Not really a fair experiment taking the absolute best in putting but only adding 20 to your drives. More likely, add 80-100 to your drives and moving them onto a better line.
The great drive for dough putt for show debate thread.
Not really a fair experiment taking the absolute best in putting but only adding 20 to your drives. More likely, add 80-100 to your drives and moving them onto a better line.
D-S
Well-known member
I don’t think number of putts per round is the best stat for who is the best putter, it probably just identifies who has just missed the most greens in regulation.
Putts per round is virtually useless as a measure of putting. Strokes gained putting is the useful measure.
(eg. Player misses all greens by a few feet. Chips and putts 17 times and holes one chip. 17 putts in the round. Does that mean they are a great putter ?)
(eg. Player misses all greens by a few feet. Chips and putts 17 times and holes one chip. 17 putts in the round. Does that mean they are a great putter ?)
Voyager EMH
Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
They might be, but impossible to tell from that round.
They have shown tremendous chipping ability.
D
Deleted member 25575
Guest
It was more about the argument that putting was a lottery/not a big differentiator, so take either the best or average and see how it nets out against a decent driver gain.
D
Deleted member 25575
Guest
Agreed but as a measure for the experiment using strokes gained wouldn’t really work
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Maybe I’m an outlier in this discussion, but as good but not very long as I am (usually) and accurate off the tee with driver; as relatively good as my short game 75yds in is; the limiting factor for me is that my iron play is generally pretty poor. Sort out my iron play and without me increasing my distance off the tee I can see me knocking 2.0 off my HI pretty sharpish. It’s a struggle, but one I am keen to engage in this year. Just wish it’d warm up a little…and I’d get out there more.
Voyager EMH
Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
When 8-times winner of European Order Of Merit, Colin Montgomerie was asked about what he might need to do in order to win a major, he said, "Tee-to-green I don't think I can get any better, but I need to hole more putts."
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were both great hitters, but each won their final major with great putting displays on the 4th day.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were both great hitters, but each won their final major with great putting displays on the 4th day.
KenL
Tour Rookie
Yes it does because they holed out every time.
Teebs
Newbie
Shotscope is really good for this level of data, for me in 2023 so far
Fairway in regulation - 72%
Greens in regulation - 49%
Up & down success rate - 47%
30.6 putts per round / average of 1.9 per hole, but i'm only making 40% of 3-6ft putts and 9% of 9-12ft...
I know exactly where I need to improve...
Fairway in regulation - 72%
Greens in regulation - 49%
Up & down success rate - 47%
30.6 putts per round / average of 1.9 per hole, but i'm only making 40% of 3-6ft putts and 9% of 9-12ft...
I know exactly where I need to improve...
bobmac
Major Champion
In 2011, Luke Donald was the first player to win both money lists on the PGA and European Tours in the same year.
At the time, he was ranked 147 th in driving distance and 1st in putting
At the time, he was ranked 147 th in driving distance and 1st in putting
I’m semi decent off the tee and generally straight but my putting is nothing short of atrocious, It’s that bad I’m going to get a lesson and hopefully it will give me a bit more confidence on the greens, Im basically the 3 putt king 
For me personally I’d say putting is more important
For me personally I’d say putting is more important
pendodave
Tour Rookie
3-6 ft putts covers a pretty broad make % for ams. 40% of 6 footers is pretty decent, 40% of 3 footers not so much.
Crow
Crow Person
Distance off the tee is a huge advantage, it often means you can carry the hazards, even for Pros where the course is supposedly set up for their length, but on our courses it makes a mockery of the hazards. Some have been moved over time but most courses Will have many if not all holes that were designed with hazards at driving distances from 1990 and before.
Handicaps are a distraction in this discussion as they're just a product of the sum of the golfer's abilities. Those abilities could be heavily weighted in one area making a poor driver or putter a good player.
The best players are good in all areas of the game but if you look at the very top, all players hit the ball a long way, you can't compete against the best on a 7,250+ yard course with a 250 yard drive.
And all courses should be 7,250+ yards these days to force the player to use the variety of clubs and shots that make the game interesting. (ie, not driver short iron on most par 4 holes and par 5s that need three shots)
Handicaps are a distraction in this discussion as they're just a product of the sum of the golfer's abilities. Those abilities could be heavily weighted in one area making a poor driver or putter a good player.
The best players are good in all areas of the game but if you look at the very top, all players hit the ball a long way, you can't compete against the best on a 7,250+ yard course with a 250 yard drive.
And all courses should be 7,250+ yards these days to force the player to use the variety of clubs and shots that make the game interesting. (ie, not driver short iron on most par 4 holes and par 5s that need three shots)
Teebs
Newbie
Agree.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I've said when this was discussed before... Think of strokeplay scoring in stableford
Driver will tell you if you'll even score on a hole, putter will tell you how many you'll score
Driver will tell you if you'll even score on a hole, putter will tell you how many you'll score
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
That's a very easy trade to make but the deal on the table is 40 yards shorter with driver and be a demon putter
Still Want to take it?
From 1ft. ?
KenL
Tour Rookie
I’m semi decent off the tee and generally straight but my putting is nothing short of atrocious, It’s that bad I’m going to get a lesson and hopefully it will give me a bit more confidence on the greens, Im basically the 3 putt king
For me personally I’d say putting is more important
Have you tried left hand low in combination with a grip like tour snsr. I'm way better on shorter putts these days.
KenL
Tour Rookie
Nobody chips to within 1 foot every time.
