What's Worse: 50 Yds Away in Rough or 100 Ft Putt?

[dbuck]

Dave in Fl said it best-100 ft from a perfect lie is better than 150 feet from a bad lie.

[NJpatbee]

I will assume deep rough and would definitely take the 100 foot putt.  I believe I would 3 putt the majority of times while I would not be on the green most times at 50 yards from deep rough, making 4 strokes to get in likely.

[Buckeyebowman]

First of all, where on earth are you playing? The Old Course at St. Andrews? I don't know that I've ever faced a 100' putt in my entire golfing life! But, I've faced plenty of 50 yard pitches. Think I'd go with the pitch.

[billchao]

I know the "right" answer, but I'm also not a good putter from long distances and 50 yards is right in my wheelhouse for a 1/4 LW...

I'll still go with the putt I think. Not going to chunk that shot.

[dennyjones]

10 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

First of all, where on earth are you playing? The Old Course at St. Andrews? I don't know that I've ever faced a 100' putt in my entire golfing life! But, I've faced plenty of 50 yard pitches. Think I'd go with the pitch.

There is a course we played last year, Gailes in Oscoda, MI. that have very large greens.     It is a double green where two holes share a very, very large green.  Actually, there were a couple  greens like that.   One of my playing partners hit to the wrong flag and had about 150' to the correct pin and did get down with two putts. 

 

In response to the OP, for me, this is a no brainer...Putt every time.   Even if I three putt from that difference, that's better odds than chipping.

[saevel25]

I am think the issue here is that most people do not face 100 Ft putts and their information on them is unknown. As such, they rather take the answer of a 50 yard pitch shot because it's something they have faced before. Rather than realizing that the putt is actually the better option.

 

[Lihu]

On 12/22/2018 at 5:51 AM, saevel25 said:

I am think the issue here is that most people do not face 100 Ft putts and their information on them is unknown. As such, they rather take the answer of a 50 yard pitch shot because it's something they have faced before. Rather than realizing that the putt is actually the better option.

Either they’re really good or really bad 😂

[Fourputt]

On 12/17/2018 at 8:22 PM, David in FL said:

Ask the question this way...

...which is better, 150’ away from a bad lie, or 100’ away from a perfect lie?

Case closed.

 

Doink!!  No contest.  If you can't regularly get the 100 foot putt closer than the 150 foot pitch, then you need more time on the practice green.  Too many variables in that 150 foot pitch, including lie and how badly you may have short-sided yourself.  While I don't fear a 50 yard pitch, I'm MUCH more comfortable putting than I am chipping when given a choice.

[JayJB]

I would take the putt. Last tourney of the summer I faced a 2 tier 40 footer small right lip break at the end of the putt, didn’t know that till after the tier. It was my hole in one if I never make one the foursome was in screams lol.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Neither one, really. I know I'll get down in three from either place.

[lastings]

how did this thread go 3 pages?  

150 feet away is worse.   I don't care if that lie is deep rough, rough, fairway, tee box, fringe or green.   50 feet closer and on the putting surface is always better.   

 

 

 

[klineka]

1 hour ago, The Recreational Golfer said:

Neither one, really. I know I'll get down in three from either place.

Unlikely, especially from 50 yards in the rough.

PGA tour players take on average 2.78 strokes to hole out from 40 yards and 2.91 strokes to hole out from 60 yards, so it's likely that from 50 yards that average is right around 2.83-2.84 strokes. So unless your short game is close to PGA tour level, it's unlikely that you will average holing out in 3.0 strokes from 50 yds in the rough.

Let's look at it a different way. Last year on the PGA tour, on shots from 30-50 yards, the tour average proximity was roughly 12' 2". (I believe that is on all shots, both fairway and rough) Let's estimate and say that for a 9.5 handicap golfer like yourself, that number on average is probably close to 20'. (if not further) And the 12' and 20' numbers are all inclusive of 30-50 yard shots from the fairway and rough, so the number would be even higher for both groups of golfers if you just looked at 50 yard shots from the rough.

The average number of putts for a scratch golfer to hole out from 20 feet is 1.89, and for a 90-golfer it is 2.02. Add those to your initial 50 yard shot, and that shows that even a scratch golfer would have to have a pretty solid short game to average under 3.0 strokes to hole out from 50 yards in the rough, which makes me believe that it would be even less likely for a 9.5 handicap to average 3.0 or lower strokes to hole out from 50 yards in the rough.