New shot stat to consider

Ok, I'm old.  Started working hard on the short game past few seasons as a way to keep scores under control.

A new stat I've been keeping while reviewing rounds is how many 'truly makeable putts' went in.  How many were missed?  What is my 'make' percentage from 5' and in.

Part of my short-game practice routine is holing a good number of 2-5' putts from all sides of two or three practice green holes.  When reviewing a round, most players can admit to missing 2-4 putts they should have made over 18 holes.  I used to miss more than my share.

I've been keeping this stat all season.  Last two weeks I didn't miss a single 'makeable' putt.  In 7 league 9-hole rounds this season I've only missed three.  Almost never 3-putt anymore, either.  Practicing the short putts is definitely paying off.  It will for you, too if you have the time.

Hope this idea helps someone out there!

dave

Dave S.  Good topic.  I know Brandt Snedeker focuses heavily on putting inside 10ft.  I believe he practices 5ft putts the most during his routine?  And he is one of the best putters on tour.

Holing putts inside of 10' is huge.....

This is what makes or breaks a round.

Absolutely. Practicing putts around 5' is also not very common from what I see on my home course's practice green. I always see guys practicing 15' or longer, or they are within 3' of the hole. I never understood the concept of practicing 20' putts when you will typically be within 12' most of the time. I usually practice between 5' and 8'. Then, I'll hit a few 12' to 15' slingers  to get my distance and feel down for the longer putts and I'm ready for my round, but they're not my main focus.

Because when your hit with a 20' putt and you suddenly leave yourself with a 5-10' putt for par or worse, your wondering why you just don't practice them enough so you have a tap in. Not even pro's are inside of 12' most of the time. Maybe 50% of the time due to 2nd putts or chips. But majority of the time pro's are outside of 15' for there first putt.

By inside of 12', I mean your second putt as well and not primarily your GIR first putt. By all means I did not mean I am within 12' on average on every green. If that were the case I would be scratch and not flirting with 10.

I typically keep my practice strokes inside of 12' because this is typically where I am going to be on my good days on Par 3s, as well as the area where my typical second putt is coming from on longer strokes.

In my opinion, golfers are wasting their time focusing primarily on putts outside of 15' on a practice green. This is just my opinion, but I find I am much better off practicing within 5-8' for most of my putts. Then, I'll move back and take a few from 12-15 to get my green speed and distance judgement down, but only a few (2-3 putts, not 80% of my practice time).'

Pressure putts are typically inside of 10ft... If you're a quality player, most of the pressure putts will be inside 5ft.  Those are the putts you need to make.  And will make or break your round.  Up-and-down par putts, birdie putts.

I agree, they are important. But like every other aspect of the game. I rather have some experience hitting putts than just on course experience. Nothing like facing a 50' uphill putt that you never had before. Its kinda nice to know that i have hit those putts outside a round of golf. Absolutely 10' and is important. The shear odds of making anything outside of 20' is tough, i think its in the 15-20% range at highest. So, the odds really makes the practice time less important just by the difficulty of the putts. So yes, primarily inside 10' is were the main focus should be. I just don't like to be blind sided by a putt.

I don't like to be blind sided either.  That is why I spend a majority of my time on ball striking and grooving my swing.  And when I practice putting, I roll some longer putts to get a feel for the green speed.  But then primarily focus on 10' and in.  By focusing on my ball striking... I don't have to worry about those 50' up hill putts, that I've never had.

Putting practice pays off again last night.  Made two 8-10 footers to save par.  Made several other 5' putts and a downhill 6 footer for birdie that had I missed, would have definitely been in that 3-putt category.  No 3-putt greens again last night.

20 minutes prior to starting my league round last night I holed another 30 or so 3-6 footers from all sides of 3 different holes.  Before finishing, I lagged about 10 putts in the 20-30 range.  Only had one of those all day and left it, (grumble) a foot short.

dave