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What to do with 100 ft putt

• cj19 8 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 4:29 AM

  What have players found is the best shot when you are on a big green like St Andrews and would rather hit a wedge than risk a 100 ft putt?

  It appears that WGT does not allow you to hit a flop shot in this situation, at least not one with full backspin.

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 4:37 AM

  You can use a full wedge or a punch.

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 5:15 AM

  Slightly hesitating here as whilst the L35 is, IMO, a little gem it's pushing it's range terribly (see forums on balance).

  Wedge is an option certainly and roughly speaking double the distance, then FBS full shot.

  Just personally I prefer to putt, always my first default choice IF the topography / green speed combined allow me to sensibly get a putter to it - see forums on basic green speeds, and use common sense for topography / inertia (roll).  100 feet (even with shallowest possible meter) with your putter though is pushing things IMO (balance thing as said).  Wind may also play a good part even with putting, especially over that distance.

  A few factors to consider as well as personal preference basically. I am very gung ho and know I go for things I should not safely which is why I ended up where I did in a RG at Andys (OK unfortunate bounce involved getting that far away but asking for trouble really going for gold),see HERE. As it was at Andys though thought worth showing.  Anyway I elected to putt as you can see and yes dropping was sheer luck, but basics (as described) would have left me tap in close.

• gmaster007 2,101 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 5:24 AM

  cj19:

  What have players found is the best shot when you are on a big green like St Andrews and would rather hit a wedge than risk a 100 ft putt?

  It appears that WGT does not allow you to hit a flop shot in this situation, at least not one with full backspin.

  a good rule of thumb would be to take off an additional 10%
  from that distance (depending on green speed),
  but a ding is an absolute must from that long,
  any slight deviation from a ding can really send the ball
  yards away from your line.

• CanineSupervisor 1,882 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 5:36 AM

  I prefer to putt as well. Just the way I play real golf too.

  Here's a replay from 2012 on the same hole on St. Andrews as Jimbo above.

  I totally agree with Jimbo. Putter balance and forgiveness have everything to do with putting on here. Notice I was using the Ghost putter at the time. It was great putter until the Versa came along.

  Using a punch or full shot can have advantages as well as disadvantages, as it takes some time and effort to get close without going to far away on certain green speeds and courses with rolling greens. WGT took away the use of ball spin on wedges on the green some time ago.

  Good luck.

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 5:43 AM

  You can't use FBS on a greenwedge Jimbog. If the green is pretty flat I'd go for the putt but if it has ridges or slopes then I'd wedge it. Just needs some practice to get it right.

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 5:49 AM

  courteneyfish:

  You can't use FBS on a greenwedge Jimbog.

  Quite correct no BS allowed on greens at all.  Quite forgot, and shows how often I try and wedge.

  Look topography is ultra important, and then personal preference really.  I would not go so far as to say must be pretty flat to putt as other considerations can be there, e.g. mostly flat then a good drop but a drop you understand (green speed knowledge) may mean putting is still preferred, but too much up and down or at a place you do not know the putt wedging may be best.  

  I used to wedge from say that front hollow at Andys B9 par 5, but knowing the putt now I prefer putting.  Hardly ever wedge basically, but it remains a useful shot even if some get upset by it.  I went slightly off topic from the 100 foot scenario, but think demonstrates the basic rationale appreciating gets personal just as much from anywhere IMO.

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 6:11 AM

  replay.aspx?ID=b86d3662 3a21 42e6 bd17 a08000e4ea95

  It's a handy shot from places like this.

   

• cj19 8 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 6:41 AM

  Courteney - that was exactly the shot that caused me to ask.  17th at St Andrews, I was a little further left than your replay and had the same mound to go over.  Looks like you used a pitch shot with no spin, I'm guessing 60 deg wedge?

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sat, Dec 6 2014 7:14 AM

  I never pitch. I expect it was a full. It was a long time ago.