Putting from off the green

[granters]

just an observation from the US Open. I've seen lots of putting from off the green. How many of us automaically reach for a wedge? One of the best lessons i ever learned as a junior was " a bad putt is better than a decent pitch".

I'm still guilty of it now probably.

If it's good enough for them...

 

[G_Mulligan]

I agree in principle but my long putting is not great but chipping is good. Unless I am on the fringe and close to the hole I will usually play a running chip with mid iron.

 

[Iaing]

I must admit, if I'm close to the green, my first thought is "can I putt it ?".
Suppose it depends on the situation and the quality of the ground you're going over. But it's usually the percentage shot.

 

[upinsmoke]

Unless it's super smooth I always go for a running chip with a 7, 8 or 9 iron.

 

[palindromicbob]

depends on the lie and fairway condition. usually if anything more than 3 feet to the green I chip on.

 

[bobmac]

If you're in any doubt whether to chip or putt, ask yourself this question....when was the last time you duffed a putt?

Going back to when Ian Woosnam won the Masters....he had a long putt from just off the green on the 72 hole. He later said he didn't chip it as he didn't want to run the risk of duffing it 5 feet in front of him.

One thing to check if you do putt from off the green...look at the direction the grass is growing. If it's towards you, you will have to give it a bit more

 

[Imurg]

Use the Fragger method...

Smash it at the flag, with enough speed to go 20ft past, hit the flag and drop.

Foolproof

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Use the Fragger method...

Smash it at the flag, with enough speed to go 20ft past, hit the flag and drop.

Foolproof

You Cant Argue With Success, Grasshopper

By the way, Did I beat you by 3 points yesterday or not?

Just rubbing it in

Fragger

 

[bobmac]

By the way, Did I beat you by 3 points yesterday or not?

Just rubbing it in

Fragger

There's only one thing worse than a bad loser......

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I always look to chip as my short game has been dire. I accept that it is the higher percentage shot anyway but I always have this nagging deep down that I've bottled it slightly. One day my chipping will come back ad I'll be mecurial around the greens and the putter will be redundant except to put the one footers I keep leaving in the hole

 

[Imurg]

Use the Fragger method...

Smash it at the flag, with enough speed to go 20ft past, hit the flag and drop.

Foolproof

You Cant Argue With Success, Grasshopper

By the way, Did I beat you by 3 points yesterday or not?

Just rubbing it in

Fragger

Wouldn't have been the 3 points you got there instead of the blob you'd probably have got had the flag not got in the way would it..?

 

[SyR]

I use my lob wedge and putt the ball with the leading edge so it runs along the ground. It's surprisingly effective for me, especially if there is any grass between the ball and the club face.

 

[Qwerty]

I avoid chipping whenever I can,Its by far the worst part of my game.
I usually score well on links courses due to the fact that you can putt from almost anywhere around the green, unless there's a bunker in the way.

 

[richart]

I putt from off the green more than anyone i have ever played with. When i started playing we had two very dry summers, and on rock hard bare fairways it was the safest shot. Fortunately my course is sand based, so aour fairways are usually dry and tight and not far off the pace of the greens.

The other reason is my chipping is rubbish, and putting is the percentage shot.

 

[pokerjoke]

Colin Montgomerie was commentating yesterday at the open and a Lee Westwood was putting from off the green,i recall it was uphill of about 20ft and then 15 ft of green,montgomerie said it was 100% the right shot to play as it was the safe play.It also helps if its nice and smooth

 

[Swinger]

" a bad putt is better than a bad pitch".

Putting from fairways or aprons is fine generally.

I would hate for people to read this and start reaching for the putter from the rough instead of leaning to chip.

 

[RGDave]

" a bad putt is better than a decent pitch".

Yes, mostly true.

I try to get players (partners) to putt when I don't like the look of their chip/pitch. It's amazing how often they still go for the chip and mess it up. The way I see it (regardless of the old adage) a bad chip can leave you/us (in the case of pairs) in 3 putt country. A putt so bad you/we could still 3 putt is rare....almost extinct.

Example. Par 5 at mine last week. Trouble after the 2nd shot, and I've got 150 to go needing a 15 yard fade. I get the fade, but the ball lands on the up-slope to the green and doesn't get on. 20-25 foot to go, requires a "dink" up the slope and roll out towards the flag. Easy putt BUT difficult chip as (due to the shot) any chip up the bank will land "flat" and roll more than usual (we all know that one). So, I say "putt" and my partner says "wedge, just to the flat surface". He catches the wedge but way too hard, it lands by the flag, rolls on, to the left, down the slope and into a bunker. FFS. I splash out, we 2 putt - now that's a seven. 3 shots just short, 1 putt of decent quality leaves me a chance of par . NO contest.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

My worst putt is no worse than my worst chip so i tend to play the percentage shot.

As much as i'd love to play great delicate chip shots on a regular basis i can't so i just play to my strengths.

 

[THJahar]

Off the green...in a bit of fluffy fringe....grab my rescue club and use it like a putter. Awesome results everytime

 

[G_Mulligan]

Off the green...in a bit of fluffy fringe....grab my rescue club and use it like a putter. Awesome results everytime

I think Ben Curtis used this technique to great affect winning the Open a few years back. Must be an ego thing but I just can't bring myself to do it.