Putts on GIR's

**cirem22** · October 6, 2009

So in reviewing my stats I found that my putting average on GIR's is worse than when I don't get a GIR. I think it is one of two reasons

1. When I DO get a GIR it usually lands in a bad green location or far from the pin

or

2. I feel pressure when I should par the whole since im on in regulation. and i choke under pressure.

some other reasons could be:

- Non GIR's result in a quality chip/pitch since im not far off the green
- after a GIR I go for a birdie instead of the safer two putt approach and put myself in a 3 putt situation.

Do you guys tend to have these issues or are your putts on GIR in line with the rest of your average putts?

**kpaulhus** · October 6, 2009

Thats weird. For mwe, looking at my stats, I usually always par the hole if I get a GIR. Its when I dont get the GIR I gain the strokes. Usually if I get a GIR though, even if the putt is within 10ft I try to get it 6 inches or so for a tap in. I think I have 3 putted 5 times that I had a GIR and thats becuase I tried to make the long Birdie putt and missed big time, causing me to have a tougher putt for par.

**zeg** · October 6, 2009

Not at all surprising or unusual for GIR holes to have higher putting averages from what I've seen (don't get enough GIR to have significant stats of my own...). Can't say whether you put the pressure on yourself or not, but the first effect is going to be big no matter what. Unless you're a miserable chipper, you'll be closer almost every time if you miss the green and chip on rather than rely on your long approach shot to put you on. This shouldn't be a problem though-- a 2-putt after a GIR is a par just the same as a 1-putt up and down. At least with the GIR you have a putt for birdie.

If you're putting differently when you have a birdie on the line, stop it!!

**plugged** · October 6, 2009

Your putts on greens that you do not reach in regulation will be less if most of your approach shots are just off the green and your short wedge shots are pretty good. IOW, if you can hit a lob wedge to within 10' every time, you should be one- or two-putting every time.

Personally, I am about even on both.

**sacm3bill** · October 6, 2009

Not at all surprising or unusual for GIR holes to have higher putting averages... Unless you're a miserable chipper, you'll be closer almost every time if you miss the green and chip on rather than rely on your long approach shot to put you on.

Your putts on greens that you do not reach in regulation will be less if most of your approach shots are just off the green and your short wedge shots are pretty good.

Yes, exactly.

Thats weird. For me, looking at my stats, I usually always par the hole if I get a GIR. Its when I dont get the GIR I gain the strokes.

He's not saying he scores better when he misses the green. He's saying his putting average is lower when he misses the green. As the other guys pointed out, this is to be expected.

**whetstone** · October 6, 2009

My approach to putting is to make the speed my first priority for anything outside of about 6ft, leaving myself a tap in for my second putt... and sometimes that first one actually falls.

**cirem22** · October 7, 2009

It sounds likes its not too uncommon to have a higher putting average on GIR's. That would mean it is more likely because of the landing location on the green. I guess when missing the green the chip/pitch shot is more accurate than the GIR's approach shot. I think after landing a GIR then not taking the risky birdie putt attempt could help my overall score.

**wrx_junki** · October 7, 2009

My putts per GIR is 2.1 and my average putts are 1.9. Not very good in either category.

**lumpuckeroo** · October 7, 2009

Do you guys tend to have these issues or are your putts on GIR in line with the rest of your average putts?

My GIR putts are higher then my average. I can contribute it to two things, I play a lot of older courses with small greens, so hitting them is a challenge. But they leave reasonable chip and putt situations, so I will average 4 to 6 one putt green per round. Second, when I do hit a green, I am pretty conservative on birdie putts, par is the score I am always looking to achieve, not birdie.

**zeg** · October 7, 2009

I think after landing a GIR then not taking the risky birdie putt attempt could help my overall score.

Yeah... every putt counts the same, so you just need to get where every putt is treated the same. Much easier said than done, but your best putt speed and line for a given position doesn't depend on how many strokes you've already taken.

Oh-- one other thought. Since counting putts is misleading, there are two other numbers that are better to use to look at your performance here. First, just look at your average score (relative to par) for GIR hit versus missed. You should see that you score better when you hit the GIR... this borders on being blatantly obvious, but if it's not true, then you really need to re-think your approach to birdie putts. Second is to look at number of putts versus length of first putt. Maybe divide this along GIR vs non-GIR. This tests the idea that the GIR putting average is higher simply because your first putt is longer. That's the usual assumption, and again, if you find differing statistics for GIR vs non-GIR, then you know what you need to focus on.

**JimmyDoesGolf** · October 7, 2009

I don't like that 2-putt instead of 3-putt school of thought. I'd much rather think 1-putt instead of 2-putt. I find a positive attitude to each putt makes it much more likely to drop.

Besides, I don't see what more risky about going for that birdie than going for a 2-putt. If you miss the hole by 3 feet you're not too bad, if you miss a 3 foot circle around the hole by 3 feet, you've left yourself an awkward par putt.

**Leftygolfer** · October 7, 2009

I think this should be expected. If you miss a green, a bad chip/pitch is 15 feet. I barely ever 3 putt from there. I often one putt.

Hit a green from 150, good shot is 20 feet. Could three putt.

I don't think it has anything to do with never. It is pure statistics.

**zeg** · October 7, 2009

I don't like that 2-putt instead of 3-putt school of thought. I'd much rather think 1-putt instead of 2-putt. I find a positive attitude to each putt makes it much more likely to drop.

Well put (putt?). I can only think of one reason why there'd be a difference between putting for a 1-putt vs 2-putt, which is that the ram-it-home option might be off the table since it becomes more important not to send the ball way past the hole. So really, aim to make every putt, but factor in wanting a makeable miss... not that different from general course management.

**Marinemike** · October 7, 2009

I don't really get what's risky about trying to make a 15 footer? Whether it's for birdie or par it's all about speed and line. Am I a simpleton who's missing a crucial mental dimension on the green or something? If I am, then I don't want it. I'm pretty happy with my 1.7 per green.

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Putts on GIR's

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