Putts per round

Was perusing the site and noted that I seem to be averaging about 36 putts per round of late. Could do better for sure but technically that's what you are supposed to average per round if you make the green in regulation.

However, on one of Darren's new tracking things, I noted that only equated to a 27 handicap although my handicap level of 14 was only 3 better at 33. I think even the pros struggle sometimes to break 30.

Was surprised by that as would have thought high handicappers would have a fair few 3 putt holes in there and would do well to average 36?

But maybe putting is one of the aspect of the game where there is the least difference between pros and the rest of us? 

Tim.

I'd tend to agree, Yesterday I shot 87 for the second time this week and got another handicap cut.

I had 41 putts (also shot 41 on the back 9) which works out to a 36 handicaper. With 1x4 putt and a few 3's (couple of these would have been from the edge of the green).

26 putts for me yesterday, including one 3 putt from 15 feet, and a gross scoreof 78... 6 over par.

My putting average is currently 29.75, call it 30.

But just an indication of how stats can be misleading. My lowest FIR is 50%, and is on the day I shot 2 under gross. My GIR for that round was also 50%, and is my 3rd best.

Brian, good work on the scores, I wish I could get anywhere near those figures.  Putting has always been a weeker side of my game, I know this without recording stats as I rarely one putt, mostly 2 and 3 putt. It is a side of my game I am going to focus on more than any other in the next 12 months. Il probably be one putting mostly then after taking 5 to hit the green!!!

David - I find excatly the same.

Yesterday I had good FIR and great GIR (compared to my average) and putting was messy.

If my GIR's are lower then my putting is normally ok'sh.

But again with this I think If your missing GIR's then the 3rd(or 4th) shot is normally closer to the green which means you could probably get it closer to the hole lowering the chances of 2+ putts.

Tim, I'm currently tweaking the stats.  The analysis is based on 100,000s of rounds but at present each handicap level is based on, the average of 1000s of rounds, for the almost perfect round played to exact handicap.  So in simple terms pretty close to 36 stableford points.

Interestingly the averages for each handicap saw the average score increase by 1 so the 1 handicap average score was 71 where as the 28 handicap perfect round was 99 and thus 18 handicap 89.

Now in hindsight, and in reality, it's highly unlikely that a golfer of a particular handicap will play to this exact average handicap every and thus in the UK there is a buffer zone within the handicap system that takes this into account.

Therefore the average stats will get tweaked everso over the next week, I'm currently running some more in-depth reports and analyse the data at Golfshake HQ and with a few Pros.

Brian, you are spot on FIR is almost a pointless stat and especialy so once you analse the tours.  I'll dig out some past analysis but it's interesting that FIR tends to have no correleation to the actual score whereas GIR will have a big impact on the score.

A more relevant and key FIR stat is actually when you miss where you miss ie left or right and this is something that will get added into the advance stat tracker, for those interested, in the next week.

The on course round recorders and visual shot trackers are quite a good tool for providing a visual representation and especially for off the tee direction and appraoch shots.  Analysing my own data showed I was always short on the approach and with my 1st putt!  obviously putting needs some work and I can't hit it as far as I think!

Regarsds, Darren.

The number of putts per round needs to be paired with length of putts to see how you are putting.

Two putting from 40ft is different from two putting from 10ft, yet still show a 2 putt green.

Also looking at GIR helps. One should not have many mised greens followed by a 3putt.

I keep record of the distance I finish when reaching the puttting surface and this helps me work out if I am putting well or not. A round of 36putts for a distance of 400ft is not too bad, but if the distance is under 200ft for 36putts, it's been a bad day out there.

TheLyth

Another stat we will be adding shortly, for those intereted, 1st putt distance.

Like The Lyth says 3 putts isn't so bad from 60ft+ but is shocking from 10ft !!!

We have a few greens on my course that one could easily 3 putt from less than 10ft.

36 putts is a good round, I can assure you. Both Russ Middleton and Stuart Govan took 42 putts on my course.

I'd like to play your course John, it sounds like a beast!

Dan, you are correct in your assertion that the pro's hole a lot of  very long putts in comparison to the average amateur, but i feel the reason for this is that every tournament course is manicured up to the eyeballs, making every aspect of the game a lot easier than us mere mortals who have to play with rough let to grow wild, bunkers that leave a lot to be desired and putting surfaces that do not always run true.

I agree with you there John, It is always easier to hole puts when they stay on there intended line, Also the Pro's on tour are putting on top quality greens with almost the same speed week in week out you watch how they struggle to find the pace when the greens aren't running at normal tour speed.

Good point about manicured greens. When we play at private courses on work society days they always seem noticeably quicker than I am used to but once you get used to it think it is generally easier.

Strangely there is a public footpath through the exclusive Wisley course not far from me and when running out way that way at dusk one evening, I took the opportunity to virtually play a few holes. When looking for the tee I was puzzled why I could only seem to find small greens. As it turned out they were the tees! Think what that the actual greens were like...

Yeah the pros do hole an awful lot of putts and do lots up of downs but in the Walker Cup yesterday seemed like lots of makeable ones were slipping by to. I guess those guys are still young enough to hold back on the long putters just yet.