Putting expectations....

[Lord Tyrion]

Pro's missing lots of putts was the biggest surprise to me when I first saw a tournament live. They really do miss a lot but as has been said already, when we watch on tv we tend to see the leaders who naturally are making lots of putts. That messes up our own expectations. What the pro's are exceptional at is leaving their first putt dead. No matter the distance they really are very good at that.

I played on fast greens last Friday, faster than I am used to anyway. Loved it but found the ball only dropped if it hit the centre of the cup. Anything over the edge just kept on going. On slower greens those on the edge drop. I shaved so many that day but it took me quite a few holes to get the pacing right so that the second putt was simple rather than 4-5ft past. The pacing of the pro's really is very, very good.

 

[GB72]

Always just tried to be a confident 2 putter at my level. I am happy if I leave the first one close or a tap in, never beat myself up about missing the first putt.

 

[woody69]

You are not analysing the correct statistic, that stat looks at how many of their single putts are from 5 foot which is more a reflection of their play to the green.
The median stat for putts made from five foot (which is actually between four and five feet is 82% rounded)
From 10 feet the average PGA pro is hoping 40%.
They are very very good though and have very true greens.

Oh, my mistake. I read it as the total 1 putts from less than or equal to 5 feet, i.e. how many putts they get down in 1 inside 5 feet, but you're right as there is the putting from greater than 4 feet and less than 5 feet, which has the top stat that is 96.3% and median as you say. Oops

 

[guest100718]

once you get outside of 6 feet the number of putts holed for all standards of golfer drops of fairly quickly.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am working hard at the 3-5 foot range. I feel these are the real card improvers, either for a par/sand save, maybe even a birdie. I accept I'm not going to be getting too many but at least I feel confident over them. Distance control could be better from 30 feet or so

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I expect to hit a good putt which means good pace and on the line I picked, sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't - good putts don't always go in.

From 10 feet holing out is maybe a 1 in 10 shot, possibly worse, I certainly don't expect to hole them. I do expect I'll 3 putt a couple of times a round - some of our greens are nasty if you get yourself in the wrong spot (in fact, on some of the Blackmoor greens I'm not convinced there is a right spot )

 

[delc]

I have always thought that putting is the most difficult part of the game of golf. Your target is a hole that is only just over twice the diameter of the ball. Often good tee to green golf is negated by a 3 or even a 4 putt, even for tour pros, and they play on perfect greens and put in hours of practice. What chance do the rest of us have? Hence my campaign for a bigger hole.

 

[Farneyman]

A good link to check the reality of the putting stats for the pros id you like the facts and figures.

http://www.pgatour.com/stats/categories.RPUT_INQ.html

 

[Qwerty]

I think the pro are falsely represented on the TV. we watch the leaders a lot of the time playing well who hardly seem to miss inside 10 feet.

They are on a great run to be at the top of the leaderboad. Putting keeps their momentum going for the round.

We don't see as many pros further down the leaderboard missing many shorter putts.

Was just about to post this Gaz.

We need to see more televised choking on the greens to make us feel better about about our putting inadequacies. :thup:

 

[Karl102]

Similar stats hitting greens.... I think it's about 60% from 180 yards, yet we pull out out PW and expect to hit it every time

 

[garyinderry]

Its the same for us. when we are going good guns we don't tend to miss many around 6 foot. that is a very good day at the office plus a few longer ones for good measure.


Don't agree with delc. I always say putting is one of the easiest things in golf to fix. Its a simple stroke. If you are having trouble with driver or full irons it is often a longer harder fix.

Ive never seen anyone have x year battles with the flat stick as many seem to do with the chipping side of things. at least not to the same extent.

 

[delc]

Its the same for us. when we are going good guns we don't tend to miss many around 6 foot. that is a very good day at the office plus a few longer ones for good measure.


Don't agree with delc. I always say putting is one of the easiest things in golf to fix. Its a simple stroke. If you are having trouble with driver or full irons it is often a longer harder fix.

Ive never seen anyone have x year battles with the flat stick as many seem to do with the chipping side of things. at least not to the same extent.

Yes, but the very small hole also puts pressure on your chipping to get the ball close enough to hole the putt. I've had the chipping yips as well by the way, but (touch wood) I seem to be OK at the moment!

 

[Karl102]

Just found an article.....

If your average round is:
100 - 5ft = 43% 8ft = 22% 15ft = 9%
90 - 5ft = 50% 8ft = 27% 15ft = 11%
80 - 5ft = 59% 8ft = 33% 15ft = 14%
Tour pro - 5ft = 78% 8ft = 50% 15ft = 23%
It's from a university study....

 

[Matty2803]

The difference is - They have two putts for par. We're having to hole 10 footers for pars and bogies... or triple bogies like today!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hence my lone campaign for a bigger hole.

Sorted that for you. Off course tour pro's three and four putt, but golf never intended to be easy and holing out is just one aspect that needs to be worked on, same as any other. Some are better putters than others. Simple as that. Some get better by hard work and practice. Some try and simply never improve. That's not going to change just because the hole is bigger