Would you rather

[Prodigy]

ok lets say you dont know how to swing a club or putt would you rather hit every green in regulation or make every putt?

[sonicblue]

Don't get me wrong, putting is where you go low, but there's so many variables in putting, and it's so unforgiving, when I'm making a lot of putts, there's something about it that just feels like a lot of luck. However, when you're knocking wedges, 7-irons, 5-irons, high in the air, with a soft landing, and the ball calmly settles on that little patch of perfectly manicured grass, 100, 150 or 180 yards away, it's very satisfying to me.

[$2 Nassau]

Hit every green in reg for me. You can make every putt but if it's for a 7 it really doesn't matter. Hit every GIR and even if you 3 putt half of them you still shoot +9. Any decent putting at all and you are in the 70's every single time.

[ettsn]

$2 nailed it. GIR gives you better putting chances. If your first putt is your seventh stroke, who cares if you hole it?

[Prodigy]

very true thanks for pointing out the flaws guys

[iacas]

I voted "make every putt."

I could hit every green, but I'm going to take about 1.8 putts per green in regulation. That's 33 putts or so. Since I've hit every GIR (36 shots), that's a 69. That's -3 and not too shabby.

I hit about 8-12 GIR per round, and when I don't hit a GIR, I'm close to it. Knowing that regardless of where I am I'm going to make the putt takes a lot of pressure off the short game. So let's say I hit 8 GIR and miss 10: that's 10 pars (since I'll be on in one over regulation) and 8 birdies, or -8. I could even mix in three or four one-putt bogeys (very unlikely I'd have that many) and still beat my "every GIR" score.

Obviously hitting every GIR looks more attractive the less GIR you hit now. With as few as 5 GIR, making every putt looks pretty attractive so long as you're at least NEAR almost every other green in regulation (so your first and only putts are for par).

Besides, you know what they say about the guy that can scramble. This is why... making putts is not only a great way to go low, but it's also demoralizing to any opponents. Plus, think of all the barkies, sandies, etc. you'd win!

[M-benzw203]

im with iacas normally my worst score is a boggy therefore if i can only one put pars all day long but takin into consideration for a newbie putting is still the way to go beause on averge it takes atleast to puts to get the ball int he cup while a gir you only need on shot the traditional way of making par is a good drive, then hit into the middle of the green, miss your birddy and tap in for par

[Golf4life]

Making putts means you're clutch. I'll take that any day

[Dyna]

I can understand Where Erik is coming from & certainly can see the better golfers choosing putts, but for those of us who have troubles even getting G.I.R, thats the way I would have to vote.

Makes no sense to me to 1 putt if I took 4-5-6 shots to get to the green. I normally dont shoot anything over 2 putts anyways...well ok the occasional 3 putt will pop up every now & then. But I could hit every G.I.R & then 2 putt, that's scratch golf & even with a 3 putt thrown in every now & then it's still darn good.

[Golf4life]

Makes no sense to me to 1 putt if I took 4-5-6 shots to get to the green. I normally dont shoot anything over 2 putts anyways...well ok the occasional 3 putt will pop up every now & then. But I could hit every G.I.R & then 2 putt, that's scratch golf & even with a 3 putt thrown in every now & then it's still darn good.

I think the spirit of this poll is really, if you had to put your money when it counts the most, what situation would you rather have? Not sure if this is meant to be taken to such extremes of 6+ shots or 3+ putts. Realistically i dont believe you can be that extreme from one aspect of your game to another.

[BluesMan]

I normally hit nearly every green in at the most 3 shots. Probably GIR 40%. Maybe 4 shots onto the green once a round.

I would almost always shoot below par if I sunk every putt, while as I would have to sink lots of putts from long distance if I hit every GIR.

[PAR GOLF]

DEFINATELY HIT EVERY GREEN. Would rather have to work on improving my putting game

[Mr. Writing Desk]

I average 34.3 putts per round. If I make every putt, that takes 16.3 strokes off of every round. Suddenly I'm a scratch golfer.

I hit exactly one third of my greens. Looking at my stats, I can't figure out how many shots I waste getting to the green, but it certainly isn't 16 strokes per round, or three-quarters of a stroke per hole.

This is an no-brainer for me: I'll take the putts.

[Mhinderaker]

I would deeeeeeeefinitely take the putts.

I usually hit 10-12 GIRs per round and that would easily have me in the 60s every single round.

[Dyna]

I changed my mind after playing 9 holes today. Definitely would rather make every putt. When I compare that to making every G.I.R with todays rd, I would have saved 2 strokes by going with the putts.

[putterboy]

putt for the dough!

[TheGolfer]

I'd choose 'make every putt', then tee off with the putter

[Prodigy]

I'd choose 'make every putt', then tee off with the putter

haha thats a good point so go out there and shoot a 18