Putting stats question

[Canfordhacker]

Had a shocker on 3 holes in today's Stableford, picking up before I reached the green. This means my putts for the round was quite good, but obviously not a reflection of my game. What do you do in when this happens? Default to two putts?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Ah the old putting stats question. I used to get hung up on putting stats as if in some way a putt was worth more than any other shot. But putting stats can be very mis-leading. If I hit every green (which I don't) and had 34 putts you could look at that and think that's too many. However, hitting every green means I'm coming into the green generally with a longer club and so the chances are I will be further away and less likely to 1 putt but I'd be around level par at the end of the round and probably putted ok. If I miss every green by a few yards and chip well I could have 18 putts and still be level par or there abouts. Does that mean I putted better when I had 18 putts? No, it means I probably chipped everything to inside 2 feet and made the putts.

So the number of putts you have in a round is largely a result of the quality of the rest of your game. It is a lot easier to make a putt inside 8 feet than it is from outside 8 feet. If you're missing all your 3 footers or 3 putting every green then I'd suggest you need some practice, otherwise, the number of putts you have may be deflecting from a weakness in another area of your game.

So if you want to say you 2 putted the greens on the holes you picked up on,go ahead but what does it actually tell you?

More important stats in my opinion are how often you get up and down if you miss the green. If it's not a high percentage, improving your chipping will reduce the number of putts and lower your score - but you'll still be as good a putter as you are now.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think SS2 who designed the scoresaver software has said you should default a 2 putt if you don't complete the hole. Makes sense as its the average number and of course it will skew the figures to a degree but certainly less than not recording anything and therefore having a lower putts per round figure.

I agree with the sentiments of Hawkeye but you do need to balance putting stats with GIR, par and sand saves, birdie conversions etc to see a fuller picture. Mind you if you are hitting 28-32 putts per round you still know you are doing some things right (hitting close, chipping well)

 

[Leftie]

What do you do in when this happens? Default to two putts?

Yes.




If you want the stats to be of use then make sure you record putts per GIR and putts per non-GIR. That will then give you far more valuable info on your short game and putting game.

Bobmac will come in later with his method for assessing your putting.