Drive for show.....Putt for dough

[Southern Ca Boy]

which would you prefer?

It's a saying that we have all heard for as long as we have played this game. Question is if we had to choose one or the other which would we choose and why.

I've started this post since I've been hearing so much about the Finau brothers out in Utah. I saw Tony hitting some bombs on Friday, but also saw him hit some horrid short shots (not saying he is a bad player at all we all have them :shout:).

So It got me to thinking. If we could choose to hit 370 yard bombs and get alot of attention over it or have the ability to putt lights out and be in contention because of your scoring ability which would you choose?

obviously the Finau brothers and other players have had doors open up to them because people want to see the long ball, but would that be enough or would you want to win more often and be a more rounded golfer who makes more cuts and better overall results?

thanks!

[crew_138]

No brainer for me...

 

Putt for dough

[AirTime23]

Drive for show. Provided that my show drives are in play.

 

My putting's not stellar, but I'm losing the bulk of my shots with my driver. Even if I were to one putt every green, if the driver doesn't get the first ball in play, what good would it do?

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I think draining the loooooooooong putt is more important. Dough for sure.

[Golfchicago]

I'd rather score than hit the bomber. Go ahead call me practical, see if I care! I'd rather scramble and shoot a low score than crush it and score poorly.

[scotton]

This was more of a no brainer before bomb and gouge become popular, but it still has to be putting. One easy example: Tiger hits bad drives and good putts, scores well. Tiger hits good drives and bad putts, doesn't score well. A good putter can play with anybody.

[jcgrcya]

This was more of a no brainer before bomb and gouge become popular, but it still has to be putting. One easy example: Tiger hits bad drives and good putts, scores well. Tiger hits good drives and bad putts, doesn't score well. A good putter can play with anybody.

 

So true.

[bogeyk]

I would choose the putt for dough. A made putt can turn a par into birdie or a bogey into a par. A drive is the first shot of a hole and you have a shot or two to make up for a bad drive.

[mcbush25]

I don't care how far I hit as long as I am in decent shape for a next shot.

 

So with saying that I would much rather be able to putt lights out. If I could putt better I would be in much better shape. Putting is the key to lower scores.

[rosskoss]

The best iron/wedge ball striker would be my pick.

 

Every time I'm at the range, almost every single person around me has a driver in his hands. I'm happiest with my wedges and I pull out the driver only at the end for a few swings.

[Sam-Tee-Time]

Drive for show. Provided that my show drives are in play.

 

My putting's not stellar, but I'm losing the bulk of my shots with my driver. Even if I were to one putt every green, if the driver doesn't get the first ball in play, what good would it do?

 

I agree with this 100%. I'm good enough from tee-to-green and around the green, that I believe I could EASILY score some very stellar scores if I could just keep the ball in play. Driving O.B. or in the rough/trees/trouble/hazards is an automatic bogey, and generally a 2XBogey. I'd choose (accurate) driving anyday.

[yoonie]

I dunno if the old saying rings as true as it used to- I feel that nowadays, the ability to drive it long and leave short approach shots leaves you with shorter putts, and hence, more scoring opportunities. Of course, the ability to putt well allows you to score well even on your bad ball striking days, but the ability to drive long and straight leaves you w/ more easy scoring opportunities. A tour player probably leaves most of his wedges shots within 10 feet, and even the best putters don't sink that many more 15 footers than the worst, so IMO, the ability to leave yourself easy shots could be more beneficial to going low.

[nyhacker]

For me it is the driving that loses me the most strokes when I snap one OB or in the trees. Very rarely have I put up a horrid number due to putting. Putting can certainly save strokes, but for my game damage control keeps the numbers lowers.

[TRAV1]

If I had to choose, putt for dough.

[d0n]

I'd probably rather drive. I can't putt worth a crap from 200+yds out. :shout: Usually if I can't get down the fairway, so many things are racing through my mind by the time I reach the green that I can't putt anyways.

[Baller]

I am going with the putting. Sand saves, up and downs, and converting everthing inside 12 feet equals lower scores. After you Drive a ball 320 yards you still have to put it on the green and make the putt. If you drive the green and three putt, its not taking advantage of the first shot. All 18 holes end on the green with the ball in the hole, and in order to that you have to putt it in the hole (unless you chip in or hole out)

[maskedman]

Putting and scoring, definitely. Nothing worse than bombing a beautiful drive only to butcher the approach, three putt, or both.

[Swingtheclub]

I think the higher handicappers will mostly say drive and the lower handicappers Putt.

 

 

For me Putting is is the answer.

 

Ask the question

 

Are Tiger and Phil the two best players in the world because of their driving or putting.

 

I think the answer to that question answers this thread.

[Southern Ca Boy]

Kenk there is no answer to this thread!

 

I wasn't looking for advice. I was just interested to see what the average golfer was thinking.

[Swingtheclub]

Kenk there is no answer to this thread!

 

I wasn't looking for advice. I was just interested to see what the average golfer was thinking.

 

I am sorry I really thought this was a question?

 

"It's a saying that we have all heard for as long as we have played this game. Question is if we had to choose one or the other which would we choose and why."

 

I thought I did both I answered your question and told you why.

 

I apologize if I misunderstood .

[jimb]

My short game keeps me in the crapper. Really!!! I drive it well. Hit my irons well, even long irons. But inside 30 yards I suck. I am not a bad putter either. I have got the David Pelz Shortgame Bible and I better start reading it again.

 

Driving is fun, but the essence of golf is scoring.

[gmlee86]

Id say putting/short game since a 2 foot putt counts the same on the scorecard as a 300 yard drive. I can smooth the ball 280 on average and hit maybe 12 or 13 greens a round but I lose my rounds with my short game by missing a lot of putts and hitting bad chips every now and then. So for me its "Putt for "

[bam15]

Putt for dough easily JB Holmes, and Bubba Watson are two of the longest drivers on tour but you dont see them winning like crazy, Yes its a heavy advantage to bomb it, but if you cant putt for dough they mean nothing.

[8thehardway]

You can recover from a bad drive but not from a missed putt.

[Shaitan]

I vote for hitting 75% of GIR over hitting it long or sinking every putt. But if I were to choose over the two, easily putt for dough. making those up/downs and birdie putts is far more rewarding then bombing one out there, even though bombing it feels good

[kawika5150]

Considering almost half of the strokes comes from putting, that would be my choice. I agree about keeping the ball in play off the tee, but you don't necessarily always have to use the driver to do this. If you're uncomfortable using the big stick, use a smaller/shorter one.

[Shaitan]

I vote for hitting 75% of GIR over hitting it long or sinking every putt. But if I were to choose over the two, easily putt for dough. making those up/downs and birdie putts is far more rewarding then bombing one out there, even though bombing it feels good

[ezra76]

Drive for show. I already average under 32ppr., if I had the drives I might actually practice putting as well, lol. No matter how much I practice, I'll never be a 300yd.+ hitter. Plus, if I'm driving it 320 and straight, I'm not going to have too many long putts. Put me inside 150 12 times and I'll be at least 4 under on the par 4's.

 

To me it's like asking "would you rather have a 97mph fastball or be able to throw a strike everytime?" Accuracy means nothing if I can only throw it 70.

[Southern Ca Boy]

Good to hear a little different answer on the last couple of posts! thanks guys!

[againstthegrain]

Well I have been able to teach myself to become a decent putter (still room for more improvement), but I haven't been able to teach myself to hit it 300 yds off the tee.