Long drive or good short game?

[CarpeDiem]

This debate is in this months GM, and the results will prove quite interesting. I would prefer to have a sound short game, mainly because it would fill me with confidence knowing that I could still make par after missing the fair way or green.

 

[fade_away]

Straight drive for me everytime. If I can get to the green without too much damage I would hope to two putt most of the time.
Don't get me wrong I would like to be a better putter but I have never yet putted OOB )

 

[Twire]

There's nothing quite like seeing a monster drive split the fairway, unfortunatly, it doesn't happen that often to me. The longer the drive, the less margin for error.

At the moment, I seem to be striking the ball well, but not scoring. This is due to a scrappy short game, so in answer to your question, it would have to be a good short game.

 

[bernix]

good chipping & putting - that's where good scores are grinded out. Very much more important for me. I'm not a very long hitter and rarely hit more then 2 or 3 greens in regulation. But if my short game is on song I still score reasonably well

 

[freddielong]

This depends on what you play golf for if you want to win its chiping and putting all the time - Although there is nothing like the intimidation of taking 50 yrds out of someone on the first and then watch them fall apart or the rest of the round trying to keep up

 

[Macster]

I hit the ball as far as anyone I've ever played with at my Club, and yet i'm still off 11.
Hence why I am determined to put in some hours on the short game, only way i'm gonna get down.

 

[Imurg]

Seeing as my short game is the saviour of my card so often, at the moment it would be the long straight drive. Can't seem to pull one out of the bag at the moment.

But overall a good short game is a must.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I think I prefer a good drive as it gives you a chance at something good - a good short game without the good long game means you are only ever trying to save a score rather than make one!

Also, a poor long game can cost you more than a poor short game. As OOBs/lost balls are possible from a poor drive.

 

[mono217]

drive for show putt for dough.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It has to be short game for me especially as I've had pitching, bunker and putting lessons recently and have really enjoyed getting use to the new techniques. I now feel more confident from 100 yards in and can attack more knowing I can beging to look at getting up and down instead of resigning myself to a chip and two putts everytime.

I'm a work in progress with chipping and putting but both are getting better and I can happily lose an hour chipping from different lies and with different clubs.

 

[MVP]

good short game without a doubt!

 

[CrapHacker]

For the moment a decent long game, ftw. It's fun seeing the ball fly off down the fairway. But it's so frustrating to be duffing it 100 yds into the right rough.

But once the long game has settled down into acceptability, then short game improvement is a must.

However I think the all important word is acceptability. If your long game was genuinely BAD - topping, thinning, slicing 75 yds into deep rough, not getting past the ladies tee, etc etc, how many people would actually give the game up ? If you take 6 to reach the green, then what's the point in being a demon putter ?

You gotta get some joy out of the game.

 

[TonyN]

Short game for me.

My driving aint that bad, pretty good actually. Doesn't matter even if I miss fairways, aslong as I am there, or there about I can usually get one close to regulation, but being able to get up and down and save pars is going to keep you scoring well. I found that out Monday afternoon!