The great drive for dough putt for show debate thread.

[Jimaroid]

“Hit fewer shots over a longer period of time and your stats will improve”

No way! Really?

 

[Deleted member 29109]

No.
And waiting to hear someone say that as well.

"Drive for show, putt for dough" is not about length of drives, it is about winning (dough) in comps.

I know. And it still doesn’t make sense.

I’ve still not seen anyone say how they get markedly better at putting, or what that even means to lower their scores. Or how putting can mask being short or really bad off the tee as a long term strategy for scoring well.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I know. And it still doesn’t make sense.

I’ve still not seen anyone say how they get markedly better at putting, or what that even means to lower their scores. Or how putting can mask being short or really bad off the tee as a long term strategy for scoring well.

I agree.
The phrase is about winning (dough) not about length of drives or about improvement in the longer term.

 

[Deleted member 31467]

I've said my piece.
I'm out

Me too, I'm going to leave all the mid to high handicappers to figure it out for themselves. They can try to smash it as far as they want, I don't care.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

I've said my piece.
I'm out

Still open to discussing differences of opinion I see?

I’ve asked a number of times for someone to explain how we can improve our putting to overcome deficiencies in our long games. So far I’ve not had a response.

I’m averaging around 33 puts per round. Not far of a tour pro. So what’s the difference? Long game!

How do I make up for that with my putting?

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Me too, I'm going to leave all the mid to high handicappers to figure it out for themselves. They can try to smash it as far as they want, I don't care.

 

[Bobthesock]

Who's better then?

Still open to discussing differences of opinion I see?

I’ve asked a number of times for someone to explain how we can improve our putting to overcome deficiencies in our long games. So far I’ve not had a response.

I’m averaging around 33 puts per round. Not far of a tour pro. So what’s the difference? Long game!

How do I make up for that with my putting?

If your putting is already maxed out then that is your answer, improve driving. As I have previously said, I'm an 8 handicapper and the main difference between me and my mid handicap mates is putting. We all hit it around the same. If I want to get lower I need to improve driving.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Me too, I'm going to leave all the mid to high handicappers to figure it out for themselves. They can try to smash it as far as they want, I don't care.

some of us low handicap guys are trying to do the same too, as we realise there are bigger gains to be had there and not blinded by the old way of thinking about golf.

 

[Jason.H]

If someone wants to improve their handicap, how about improving in all areas. It doesn’t have to be distance or putting, spend a bit of time on both

 

[Bobthesock]

some of us low handicap guys are trying to do the same too, as we realise there are bigger gains to be had there and not blinded by the old way of thinking about golf.

If you are already a low handicap then your putting is already good. The average 52 year old isn't going to miraculously find an extra 20 yards so for him learning to hole 6 footers is key

 

[Backsticks]

If you are already a low handicap then your putting is already good. The average 52 year old isn't going to miraculously find an extra 20 yards so for him learning to hole 6 footers is key

It helps nudge things in the right direction, but it is not key.
Whatever the level, its about 2 shots worth of every 10 shots score improvement. So a minority topic.


HANDICAP AVG. PUTTS PER ROUND AVG. SCORE
Best pro 27.7 69.1
Scratch 31.5 75.7
1-5 32.6 79.8
6-10 33.7 84.8
11-15 34.8 90
16-20 35.8 95.1
21-25 36.8 100.5
25+ 38.6 108.8
All 35 90.8
Sources: PGA Tour, MyGolfSpy

 

[Backsticks]

If you are already a low handicap then your putting is already good.

The opposite is more likely. If you are already low, then your long game is already good. You could be scratch long game but a 10 hc putter : you will still be off two. 10hc long game and scratch putter...unfortunately you are still off 8...

 

[King Julian]

King Julian learned to hit the ball further and now gets the ball past the coconut trees on the 11th hole.

 

[Deleted member 25575]

I’m not sure why we are all still discussing this, it’s fairly obvious that those who think putting and chipping is where the gains are to be made will forever think that and those who think long game and bombing it is where the gains are will equally think that. Each to their own, I’m sure some will benefit from one more than the other but we will never come to an agreement overall

 

[Deleted member 15717]

If you are already a low handicap then your putting is already good. The average 52 year old isn't going to miraculously find an extra 20 yards so for him learning to hole 6 footers is key

You realise that putting, on the whole, is a lot about luck? So many variables at play. You could read the putt, hit the perfect putt and still miss due to variability as the ball rolls across a living surface. Hitting a load of 6ft putts on the practice green can mean zero when out on the course.

At least with swing speed training, the floor that people swing at can be brought up. Gain a bit of extra yardage with each club is more valuable. Even hitting an 8i into a green over a 7i should see improvements.

 

[Voyager EMH]

The vast majority of this debate has been, and continues to be, about improvements in the longer term.
That is an interesting debate in its own way, but it is not what, "Drive for show and putt for dough" is about.
It is about winning on a particular day.
You do that mostly by holing putts.
That was Bobby Locke's experience and it is my experience.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If you can increase your swing speed without having a detrimental affect on your swing path, clubface direction at impact, angle of attack and your ability to find the sweet spot then go for it.

My dad once told me to ''hit it as hard as you can but no harder''
What does a 10 year old make of that?

…and I think it was John Jacobs who many years ago wrote…to hit it further, hit it better.

If I walk off a 450yd par 4 with a bogey having carried my tee shot 240yds into horrid rough but miss a 6ftr for my par I don’t blame the putt. The root cause of the bogey was the tee shot. Every shot after that was me trying to right the wrong of the tee shot.

And as far as the phrase ‘DFSPFD’ is concerned. I don’t hit the ball that far off the tee…maybe 240yds with run out in summer. But I get plenty of admiring and complimentary comments from other players about my accuracy and consistency off the tee. Rare, if ever, do folks caveat that with ‘though you don’t hit it that far’.

But I still must hole putts to make that consistency and accuracy worthwhile.

 

[Backsticks]

I’m not sure why we are all still discussing this, it’s fairly obvious that those who think putting and chipping is where the gains are to be made will forever think that and those who think long game and bombing it is where the gains are will equally think that. Each to their own, I’m sure some will benefit from one more than the other but we will never come to an agreement overall

I think its more a question of those who are informed and those who arent informed.
Its not just a question of people having their own different views that they have formed themselves, and a resulting debate on who might be right.

Those who follow the distance line are not smarter and did not come up with their position on their own. They have just read or heard what is now solid research that gives a clear answer.
Those not in that camp at the moment just havent read the litterature and up to date info on the topic. And without further info, simply presenting conclusions is never a great way to convince anyone.

I will post some links later, which will be helpful to those unconvinced, so far, that distance is king.

 

[Backsticks]

The vast majority of this debate has been, and continues to be, about improvements in the longer term.
That is an interesting debate in its own way, but it is not what, "Drive for show and putt for dough" is about.
It is about winning on a particular day.
You do that mostly by holing putts.
That was Bobby Locke's experience and it is my experience.

Yes, they are two different topics. General level of your game - hit it further and you will be a higher level golfer. And, hole a bunch of putts ona given day, and you will likely be at the best end of your range -and maybe win.
But the holing a bunch of putts cannot be made systematic. It moves you within a band defined by your length.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

The vast majority of this debate has been, and continues to be, about improvements in the longer term.
That is an interesting debate in its own way, but it is not what, "Drive for show and putt for dough" is about.
It is about winning on a particular day.
You do that mostly by holing putts.
That was Bobby Locke's experience and it is my experience.

I suspect most people would take that quote to mean putting is more important than driving. And lots of people think that is the case.

Which is what this all encompassing discussion is about.