Save Strokes By Putting From Off The Green
The good ol’ Texas wedge might have a place in your bag after all… We deep dived into some interesting short game stats to see who should be using their putter off the green and in what scenario it would play out the best. Because no matter what we might think, most of us don’t have a perfect lop shot in our bag, and a strong putt might not be as showy, but will likely be more effective.
When you have "some" fairway to putt through: 5 to 15 feet of fairway
Mid to high handicap players
- They will score an average of ~0.10 strokes better with a putter
- Their "worst putt" will have an average proximity that is 3 to 5 feet closer than their worst chip
- Their "best putt" will have an average proximity that is 1 to 2 feet closer than their best chip
Lower handicap players
- From longer distances 60+ feet to the hole, they score slightly better chipping
- Inside that distance they score better putting
- Lower handicap players have more options. Most should not be afraid to try either approach
When you have "A LOT" fairway to putt through: 15 to 25 feet of fairway
Mid to high handicap players
- They will score an average of ~0.15 to 0.25 strokes better with a putter
- Their "worst putt" will have an average proximity that is 5 to 6 feet closer than their worst chip
- Their "best putt" will have an average proximity that is 1 to 2 feet closer than their best chip
Lower handicap players
- They score about the same putting versus chipping
- Again - higher skilled players have more options
What many players forget is that little putts counts as much on the scorecard as the big hits. That being said there is definitely a special finesse that putting requires. Just look at Will Zalatoris, the recent FedEx Cup winner… his near-miss putts have prevented him from winning a few majors until a recent tweak finally brought him this big victory.
Here are some more answers our data can answer:
- Does time of day matter for putting performance?
- If your ball striking is good everywhere else during a round–do putting stats correspond?
- What is the average 2-putt distance across distances and skill level?
Check out the video below to get the answers!
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If you are interested in learning more about the numbers behind your short game, it is important to start tracking your on-course performance. Recently Arccos rolled out Enhanced Putting Stats that allow players to drill down into their greens performance for even more detailed clarity. Get started with Arccos today, to make sure your putting is in tip top shape.