Putting game

[bobmac]

Here's a game that will help you focus on your first putt.
The next time you're out playing with a friend, try this game.
Every time your approach putt from ON the green comes up short, you lose 5p, 10p, £1. £5, whatever you decide.
Obviously, the same applies to your mates. Add it up at the end and accept their hard earned.
You'll be surprised how many putts you think are to strong finish up nice and close.
Another game to play is the swap the drives game.
You both drive and then you toss a coin.
Heads, you play your own ball, tails, you play your partners ball.
Anyone play any other variations?

 

[Ste_Denial]

well if i was playing the putting game i would be skint after 9 holes

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

I dont bet with my mates because they never pay up!

 

[USER1999]

Back to Rotella's book on putting. Surely a miss is a miss, whether it is short or long makes no difference. It didn't go in. Why reward someone for putting way past the hole? I would rather be 2" short than 6ft long.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

I think the point of the game is to get the ball past the hole if it dosen't get to the hole it can never go in

 

[USER1999]

But equally, going 6ft past isn't going to go in either. It is too fast. A bad putt is a bad putt, whether it is short or long. I don't get the emphasis on not being short. You might as well say you pay out on a given distance from the hole, not just short. A miss sideways is also still a miss.

A better game would be the one who finishes furthest from the hole pays out. Encourages you to get it close, and / or hole it.

 

[Cackhander]

Try playing a set amount for every 3 or more putt!!! It can be 50p, £1 or how ever much you decide? It will make sure that you leave the 1st putt close more often than not and also makes you concentrate more on those 2nd short putts!!

 

[bobmac]

The idea of the game isn't really for the long putts you are trying to lag, more for the 15 footers and in that you realistically hope to hole.
If I hit a drive and a 3 wood to 10 feet on a par 5 and left it 2" short for eagle, I would be more than a little miffed on the next tee.
If however I lipped out and finished a foot past, I would feel I had at least given it a chance.
Is 6 feet short the same as 6 feet too long?

 

[mattyb0y]

Is 6 feet short the same as 6 feet too long?

Like that bob! Il remeber that one!

 

[USER1999]

I can see the point if it is only on putts you can rattle in, but not for longer ones where a dribbler may be the better bet. Still not sure I would go for this type of game out on the course though.

 

[Herbie]

Comming up short for me is only satisfying when its a long first putt and I finish with a tap in, or a very sure thing.

Comming up 6' short leaves a preasure putt over unknown ground, but leaving it 6' long gives you a chance to see what the ball did over that 6' of ground, and sometimes this can be priceless.

I prefer to get passed the hole if I am missing my first, but Im not fussed at all if its right or left or short, but leaving a tap in. If you dont get the first, its because you were not accurate enough, regardless of it being long, short, left or right. The only benefits I can see in always leaving it long is consistancy of chance, and observing the ball cover ground it may return on.But if by hitting long all the time you find you are leaving pressure putts back and miss a few, then maybe comming up short might give you better stats??

If it doesnt reach the hole it wont go in.

 

[bobmac]

Comming up short for me is only satisfying when its a long first putt and I finish with a tap in, or a very sure thing.

Comming up 6' short leaves a preasure putt over unknown ground, but leaving it 6' long gives you a chance to see what the ball did over that 6' of ground, and sometimes this can be priceless.

I prefer to get passed the hole if I am missing my first, but Im not fussed at all if its right or left or short, but leaving a tap in. If you dont get the first, its because you were not accurate enough, regardless of it being long, short, left or right. The only benefits I can see in always leaving it long is consistancy of chance, and observing the ball cover ground it may return on.But if by hitting long all the time you find you are leaving pressure putts back and miss a few, then maybe comming up short might give you better stats??

If it doesnt reach the hole it wont go in.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have enough pressure on my putting without having to pay up as well. Mind you I have one partner who I'm sure is averaging 3 putts a hole by noe so it has potential too.

I'm with murph on this. I'd rather hit it two foot short than 6 foot past trying to make it. I'm trying to hole every putt but I'm also realistic about my nex one and its a balancing act between being too gung ho and too cautious. It might be a game better suited to the practice green for me though

 

[viscount17]

6 foot past is too much, but I really hate leaving it 6 foot (or more) short.

 

[DAC]

How about this for a novel idea, try getting it in the hole, and if you do, you win

 

[Imurg]

If I hit a drive and a 3 wood to 10 feet on a par 5 and left it 2" short for eagle, I would be more than a little miffed on the next tee.
If however I lipped out and finished a foot past, I would feel I had at least given it a chance.

I'd be quite happy with the tap-in birdie thanks Bob.

Sure, I'd like to hole all putts but I'd rather be short and have a 12 incher left than getting it to the hole so it has a chance to go in and ending up 3 feet past. Those 3-4 footers coming back turn into 3 putts way too easily.

 

[THJahar]

I think the problem lies with the words:
Short
Long
You should NEVER use those words in relation to putting, you should always use:
Soft
Hard
Here's the math:
10 putts too soft = 0% holed
10 putts too hard <= 100% holed
That's my philosophy anyhow

 

[Herbie]

I think the problem lies with the words:
Short
Long
You should NEVER use those words in relation to putting, you should always use:
Soft
Hard
Here's the math:
10 putts too soft = 0% holed
10 putts too hard <= 100% holed


That's my philosophy anyhow

Never thought of it that way before?......next time Im gonna use my driver for putting then the buggers will never be too soft.

 

[bobmac]

I think the problem lies with the words:
Short
Long
You should NEVER use those words in relation to putting, you should always use:
Soft
Hard
Here's the math:
10 putts too soft = 0% holed
10 putts too hard <= 100% holed
That's my philosophy anyhow

Sorry have to disagree there mate.
I use the words long and short not only as it discribes the distance the ball goes, but also the length of the stroke.
I cringe when I hear people say 'I didn't hit it hard enough or I hit it too hard'
I would rather they think that the swing was too long or too short. That is after all how you should control the distance your putts go, not by how hard you hit it.

 

[Herbie]

Well in any case, I hope my putting is with me tomorrow, been asked to stand in with first team, away at greetham. So I will either shine or make an ass of myself one way or another.lol.
Nice to be asked though.