sweaty sock
Hacker
Out.
The great drive for dough putt for show debate thread.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
So Rory, Scotty, Spieth & Cantlay all got near the top due to their stellar long games, but didn't putt as well as Kitayama or English, so didn't beat them.
As such it agrees to my point. To make a fortune on the PGA tour you need a great long game. To get over the line you need that long game, and to have a great putting week.
Those who have "poorer" long games do win occasionally, but don't seem to be at the top end of leaderboards as often.
I'd agree, at 58, I'm not likely to get too much of a gain in distance now, in fact it's downhill all the way. Alas I don't practice but if I did, putting would have to be it. Worked before, it was improving my putting that originally got me from 6/7 for years down to cat1 and below.
sunshine
Well-known member
“Drive for show putt for dough” applies on tour where the top ten is stacked with bombers who can all send it 300+ yards. The winner is the golfer with the hot putter that week.
The short hitter typically isn’t anywhere near the first page of the leaderboard, their putting skills are irrelevant.
People who use the phrase “Drive for show putt for dough” in the context of handicap golf also believe that a single golfer has no standing on the course.
The short hitter typically isn’t anywhere near the first page of the leaderboard, their putting skills are irrelevant.
People who use the phrase “Drive for show putt for dough” in the context of handicap golf also believe that a single golfer has no standing on the course.
Neilds
Assistant Pro
Just goes to show you can prove any theory with stats, if you pick the right ones
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Just goes to show you can prove any theory with stats, if you pick the right ones
Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
The adage "Drive for show and putt for dough” or similar wording was coined by and repeated by professional golfers, about professional golfers. It doesn’t really translate in the completely different world of amateur golf. Other sports have similar adages – e.g. bowling "Strike for show but spare for dough"
Just some examples of early appearances of the saying:-
1928 John Farrell U S Open winner “We drive for pleasure, but we putt for money.”
1938 Tommy Armour “We drive for pleasure and we putt for dough,”
1939 Gene Sarazen “you drive for show—but putt for dough, and that about tells the story”
The list goes on and on. These weren’t amateur golfers spouting their opinions on a golf forum, they actually knew what they were talking about and “making dough” was their job. As far as I'm aware, we have only had one golf professional comment on this thread and, unsurprisingly, his opinion matched the above - but of course many on here know better
Just some examples of early appearances of the saying:-
1928 John Farrell U S Open winner “We drive for pleasure, but we putt for money.”
1938 Tommy Armour “We drive for pleasure and we putt for dough,”
1939 Gene Sarazen “you drive for show—but putt for dough, and that about tells the story”
The list goes on and on. These weren’t amateur golfers spouting their opinions on a golf forum, they actually knew what they were talking about and “making dough” was their job. As far as I'm aware, we have only had one golf professional comment on this thread and, unsurprisingly, his opinion matched the above - but of course many on here know better
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Maybe we should update it - "drive for show, putt for pro shop vouchers."The adage "Drive for show and putt for dough” or similar wording was coined by and repeated by professional golfers, about professional golfers. It doesn’t really translate in the completely different world of amateur golf. Other sports have similar adages – e.g. bowling "Strike for show but spare for dough"
Just some examples of early appearances of the saying:-
1928 John Farrell U S Open winner “We drive for pleasure, but we putt for money.”
1938 Tommy Armour “We drive for pleasure and we putt for dough,”
1939 Gene Sarazen “you drive for show—but putt for dough, and that about tells the story”
The list goes on and on. These weren’t amateur golfers spouting their opinions on a golf forum, they actually knew what they were talking about and “making dough” was their job. As far as I'm aware, we have only had one golf professional comment on this thread and, unsurprisingly, his opinion matched the above - but of course many on here know better
sjw
Well-known member
As far as I'm aware, we have only had one golf professional comment on this thread and, unsurprisingly, his opinion matched the above - but of course many on here know better
Not sure what point you're trying to make here. If we've only had one pro, and his opinion matched that of the better players, then it follows that the majority of people replying are handicap golfers, in which case they'd be right to disagree. You've said yourself that the DFSPFD applies to pros only.
D
Deleted member 29109
Guest
But by laying back you are probably giving up proximity with your second shot. Your shot pattern with a mid iron is more than likely smaller than that of a long iron. The further you are away the higher you score is likely to be.
Giving up 30 yards is a lot. Then happens when you then hit the safe shot into the rough? Because people will as we generally aren’t that much more accurate with a 3 wood or long iron than we are with a driver.
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Really? Even the worse players I know keep the ball in play better with shorter the club in hand?
Not trying to start a debate, just find that a bit mad if its true!
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I believe that statistically the difference in accuracy is quite small between driver & FW woods
D
Deleted member 29109
Guest
Debate (rather than pointless arguing) is fun, and makes things interesting.
By keeping in play do you mean on the planet? In play to me is not OB or in a penalty area and with a shot to the green. So, I count the rough as in play.
If you mean, on the fairway, then the improvement in % of fairways hit is low single digits.
Even the top pros regularly miss fairways with woods and long irons.
If a player can’t keep their driver shots in the same postcode then it is stupid them hitting driver. However, what happens when they duff a “safe” club off the tee or send one into the jungle? They are then playing from much further away and are still in trouble
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Yeah in play to me would mean on the right hole and no seriously penal area (the woods) or a hazard
Also I'm thinking of handicappers that are a lot higher than 20.
I guess the handicap/ golfing ability of the player is the biggest factor, I know guys that would be better never using a driver/ wood - but it wouldn't lead to great scores, just better scores than they are making now and probably a lower handicap.
If they wanted a handicap sub 20, they're going to be having to hit the bigger sticks.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
One of the reasons I think the 'drive for show' mentality is outdated is the advancement in drivers over the last 10-20 years. Personally I'd say I hit driver better than I do 3 wood, and as BIMguy says a lot of people are seeing negligible difference. For me it's just because the driver face is enormous - it gives me loads of confidence and feels pretty hard to whiff it or duff it, compared to say a fairway wood where the head is half the size. In the past perhaps that wasn't quite the case.
YandaB
Newbie
I wonder if this has any bearing on the debate?
"The rhyme-as-reason effect is a cognitive bias that makes people more likely to believe statements that contain a rhyme, compared to statements that don’t."
"The rhyme-as-reason effect is a cognitive bias that makes people more likely to believe statements that contain a rhyme, compared to statements that don’t."
Jason.H
Well-known member
My playing partner leaves his driver at home and uses his 3 wood. He can’t reach any of the long par 4,s in regulation and his Sunday best is 180 yards with it and he plays off a 9 handicap. He’s a great putter.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I don't know if you're right, but if you are, I'll be contrite
RichA
Well-known member
I understand, but whether it's a long drive and a mid iron or a short drive and a long iron, I'm probably missing the green 90% of the time from outside 150 yards. My point is that for my game at my club I feel that it's generally the success of the short pitch or chip that has most influence on whether I walk away with par, bogey or double.
Again, completely personal, anecdotal evidence, but in 2021 I was very accepting of my ability (lack of) and spent the Summer tapping driver somewhere safe, tapping an iron somewhere safe, chipping towards the hole and putting once or twice. Shorter par 4s I would just hit 2 9-irons and mostly get a par. I won stuff and my HI tumbled.
In 2022 I decided to go for it. Big drives were launched and GIR was the objective on every hole. It was a very bad year. Later in 2022 and currently I'm trying to dial it down a bit but it's very hard to go back to being happy with hitting it shorter, even when experience tells me it was more successful.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I'm not sure that works since it could just as easily be 'putt for show, drive for dough'.
