Understanding the Impact of Hitting Greens in Regulation on Putting Performance
If you’ve ever analyzed your stats after a successful round of ball striking only to find you had a surprising number of putts, you’re not alone. Many golfers believe that as they hit more greens in regulation, their putting numbers should decline. This assumption seems logical—more greens hit should facilitate easier scoring and result in fewer putts. However, performance data tells a different story.
Data Analysis from Shot Scope
To dissect this phenomenon, Shot Scope conducted an extensive analysis utilizing a large dataset. The primary objective? To understand how an increase in greens in regulation (GIR) influences the total number of putts taken during a round.
Methodology
Shot Scope focused on two handicap categories: 15 handicaps and scratch golfers. They compared putting data across three round types for each group:
- Rounds with fewer greens than their personal average
- Rounds with an average number of greens
- Rounds with more greens than their personal average
Findings: Total Putts vs. Greens in Regulation
The following tables illustrate the relationship between greens hit and total putts for both handicap categories:
15 Handicap Golfers
| Greens Hit | Total Putts |
|---|---|
| 2 | 28.1 |
| 4 | 32.3 |
| 7 | 35.4 |
Observation: When 15 handicaps significantly increased their greens hit, their total putts escalated by over three per round.
Scratch Golfers
| Greens Hit | Total Putts |
|---|---|
| 7 | 27.4 |
| 10 | 31.1 |
| 13 | 32.6 |
Observation: Similar trends appeared among scratch golfers, where higher greens in regulation also led to increased total putts.
Why This Happens
The primary reason for this seemingly counterintuitive outcome is the factor of proximity to the hole. When a golfer hits a green in regulation, their initial putt typically comes from a distance of 20, 30, or even 40 feet. Conversely, when a golfer misses the green, they usually have the advantage of a closer chip or pitch, resulting in shorter first putts and more opportunities for tap-ins.
Key Insights
As greens in regulation increase:
- First-putt distance increases
- The risk of three-putts escalates
This means golfers are reaching the green sooner in the hole, which generally leads to attempting more putts from longer distances.
The Misleading Nature of Total Putts Per Round
Total putts per round can often obscure the true picture of putting performance. It indicates how many times you putted but doesn’t necessarily reflect how well you putted. In rounds characterized by improved ball striking, golfers may experience:
- Longer first putts
- Increased birdie opportunities
- Fewer chips and pitches
This combination can result in higher total putts, yet lower scores. Therefore, total putts alone is not a reliable metric for evaluating putting performance.
Alternative Metrics for Evaluating Putting
To gain a clearer understanding of your putting game, consider focusing on the following metrics instead of just total putts per round:
- Three-putts per round
- Lag putting performance from 20+ feet
- Putts per green in regulation
- Average first-putt distance
These metrics offer a more comprehensive view of your putting skills, helping you discern genuine improvements versus merely reaching the green sooner.
The Bottom Line
While hitting more greens in regulation does not guarantee a reduction in total putts, it does create better scoring opportunities. Two-putting is a preferable outcome compared to relying heavily on chip-and-putt scenarios. Focus on minimizing three-putts rather than solely on total putts to enhance your overall performance on the course.
