a perfectly straight ten footer on an immacuate, fast green and it made only 8/10 of the putts...

 

[HawkeyeMS]

All putts have an element of luck. There are too many things outside of your control for there to be no luck at all. All you can do is give yourself the best chance to make the putt and then see what happens.

 

[HRC99]

I'm shocked at the number of people who think it's luck.

I look at it the other way. If I pick the line, put a good stroke on it, then it's bad luck if I miss it. Anything else is because I didn't pick the line or put a bad stroke on it.

 

[Tiger]

I'm shocked at the number of people who think it's luck.

I look at it the other way. If I pick the line, put a good stroke on it, then it's bad luck if I miss it. Anything else is because I didn't pick the line or put a bad stroke on it.

I'm with you my man

 

[RGDave]

Following my earlier thread it has become apparent that a number of people think ANY long putt is a lucky one. I'm not convinced.

I'm not convinced either.

Any other thoughts beyond that are too much for me.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm shocked at the number of people who think it's luck.

I look at it the other way. If I pick the line, put a good stroke on it, then it's bad luck if I miss it. Anything else is because I didn't pick the line or put a bad stroke on it.

You obviously don't have to putt on greens like ours every week

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm shocked at the number of people who think it's luck.

I look at it the other way. If I pick the line, put a good stroke on it, then it's bad luck if I miss it. Anything else is because I didn't pick the line or put a bad stroke on it.

You obviously don't have to putt on greens like ours every week

Is that your excuse for the 5 lip outs yesterday then. My take on it is that I'm trying to hole every shot and so if it goes in then thats the name of the game. There are some putts you hit and you just know its dropping and others that you hit well and look in all the way until about 6 inches from the hole when they break off. Some days you have the luck and others you don't. As long as you are picking the line and the speed is good and you give the hoe a chance there isn't much more you can do