gimmies add up

[Augustabound]

A 3 foot gimme?

A club pro playing with someone barely able to break 90.

I'm not sure if the pro's intent was to teach my Uncle a lesson from the start or not, but yes 3' was good for this guy playing someone he'd have to give a stroke per hole to if they were playing for something.

[Jodastra]

I never console a putt. I've missed that 4 inch, downhill putt. And I've never done match play until this weekend...ciest la vie...

[mvmac]

I never console a putt. I've missed that 4 inch, downhill putt. And I've never done match play until this weekend...ciest la vie...

A 4 inch putt is good.  I suggest you go take a look at a ruler.

[saevel25]

How can you miss a putt that is shorter than the diameter of the hole?

[Golfingdad]

I never console a putt.

me neither. It is the putts effing fault that it didn't go in, not mine! Why should I feel bad at all for that putt??

[barbm12thtee]

me neither. It is the putts effing fault that it didn't go in, not mine! Why should I feel bad at all for that putt??

[BuckeyeNut]

I don't care if people give themselves putts. I really don't.....

If there is skin in the game, we hole everything.  No exceptions....

[Moppy]

I just don't get gimmies. I payed good money to putt that ball.

[Maddog10]

My bro-in-law was in for a rude awakening when he played his first tournament. He had been playing well and posting good scores when raking all those 2 footers without finishing them out. Well in the tournament he missed 4 or 5 putts within 3 feet and was furious. I knew it would happen because he hadn't attempted a 3 footer in probably two months, but I never said a word and just let the scorecard teach him a lesson. Following the tournament, he has holed out every round since and has become much better at those short putts.

[TJBam]

me neither. It is the putts effing fault that it didn't go in, not mine! Why should I feel bad at all for that putt??

LOL I had this same reaction.  I imagined the guy consoling his putt after missing it.

[Nutter]

I have no problem being a prick.  I'd answer him:  "I don't know dude, I haven't seen you make anything within 5 feet all day."

My dad plays with a guy that picks up any putt that's 5 feet or closer, he'll laugh and say "that guy's never seen a 5 footer he couldn't make".

[newtogolf]

We usually don't play for money but last week one of our buddies was feeling full of himself and suggested we put some cash on the game.  We agreed on one condition, we play by the USGA rules, no gimme putts, no mulligans, no foot wedges.  It was 3 on 1 and he had already wedged his foot so deep in his mouth he wasn't going to back off from his cocky stance so he agreed.  Long story short, this guy is a 12 handicap but even I beat him by 4 strokes straight up, he shot a 96.

He kept whining about having to putt out 2 footers but in reality they were closer to 3 footers and he missed half of them.  I understand the role gimme putts have in match play but in stroke play they do more harm than good.

[Ernest Jones]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the sound of a golf ball rattling into a cup. I wouldn't want to deprive myself of that joy. Besides it took a lot of hard work and drama to get close enough to putt it out so why the hell would I give up now that it's within "gimmie" range???????

[rkim291968]

Sometimes, when everyone in the group sucks at putting (happens a lot on weekend warrior rounds), and routinely picking up their 3 footers, I hate to be the only one in the group to line up 3 footers and (worse yet?) knocking them in.  But hey, I am trying to establish an official score and need to miss some of those gimmie shots for my sandbag ....

[Dave2512]

That's why I spend 10-15 minutes after my morning and evening cardio practicing 3-5 foot putts. I do it every day. Confidence and expectations are big for me. I feel more comfortable standing over a 30 foot putt because the goal is usually just to lag it close enough to tap in. The 5 foot and in putts are usually to save par or make a birdie and there's a little more anxiety involved. The days I putt well are the days I stand over those putts knowing it's going in. The days I suffer 3 putts is when I am second guessing myself. Making those putts leads to confidence everywhere on the course for me.