Drive for show, putt for dough - True or False?

[chrisd]

It changes as your game improves. Until you can get off the tee reliably,and somewhere near, or on the green in two then even the best of putters can really only save a few shots per round. When you can get on in regulation and putt well then you're going to win stuff, but there's nothing wrong with being able to "drive for show" in my book as it gives you the best chance to "putt for dough"

 

[Loz1607]

I tend to find if I drive the ball well and in play, I am more than likely to have a good round.

I played twice this weekend, on Saturday, I had to reload on 10 and 11 making pars with the second balls, so two poor drives cost me 4 shots. Sunday, I three putted 6 and 7 for bogey, only cost me 2 shots. I agree a hot putter from 12 foot and less can get you out of jail, but I much prefer a tap in par after a decent drive/approach, it keeps it stress free and simple.

Summary - Saturday, putted well drove poor 30 pts, Sunday drove well, putted average 39pts

Be nice to be able to convert more of the 15-20 foot birdies putts though

 

[Duckster]

If 2 players put the ball in the same spot on the tee on a 400yard par 4, one hit a 300yard drive, one hit a 200yard drive, they both have a chance of getting on the green.

If 2 players put the ball in the same spot on the green, one sinks it and one leaves it 6foot short, or one has a tap in for 2 and one leaves it 10foot short, the shorter player is at a disadvantage. So in that respect, putt for dough is correct.

However, most players of a higher handicap are not that consistant, so I'd say they are equal in importance for a mid-to-high handicapper.

This flip side of that though is that the one with only 100 yards in "should" be leaving themselves, more often that not, a shorter putt, hence will make more of them and be considered to be a "better putter" but does it mean that it's putting ability, distance of driving or their approach shots that are more important.. In the same situation, would you rather be 200yards from the green, on the fairway or 100 yards away, in the 1st cut?

Statistically it's currently being shown that there is more emphasis for pro's towards the longer game than on the greens (about 1/3 or your shots gained against the field come from putting, where as 2/3 are from tee to green).

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/jason-sobel/molinaris-revolution-long-game-trumps-short-game/

It's how you get away from the tee that sets you up for you're approach to the green and the better position to approach from will give you a better chance of getting your ball into a decent spot on the green. This will always make your putting game easier.

As you can guess I'm one that thinks it's more important tee to green than on the green, but that's not to say that putting isn't important as well.

 

[TheClaw]

For me a bad drive is more destructive than a bad putt.

 

[GB72]

For me, if I am driving well then I tend to play well. If my driver is playing up then my round can fall appart pretty quickly.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

For me, if I am driving well then I tend to play well. If my driver is playing up then my round can fall apart pretty quickly.

Pretty much likewise, have never really agreed with the saying as mentioned no good putting like Donald if your always in trouble of the tee.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you are reloading on the tee there's little use being a good putter. It is an all round game and you need to work at all areas. For high handicappers I'd always advise keeping it in play and using shots on long par 4's and par 5's rather than going for driver every time, especially if it is likely to get you in trouble.

I do think a good short game and the ability to hole out well is important and as a high or mid handicapper if you can make a few putts and chip close inevitably it will save shots. However if you are missing greens and fairways then it becomes a bigger strain to keep doing it

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Both are equal part of importance to a good game

No point driving it 300 of each tee then 4 putting and vice versa no pointing sinking one putts if it's after 3 off the tee all the time

 

[Region3]

No point driving it 330 if you then then take another 4 from 20yds to walk off with bogey, mentioning no names!
Impressive to watch though!

Personally speaking, I'd guess that poor tee shots cost me 3 or 4 shots per round whereas poor putting costs me 1 or 2, 3 tops.
It's a balancing act.

 

[JustOne]

No point driving it 330 if you then then take another 4 from 20yds to walk off with bogey

Was going to say similar - there's no mention of the 2nd shot onto the green.

I can be great at putting and after having hit a lovely drive I proceed to top/thin/shank/fat my way to the green and sink the putt

(admittedly I've certainly failed with the driving part for the past few rounds) :angry:

 

[chrisd]

(admittedly I've certainly failed with the driving part for the past few rounds) :angry:

Oh James, don't put yourself down so much. They say "every golf shot brings pleasure to someone" and Leftie and I saw little to be unhappy about

 

[3565]

PGA Tour 2004-12, of the top 40 golfers and tournament winners, off green strokes gained per round and strokes gained putting per round, putting contributed 15% to the scoring advantage of the top 40 golfers (while off green shots accounted for 85%) and putting contributed 35% to the scoring advantage of tournament winners.

So the old adage drive for show putt for dough may not be true!

 

[louise_a]

Driving is the strongest part of my game, I played 15 holes today and didn't miss a fairway, all a good distance too, but I only had 6 pars and 3 of those were on par 3s .There again I didn't putt too badly, I think the place where you "make the money" is shots to and around the green.

 

[Tashyboy]

Ave seen more rubbish drivers of the ball than rubbish putters.

If I could get to the green in two on every par four. And three putt, am on for two points every hole. However not being a big hitter, I'm lucky to hit greens in three and who's to say I'm gonna 1,2 or three putt.

a long drive please. Really really please.

played today at breadsall priory today for first time ever (gorgeous course) anyway played with a guy today who has had leaukemia for ten years, (61 yr old) His driving of the ball was only matched by his all round game. Fantastic day out. Cheers Breadsall.

 

[Andy808]

I'm currently sitting in limbo on this at the moment.
Driving and long game have improved no end with very few drives going off line to the point of not leaving me a shot to the green.
Now all I have to do is make all the aspects of the game work together for a series of rounds to get the handicap coming down and I will soon be a putt for dough player rather than a drive for something that might or might not work player!

 

[paddyc]

My driving and putting is pretty steady. Its the bit from the fairway to the green that is my biggest problem.

 

[gdc]

My putting can save my long game but my long game is never good enough to save my putting.
Never had both firing together. So putting for me is the key.

 

[MattM]

For me its shots around the green that determine how well I'll score

Just reviewed my stats on Scoresaver2

My best three rounds of the year have been my best 3 Par scrambles of the year. My 3 worst scores have been my worst 3 Par scramble scores.

Of the 3 best rounds,
One of those rounds was in my bottom 3 Fairways in Reg, one was my best FIR
One was my 2nd worst putting stat, 2 were my best 2 putting stats
One was my best Greens in Reg, the other 2 were average or low GIR

So, it looks as though as long as 2 out of 3 of Driver, long/med irons and putter are working relatively well then I can score well, but to score really well I must play well just off and around the green.

Unsurprisingly, in my Stats summary it consistently shows that my Handicap is being held back by poor Par Scramble and putting stats (which are now improving).

I'd highly recommend scoresaver to work out exactly where you are gaining / losing shots.

 

[Siren]

100% true my driving is terrible, for the past 12 months ive been fighting a massive slice yet my handicap has dropped 6 shots.

If you saw me off the tee you would swear im a 28 handicapper.

 

[Slab]

Driving is the strongest part of my game, I played 15 holes today and didn't miss a fairway, all a good distance too, but I only had 6 pars and 3 of those were on par 3s .There again I didn't putt too badly, I think the place where you "make the money" is shots to and around the green.

Broadly speaking aren't you only supposed to get 6 pars though