Do you count the stroke if you "weren't trying"?

[jbw749]

You walk up to a 4 footer and slap at it with 1 hand on the putter and miss. Maybe you are rushed from playing through or just by yourself trying to play fast. How do you score it?

[MetaGolfer]

It counts. I see this all the time. It's a mental thing that they're "better than" the "stupid putt".

[Jagpilotohio]

You don’t bother writing down a “score” if you arent going to play by the rules.

 

What’s the point? Just call it practice and do whatever you want.

[getitdaily]

You don’t bother writing down a “score” if you arent going to play by the rules.

 

What’s the point? Just call it practice and do whatever you want.

 

2nd this. 4 feet is very misable. I won't count it if it's 6 inches away and I slap at it, I'll usually try some sort of trick shot type stroke from.6 inches to a foot...cut across the face, left handed with a right handed putter, putt between my legs.

 

But 4 feet?

[jpdx]

def not "rushing" or just swatting at it one handed with a 4ft'er...it's a stroke. i'm not trying if it's a 6in or 3in but if I miss i'll still count it.

[nsxguy]

You walk up to a 4 footer and slap at it with 1 hand on the putter and miss. Maybe you are rushed from playing through or just by yourself trying to play fast. How do you score it?

 

You missed it. You have to finish the hole to record an actual score.

 

But for handicap purposes you would count it as holed.

 

I believe the test is, if you do not complete a hole, for handicap purposes only, you mark down the score you would most likely have made had you completed the hole.

 

If, as in this case, you don't make a legitimate attempt at making the putt, you count it as holed, again, for handicap purposes only.

 

For a putt, if you would make the putt HALF the time or more, you count it as holed for handicap purposes.

 

I may be mistaken and if I am someone will come along and correct me but I'm pretty sure that's the way it works.

[wmblake2000]

You walk up to a 4 footer and slap at it with 1 hand on the putter and miss. Maybe you are rushed from playing through or just by yourself trying to play fast. How do you score it?

 

You missed it. You have to finish the hole to record an actual score.

 

But for handicap purposes you would count it as holed.

 

I believe the test is, if you do not complete a hole, for handicap purposes only, you mark down the score you would most likely have made had you completed the hole.

 

If, as in this case, you don't make a legitimate attempt at making the putt, you count it as holed, again, for handicap purposes only.

 

For a putt, if you would make the putt HALF the time or more, you count it as holed for handicap purposes.

 

I may be mistaken and if I am someone will come along and correct me but I'm pretty sure that's the way it works.

 

You got me curious. From what I understood after a quick google search on USGA site, unplayed holes (not played/not played under rules of golf) are scored according to players hdcp and hole rating. So if it’s a single stroke hole, for example, you’d record a bogey.

 

To OP: I got in the habit of doing what you describe. It’s a bad habit and I have stopped it. Sometimes it’s hard to take care on a short putt when there is a sense of time pressure but conceding a missable putt just makes it harder when you’re playing seriously.

 

Nsxguy ...Oops. I just saw a different section of USGA re hole not finished - and you’re right - record ‘the most likely’ score.

[TheDeanAbides]

It's an interesting question. For me, as soon as I do something like this - whether on the green or anywhere else on the course - the round is over as a scoring round because I don't deserve to count it. I'll then try and get my head back on and treat the round as practice.

[CallawayLefty]

When people give me putts I just pick them up. Makes it less ambiguous.

 

As for the post-give slap shot, I’ve never understood it. You’re going to write it down as a make no matter what you do, so why screw with your head and walk up and miss a half hearted attempt. Either reject the concession and putt and take the consequences or pick it up and move on.

 

In my experience it’s just a fear reaction. People want to prove they can make the short putt you just gave them, but since they’re fearful that they’ll actually miss it, they just walk up and slap at it so they can go with “I was just messing around.”

 

Go play in tournaments. People miss crazy short putts all the time. Then use it as your inspiration to get better from 4 feet and in. Then either putt or pick up after concession. But never half a** it.

 

Edit: and 4 feet is nowhere near the “good” mark. For me it’s more like 2 feet. I have friends I play with that I make putt from 18 inches.

[Krt22]

If you hit the ball you were trying, otherwise why not just pick it up

[CallawayLefty]

If you hit the ball you were trying, otherwise why not just pick it up

 

Exactly. It’s either good or not good. If you want to mess around after that, I guess it’s ok. I just think messing around on that is kind of stupid.

[dg_1983]

Folks must play a different game to me

[tdk8180]

If im not trying I dont value the score good or bad. I write it down, I just dont value it.

[Gautama]

Four feet? No way man, you need to see those down. Two...maybe a different story, but not really. You should make a rigorous habit of seeing the ball in the hole IMO. And if it's close enough that you can just shoo it in with no chance of missing, then that's your gimme range. But hole it anyway.

 

My father js one of those "not really trying" quick-rakers. Drives me crazy playing with him. Gotta be five strokes a round with "I would made that."

[Londoner]

Four feet? No way man, you need to see those down. Two...maybe a different story, but not really. You should make a rigorous habit of seeing the ball in the hole IMO. And if it's close enough that you can just shoo it in with no chance of missing, then that's your gimme range. But hole it anyway.

 

My father js one of those "not really trying" quick-rakers. Drives me crazy playing with him. Gotta be five strokes a round with "I would made that."

"No chance of missing" distance, tell that to Hale Irwin.

[Londoner]

When people give me putts I just pick them up. Makes it less ambiguous.

 

As for the post-give slap shot, I've never understood it. You're going to write it down as a make no matter what you do, so why screw with your head and walk up and miss a half hearted attempt. Either reject the concession and putt and take the consequences or pick it up and move on.

 

In my experience it's just a fear reaction. People want to prove they can make the short putt you just gave them, but since they're fearful that they'll actually miss it, they just walk up and slap at it so they can go with "I was just messing around."

 

Go play in tournaments. People miss crazy short putts all the time. Then use it as your inspiration to get better from 4 feet and in. Then either putt or pick up after concession. But never half a** it.

 

Edit: and 4 feet is nowhere near the "good" mark. For me it's more like 2 feet. I have friends I play with that I make putt from 18 inches.

 

I didn't think you could reject a concession. If its given as "good" you have to pick it up. Dont you?

[Gautama]

Four feet? No way man, you need to see those down. Two...maybe a different story, but not really. You should make a rigorous habit of seeing the ball in the hole IMO. And if it's close enough that you can just shoo it in with no chance of missing, then that's your gimme range. But hole it anyway.

 

My father js one of those "not really trying" quick-rakers. Drives me crazy playing with him. Gotta be five strokes a round with "I would made that."

"No chance of missing" distance, tell that to Hale Irwin.

 

Yep, exactly my point. People take gimmes because they actually know they can miss them...but you rarely see a guy pick up a tap in. The genuine gimmes we're all too happy to hole out!

[MaineMariner]

I'll go against the grain here somewhat: if a group is letting my group play through, I consider it an imperative to get out of their way quickly. On the putting green, I'll probably take one quick read before putting, no practice strokes. And yes, the gimmes are certainly going to be a little more forgiving than a regular situation, and I'm not going to count that against my score.

 

Why? Because my score matters to nobody but myself, and it makes me feel a tiny bit better about myself. I get one chance to play a week. I'm not going to punish myself or, worse, scrap the whole round (?!?), because of one gimme putt.

[carrera]

The answer has been said above. If you are playing by yourself, do what you want, because the score doesn't count for handicapping purposes. If you are playing with others, and are given a 4 ft putt (for pace of play purposes, or you are out of the hole in a match or $$ game), then for the score you post for your handicap you should record your most likely score or ESC. If you feel that means you put down a "make" for that 4-footer, then so be it...you are only possibly hurting yourself for handicap purposes.

 

One poster above said that he stops counting rounds whenever he has a hole or shot like that....that is not the way the handicap system works. You shouldn't abandon ship on posting a score for a round in that case. The handicap system provides for things like holes not played, etc.

 

It's no surprise that there are a lot of vanity caps out there...bad rounds are converted to "practice rounds" and realistic scores aren't posted on holes with gimmees.

[dg_1983]

Vanity cap central......it should be recorded before the round if it is a practise round or a scoring round....no wonder all you US 5 handicappers play like UK choppers ??

[jj9000]

Sometimes I give myself a Par or Birdie on the Tee Box...hit a half@ss drive...and pick up the ball on my way to the next tee box.

 

I either shoot Par or several strokes under Par every round...all in less than 45 minutes per round.

[MysteryV]

I find that I often rush 3 or 4 footers for pace of play purposes, and end up missing. While I hate taking the stoke, I do in fact count it as focus is one of the most difficult parts of golf imo, and this is, to some extent, a loss of focus.

 

Interestingly enough, I then start to focus on them and take my time, and end up missing them any way. :/

[MarlinFisher45]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.

[Krt22]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.

 

lol wut

[nsxguy]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.

 

[MarlinFisher45]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.

 

 

You must be im favor of selfishness and slow play. Let me guess you also want to have no personal accountability.

[nsxguy]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.

 

 

You must be im favor of selfishness and slow play. Let me guess you also want to have no personal accountability.

 

No personal accountability ? Say what ?

 

Selfishness and slow play ? Because I expect myself, and everybody else BTW, to putt out 5 footers ? I'd say you can't make this stuff up but apparently you can. Maybe we should start a poll and find out how many serious players would routinely give 5 footers. I'd wager you'd be awfully lonely in that poll.

 

You're a riot. Giving 5 footers. :cheesy: You da man !!! :good:

[Steele47]

For those of you who use normal length putters. Lay it on the ground and add a foot, then ask yourself if that's a 'gimme'.

[marte]

And I thought i'd never break 80 again. Now I'm optomistic about breaking par for the first time.

 

Sometimes I give myself a Par or Birdie on the Tee Box...hit a half@ss drive...and pick up the ball on my way to the next tee box.

 

I either shoot Par or several strokes under Par every round...all in less than 45 minutes per round.

[augustgolf]

Disagree with everyone pretty much. If it’s inside 5 feet, it’s good. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, they are likely bogey golf hackers that are purposely contributing to a slower pace of play. The world doesnt revolve around every player, only the fancy pants elites at their clubs can afford to hit every stroke. If you are doing it on a muni, you are selfish and contributing to the downfall of the game, plain and simple.