Is every putt holeable?

[Jimaroid]

We can create a situation where a ball cannot fall into a hole. So, the answer to "Is every putt holeable?" is no.

The more complex question is actually determining whether or not un-holeable situations exist on any particular (and realistic) green? Due to the near infinite combinations of shape, slope, pace and relative positions between the ball and hole, it's an impossible problem to solve.

 

[Slab]

No it's not.

PNWokingham had a putt at my place last year on the 10th, because of the pin position and where he was on the green, it just wasn't possible to hole it. The line was so far up a slope that the ball picked up too much speed coming down it to go in.
We had several attempts each afterwards and we couldn't get the ball within 10ft of the hole.

Insufficient side spin applied to the ball during putting stroke, physically it was holeable

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Insufficient backspin applied to the ball during putting stroke, physically it was holeable

Fixed that for you

 

[garyinderry]

At At a certain speed a ball will not fall into the hole. These speeds are easily reached by many slopes making it impossible to hole the putt.

 

[Slab]

Fixed that for you

Sorry from the description I was picturing an arc shape to the putt

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Sorry from the description I was picturing an arc shape to the putt

Yes very much so but arcing up a slope and back down again, it would require either backspin or airbrakes to slow it down to sufficient speed to drop into the hole.

Or one of Delc's oversize holes :rofl:

 

[CMAC]

[video]https://youtu.be/5QExOvKtTFQ[/video]

why wont vids embed anymore, added via filmstrip icon and usually embeds

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Yes is the answer, some less likely than others but it is possible to hole every putt.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

No it's not.

PNWokingham had a putt at my place last year on the 10th, because of the pin position and where he was on the green, it just wasn't possible to hole it. The line was so far up a slope that the ball picked up too much speed coming down it to go in.
We had several attempts each afterwards and we couldn't get the ball within 10ft of the hole.

But someone at some point will hit that putt, it will slam into the back of the hole, hop up in the air and fall in. Unlikely maybe, impossible, no way.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Surely it's possible to get any shot in the hole but a lot of time it's highly unlikely that it will go in

There will be a line and pace that the ball will physically go in the hole

 

[Foxholer]

No it's not.

PNWokingham had a putt at my place last year on the 10th, because of the pin position and where he was on the green, it just wasn't possible to hole it. The line was so far up a slope that the ball picked up too much speed coming down it to go in.
We had several attempts each afterwards and we couldn't get the ball within 10ft of the hole.

Agree with this view. An old club has a peanut/kidney shaped green with a hump in the 'neck' of it (actually Robobum's 'handle-bar moustache description works better). Some putts would need to be hit off the green and into the rough (past the fringe) to be holeable with certain pin positions! This was/is the green that caused them to implement a (non-compliant) Local Rule along the lines of 'Only putters may be used when on the Green'!!

 

[NorfolkShaun]

The answer should be yes as pretty much anything is possible, however we have a par three green with a ridge down the middle. Sometimes the pin is close to the ridge and from some positions you cannot get the ball in the hole as you need to go too high on the ridge to get enough break and then you would fall over the other side of the ridge and away from the hole

 

[Face breaker]

Lying awake last night thinking about putting (as u do) got me thinking.

Given the laws of physics, are some putts due to hole location, break, grain and line simply unholeable?

or, can every putt be made if hit on the right line with the right speed?
rob

Most are "un-holeable" as far as I'm concerned, something to do with the idiot holding the putter I think !...:thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In theory yes. In practice even for the best in the game no.

 

[thorshammer]

Interesting question. I can't think of a putt that can't be holed, although some may take a few goes

 

[drdel]

Since the 'hole' is smaller than the ball, then it is possible to get the ball in the hole. The trouble is that probability very, very quickly drops to practically zero as the length of put and if green's terrain varies significantly.

Any green where it is impossible for the ball to be holed should be sent back to the course designer for a change !!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Since the 'hole' is smaller than the ball, then it is possible to get the ball in the hole. The trouble is that probability very, very quickly drops to practically zero as the length of put and if green's terrain varies significantly.

Any green where it is impossible for the ball to be holed should be sent back to the course designer for a change !!

How do you get the ball in the hole at your course

 

[MadAdey]

I theory yes, as long as there is not a physical obstacle in your way. But I would say there are situations where a putt is just not makable. Playing a few weeks ago at my normal place one of my PP had one that we just could not get in the hole.

Split level green, 20 footer coming down from the top level with about 6' of break coming off the left. We where all a similar standard so you'd think one of us would hole it. But like others have mentioned, sometimes the ball is just moving too fast to drop. A couple of times we hit the hole but it was going too fast to drop. I even stood with a ball at th top of the second tier and just literally got it rolling but it was still going too fast when it hit the hole to drop.

But it what I would say is I have the attitude that although I don't believe that very putt is makable I want to hole every putt. I do not believe that any putt is in 3 putt territory, that is just being negative. I also do not believe in aiming for the mythical dustbin lid, or I am trying to miss by 3 foot and if I then mess that up by 2 foot I am now 5 foot away.

 

[Tiger man]

Not every putt is holeable, we have a split level green with a severe slope and if the pin is at the base of the slope it is impossible to hole it from the top as even if you nudge it over the edge dead weight, the ball is travelling far too fast at the bottom to drop.

 

[Slab]

Not every putt is holeable, we have a split level green with a severe slope and if the pin is at the base of the slope it is impossible to hole it from the top as even if you nudge it over the edge dead weight, the ball is travelling far too fast at the bottom to drop.

Not sure if you can say impossible though, it only has to go in once from infinite attempts