I would never ask but like others would definitely give a meaningful look as I marked it. Personally I don't think it's acceptable to ask and a player should wait to be asked to pick his ball up
is it acceptable to ask for a putt to be given in matchplay?
- Thread starter MikeH
- Start date
squeak2199
Hacker
This.
I'm pretty new to golf but I really don't understand why some people actually give these.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I never give anything I judge as outside the hole, and even more so if it's so downhill it could end up yards away!
We're not the club pairs champs for nothing.
Actually, we do give a few.
grumpyjock
Tour Rookie
would never ask for one , but would expect if i had already given on a previous hole.
At our matches we give them if within a putter handgrip length.
Just speeds up the play.
At our matches we give them if within a putter handgrip length.
Just speeds up the play.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
It can be all part of the psychology of it. Some people like to try to play mind games with their opponent. Giving a miss-able one early in the match for a half can cause the guy to give you one further down the line. Then, when it comes to the crunch, he may get a similar length putt and expect it to be given but when you don't it can put him off a little.
Personally, I don't go in for that kind of thing but I know folk who do.
Achilles
Challenge Tour Pro
Not played too much matchplay but I'd never ask and if asked would see that as a sign of weakness. Like many have said I'd look for a nod perhaps, but wouldn't even consider asking the question. I've been involved in one match where my more experienced playing partner gave everything within 6 feet for the first few holes when we were in good positions. Suffice to say, and like Hawkeye mentioned, when it came to the midway point our opponents hadn't had a chance to get a feel for the short putts and missed everything not given, inluding a few tiddlers. Great to see, but I'd have been a lot less tactically aware! All part of the learning curve I guess!
jammydodger
Tour Winner
I have to say this thread has got me chuckling a wee bit so thanks guys. The majority of people have stated that they would see it as a sign of weakness if someone asked for a tiddler to be given. I think peoples definition of what constitutes a 'gimme' and what deosnt must vary quite considerably across this forum.
I've been made to putt out anything from 8" upwards and been given them from 2' or more. I've asked if a putt is alright and been asked the same back numerous times. It's no big deal and I cant really see the point of the OP's question tbh. Is there really some stigma attached to asking for a putt to be given if its sitting there a few inches from the hole ? Have I just been getting on with playing golf when I should have been getting upset about breaches of etiquette and worrying about the effects of masterful voodoo pychology matchplayers ?
I've been made to putt out anything from 8" upwards and been given them from 2' or more. I've asked if a putt is alright and been asked the same back numerous times. It's no big deal and I cant really see the point of the OP's question tbh. Is there really some stigma attached to asking for a putt to be given if its sitting there a few inches from the hole ? Have I just been getting on with playing golf when I should have been getting upset about breaches of etiquette and worrying about the effects of masterful voodoo pychology matchplayers ?
HRC99
Journeyman Pro
If you have to ask, you ain't getting it. 
john0
Journeyman Pro
I kind of agree with Jammy on this one. If it's less than a foot then I would probably ask my opponent if it was good, and would have no issues if someone asked me the same - in fact they wouldnt have to ask as I would have already given it anyway. Normally give anything inside 2 foot, and if they are a decent putter and it's early in the round then will sometimes give them upto 3 foot, it's only a game after all.
However, anything more than 18/24" I wouldnt ask for, and wouldnt be offended if someone asked me to give it.... I would just tell them No
.
I suppose the answer to the OP question is it really all depends what length of putt your talking about.
However, anything more than 18/24" I wouldnt ask for, and wouldnt be offended if someone asked me to give it.... I would just tell them No
.I suppose the answer to the OP question is it really all depends what length of putt your talking about.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
I do ask but only if it's a rhetorical question. Six inch tap in etc when I'll maybe just say "is that OK?" before picking it up when they give me the nod. I've never been asked to putt in these circumstances. Any longer than 6 inch tap in then I never ask and expect to have to hole it.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
I'd never ask in a match. Wouldn't even look at my opponent.
If they say it's good while I'm on my way to mark it or tap in fine, if they don't so what? If it's that close that it should be given then I'm not worried about taking 5 seconds to knock it in.
If they say it's good while I'm on my way to mark it or tap in fine, if they don't so what? If it's that close that it should be given then I'm not worried about taking 5 seconds to knock it in.
Very interested to read everyone's views
My question was obviously fishing for a bit of reaction as just such a scenario came up on Tuesday when Paul O'H and were having a game at Alwoodley on our way up for yesterday's Centenary Society day at Hollins
We were playing the 6th hole (all square at this stage) and I pulled a drive left into the heather. Paul hit a good drive down the left hand side of the fairway and my provisional finished ten yards behind his on the same line in to the green. I couldn’t find the first so played the provisional and hit it to 6ft. Paul over-clubbed and went through the back.
He then hit a great chip close (1.5ft to 2ft range certainly well inside the grip). Paul is a great putter so it was unlikely he’d miss but I didn’t just want to gift him the hole as all games between Paul and I are competitive (he’s off 5 and I’m 6 but we played of flat) and almost always go down to the wire. My thinking was hole my putt for a 5 and then he might have missed and I’d have got a half from nowhere. I’m happy to admit I also wanted to employ a bit of Matchplay psychology and irk him by making him putt it.
Anyway Paul walked up to his ball, obviously expecting to be given the putt (and therefore the hole) and said ‘Is that OK?†To which I replied ‘No’. As it happened it missed my putt so my plan was all in vain! Paul went on to play some great golf and won the match 3&2.
Anyway we obviously had a good old discussion on the topic (still running now) where I said I thought it was poor etiquette to ask for a putt and that the ‘right’ way was to look towards your opponent and if your told ‘pick it up’ or ‘that’s good’ or ‘take it away’ then the putt is conceded otherwise if nothing is said or the oppo look away then you need to be prepared to putt out.
Paul still maintains he did nothing wrong. Maybe I’m just being a bit old fashioned?
My question was obviously fishing for a bit of reaction as just such a scenario came up on Tuesday when Paul O'H and were having a game at Alwoodley on our way up for yesterday's Centenary Society day at Hollins
We were playing the 6th hole (all square at this stage) and I pulled a drive left into the heather. Paul hit a good drive down the left hand side of the fairway and my provisional finished ten yards behind his on the same line in to the green. I couldn’t find the first so played the provisional and hit it to 6ft. Paul over-clubbed and went through the back.
He then hit a great chip close (1.5ft to 2ft range certainly well inside the grip). Paul is a great putter so it was unlikely he’d miss but I didn’t just want to gift him the hole as all games between Paul and I are competitive (he’s off 5 and I’m 6 but we played of flat) and almost always go down to the wire. My thinking was hole my putt for a 5 and then he might have missed and I’d have got a half from nowhere. I’m happy to admit I also wanted to employ a bit of Matchplay psychology and irk him by making him putt it.
Anyway Paul walked up to his ball, obviously expecting to be given the putt (and therefore the hole) and said ‘Is that OK?†To which I replied ‘No’. As it happened it missed my putt so my plan was all in vain! Paul went on to play some great golf and won the match 3&2.
Anyway we obviously had a good old discussion on the topic (still running now) where I said I thought it was poor etiquette to ask for a putt and that the ‘right’ way was to look towards your opponent and if your told ‘pick it up’ or ‘that’s good’ or ‘take it away’ then the putt is conceded otherwise if nothing is said or the oppo look away then you need to be prepared to putt out.
Paul still maintains he did nothing wrong. Maybe I’m just being a bit old fashioned?
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Mike , I think anything around the 2' mark is easily missable and I wouldnt be giving it myself. To me though Paul asking isnt a problem and he maybe was being a bit cheeky himself knowing the hole situation and wanted an easy win. He really should have just marked and waited for you to miss yours before then giving you the banter. I'm pretty sure he wouldnt have given you the putt if roles were reversed and as I say he was probs just trying it on and maybe reverse pyschologied (sp) you a little as he then went on to win comfortably
Robobum
Money List Winner
Nothing wrong on either side IMO Mike, just another part of matchplay.
Just as much as you not giving him the putt is asking a question aboutthe size of his cahunas, him asking you if it's ok is checking your's.
There are plenty of folk who believe they are strong but when put on the spot with a direct question will crumble and give in. That can also play on certain people's minds for the rest of the round too, just all part of the fun. If anyone gets pee'd off by it then perhaps it's worked?
Interesting to see the testosterone levels are up today!! Asking is a sign of weakness!!?? Really??
Just as much as you not giving him the putt is asking a question aboutthe size of his cahunas, him asking you if it's ok is checking your's.
There are plenty of folk who believe they are strong but when put on the spot with a direct question will crumble and give in. That can also play on certain people's minds for the rest of the round too, just all part of the fun. If anyone gets pee'd off by it then perhaps it's worked?
Interesting to see the testosterone levels are up today!! Asking is a sign of weakness!!?? Really??
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Well said RB
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
I wouldn't be giving a 2 footer and definately not if it was asked for.
By the way, how long are your grips if 2 foot is inside it?
By the way, how long are your grips if 2 foot is inside it?
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Well said RB
In some cases it is, if my oppo had a 2 footer for half, which in my opinion is miss-able (but I might give it depending on how things were going), and he asked if it was good I'd see that as a sign that he didn't fancy it so I'd make him putt it. If it's a kick in, you shouldn't have time to ask, it should be given anyway.
0
Guest
I NEVER ask for a putt and I NEVER give a putt if its for the Hole- I mean why just GIVE a hole when anything can happen in golf.
Also if I dont hear 'take it away' on a ridiculous small tap in, say 18", then I take longer to absolutely ensure I hole it as I didnt once many many years ago and lost the h/cap championship match by 1 hole- never again!
Also if I dont hear 'take it away' on a ridiculous small tap in, say 18", then I take longer to absolutely ensure I hole it as I didnt once many many years ago and lost the h/cap championship match by 1 hole- never again!
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
Dont see the problem , never ask , the only reason you could/would ask for it is if you were fair sure youd make it anyhow. so just step up n make it , job done , .. if he gives it great if not just sink it ,, never assume in matchplay , dont assume he will or wont make a putt, dont assume he will/wont chip in & surely dont assume he will/wont give you a putt, he might or might not , be prepared to have to play it . as they say all assume does is make an ass of u & me.. ASS U ME
