Soft or Hard greens?

[Captain_Black]

I played 27 holes yesterday with my work Colleagues, I played very well & hit some lovely approach shots into the greens, most of which stayed on the green, but I did have a couple bounce off that would have stayed on if the ground was softer.

So, do you prefer hard or soft greens?
Personally, I prefer playing when the greens are slightly softer, I also find putting easier when the greens are slower.

 

[stevie_r]

I played 27 holes yesterday with my work Colleagues, I played very well & hit some lovely approach shots into the greens, most of which stayed on the green, but I did have a couple bounce off that would have stayed on if the ground was softer.

So, do you prefer hard or soft greens?
Personally, I prefer playing when the greens are slightly softer, I also find putting easier when the greens are slower.

Same here mate

 

[dufferman]

I was watching the Race to Dubai on Sky Sports where us mere 'mortals' can play on courses the pro's do in a competition situation, the final comp was held in Dubai. The final day competitors were saying they've never experienced greens so hard in their lives! The slightest touch and the ball rolled for miles. I'm a fan of softer greens for sure!

 

[cookelad]

As long as they are consistent (well reasonably) and you know you've got to fly it all the way or allow for it to bounce and run up, for me it doesn't matter hard or soft. Similar with the putting speed consistency goes a long way in this game - as long as they are true you can make adjustments!

 

[Fader]

I don't really tend to mind hard or soft greens, all I want is for all 18 on the course to be consistent. Not soft, but then throw in a couple of hard ones that your not expecting, as we had at a course we played early on this year in the Penfold league. One green hit a wedge stops stone dead, next hole same club bounces 30feet in the air and 20 yards through.

I guess if I had to pick what would I like to play to enhance my scoring, then I'd go with soft as my irons are my strong point so knowing the ball will stop where you want it to would be advantageous to me.

 

[GreiginFife]

To put a different spin on it, I think most would prefer soft greens as the ball stops without the need to play for it top do so (in most cases). BUT, and it's a big but, I prefer it when the greens are a bit firmer as when they are soft they get destroyed by deep pitch marks that while most people repair, many don't and even a properly repaired PM can cause unwanted bobble.
After a few weeks of soft greens being hit many times it's often difficult to tell what the putt will do anyway regardless of how fast/slow they are playing.
So from a practicality point of view I would rather firm greens and work on playing to get the ball to stop.

 

[dufferman]

The worst thing is the practice putting green - when that's dry as a bone but the course greens are soggy or vice versa!

 

[GreiginFife]

The worst thing is the practice putting green - when that's dry as a bone but the course greens are soggy or vice versa!

I've actually stopped using the practice green before a round as it never matches the conditions on the greens.
Sure, I will use it for practice session in general (getting the stroke going etc) but before a round I found it off putting for the above reason - it's not the club's fault, just where the practice green is (sheltered etc).

 

[dufferman]

I've actually stopped using the practice green before a round as it never matches the conditions on the greens.
Sure, I will use it for practice session in general (getting the stroke going etc) but before a round I found it off putting for the above reason - it's not the club's fault, just where the practice green is (sheltered etc).

Tis true - Brent Valley near me have the clubhouse and practice putting green at the top of a hill, the rest of the course bar 2 greens are at the bottom of the hill, hence very different putting surfaces.

Although, at Brent Valley, that's the least of their problems...

 

[bladeplayer]

Receptive fast greens would be my choice ...

FoA last october were the slickest greens ive ever been on ,, fast but ran 100% true .. pleasure to play to & putt on

 

[louise_a]

I prefer soft greens when playing to the green but like fast greens to putt on, so I can't win either way.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I play on a south coast heathland track, love it when it is playing hard and bouncy.

 

[duncan mackie]

I prefer soft greens when playing to the green but like fast greens to putt on, so I can't win either way.

of course you can

fast greens don't have to be 'hard' and hard greens don't have to be fast!

generally, as long as the green is fast and not clay based ie the ball doesn't actually bounce high in the air on arrival, fast green will be more receptive to spin than slow ones. slow wet ones will be receptive to anything with a high trajectory, almost regardless of spin!

but, and it's a big but, most golfers simply don't put much spin on their approach shots, and certainly not their longer shots - the ball stops because the soft green absorbs the energy.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Soft greens.

Otherwise it's all about luck and not skill.

 

[Essex_Stu]

Soft greens so I can use cheaper balls!!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Soft greens.

Otherwise it's all about luck and not skill.

No have to disagree with that statement. A good ball striker will be able to get spin on firm greens or alternatively, run the ball in which is one of the skills of links golf.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Receptive fast greens would be my choice ...

FoA last october were the slickest greens ive ever been on ,, fast but ran 100% true .. pleasure to play to & putt on

I think the Grove were quicker but agree that the FOA were superb, apart from that monster par 3 on the back where we all left it above the hole and had 20 yarders. All left with 4 footers back up the hill. I prefer either as long as I know how they are playing and happy to land it short and let it release on firmer ones or try and fly it up on softer surfaces

 

[MegaSteve]

If playing well not fussed either way...

Its only when I am not playing well I start worrying about things outside my control...

 

[Imurg]

I like a Green that holds a well struck iron shot.
Ours at the moment are very hit and miss.
I hit a 9 iron into one yesterday and got 5 yards of backspin but hit a 9 into another today and it ran on 10...
Both good shots, good connections, virtually no wind, Z-Star ball..........

 

[garyinderry]

love peppering pins when its soft. sometimes enjoy the challenge of firm greens. keeps the scoring down usually but who wants that. im told if greens are very good like at top courses then they should spin no matter what the conditions are like.