Would you rather be a Good Driver or a Good Putter?

[Val]

You're kind of losing you're own argument there, the difference between Westwood and Mickleson and Tiger is that the latter two could putt. Tiger won several majors driving it all over the place because when it came to the crunch, he could putt.

I see what your getting at to an extent but the question is asked of the average golfer not the worlds best. The average golfer if wild from the tee won't ever put a score together regardless of how well he could putt. Tiger and phil at their best had an uncanny knack at getting up and down from the most horrible places on a golf course.

 

[connor]

with the state of my putting recently its putting for me! I carded 1 under H/C in a bounce game but i was 2 3 and 4 putting and i think i sank 2 one putts. So imagine what i could of had if i could putt haha.

 

[duncan mackie]

The OP was asking which you would prefer if you shot the same score with either but in any case I don't see why I should choose driving. The amateur golfer is probably being average at both disciplines rather than good at one nd bad at the other.

but on this basis, it has to be driving -

1. you make the same amount of 'dough' because the scores the same
2. you win on the 'show'
3. most importantly, you loose less balls

 

[swanny32]

As much as a love launching a ball down the middle of the fairway with my G10 driver, I have to say putting. I consider myself to be a pretty good putter, better than my handicap anyway. My putting has pulled me out of many holes over the years so it's only fair to give it some rep on here.

 

[JustOne]

Good driver or good putter?

I'd rather be a good iron player..... happy with driver and putter already.

 

[Dellboy]

Putter every time, you can always make up for a bad tee shot but once a putt is missed its gone.

 

[Chris1980]

Definitely putting as its saving my game at the mo as my driving has gone downhill recently!

 

[Val]

Putter every time, you can always make up for a bad tee shot but once a putt is missed its gone.

Might take you 3 shots to get out of the trees though or having to take an unplayable or 3 off the tee not to mention the dent in confidence every time you peg it up. Pro's and cons for both arguements.

Horses for courses I suppose.

 

[connor]

Might take you 3 shots to get out of the trees though or having to take an unplayable or 3 off the tee not to mention the dent in confidence every time you peg it up. Pro's and cons for both arguements.

Horses for courses I suppose.

thing is if the driver isnt working you can bag it and play a different club and still get to the green fairly comfortably! cant say the same for a putter. If a putter isnt working you up the creek without a paddle as there isnt a really a bail out shot like there is from a tee box. So i would rather a hot putter purely on that basis

 

[kid2]

I would consider myself a decent putter...So id have to go with being a better driver of the ball.

 

[LanDog]

I think that being a consistently long hitter who could shape the ball at will would mean that you would have more fun on the course and for me isn't that what it's all about. As long as I kept my same putting ability, but had an unbelievable driving ability I'd be delighted

 

[PPE]

Driving everyday. I'm sure it's just a macho thing though.

Two weeks ago I had a mare of a round. Couldn't putt, irons were all over the shop, pitching and chipping were awful. But I probably drove the ball better than I have done in ages.

Came off the 18th with a crap score but in a good mood because I drove the ball well . Go figure.

Yep, had those days and completely agree. I've always said that in Ametuer golf you can go round in 125 but hit one drive, one putt etc that just makes your day.

 

[PPE]

I suppose what I was trying to say was what gives you more satisfaction:-

1. Drive the ball well (say 300yrds down the centre of the fairway)

or

2. Holing a putt from 35ft

Again I would pick driving as I think that anybody can hole a putt, however there is far more technique and skill in hitting good drives.

 

[pbrown7582]

I'd take middle of fairway all day long,

 

[Essex_Stu]

Putting for me. You need to be able to putt on all 18 holes as opposed to hitting maybe 10-14 fairways with the driver.

 

[Val]

I suppose what I was trying to say was what gives you more satisfaction:-

1. Drive the ball well (say 300yrds down the centre of the fairway)

or

2. Holing a putt from 35ft

Again I would pick driving as I think that anybody can hole a putt, however there is far more technique and skill in hitting good drives.

Normally the 35 footer is for bogey though

 

[HickoryShaft]

If it was going to be for the same score whatever I guess putting as it would be great to one putt the last for a nice par but have hit a massive drive on there for 1 on a par 4 then 3 putt it would leave a sour taste. (I have seen this done by a playing partner by the way)

Its always nice to hit a fairway and set up a chance to get the green in regulation, however right now I think that 29 putts a round would be a great target so going with putting all the way.

 

[RGDave]

Good driver or good putter?

I'd rather be a good iron player..... happy with driver and putter already.

That's just showing off.

 

[Justman]

I'd be ecstatic if I could hit every fairway and take 36 putts. That'd be an improvement in both aspects for me!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I suppose what I was trying to say was what gives you more satisfaction:-

1. Drive the ball well (say 300yrds down the centre of the fairway)

or

2. Holing a putt from 35ft

Again I would pick driving as I think that anybody can hole a putt, however there is far more technique and skill in hitting good drives.

That's a different question. Holing a putt from 35ft doesn't make you a good putter, there's a lot of luck involved in getting one to drop from that far out.