Pymm
* Ace Member *
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2016
- Messages
- 2,082
To preface my comment, I am new to the sport (less than 6 months) but have improved rapidly. I have only played in one tournament and am definitely a recreational player with no intention, really, of being anything else, at least in the foreseeable future.
I have noticed that when I have a birdie putt, even one with a fair chance of a rollaway, or one with trouble around the basket (water, woods, lava, whatever), I tend to go for it, sometimes ending up with a bogey for my efforts. When I have a par putt with trouble around, I will often play to not miss by much, so that my bogey is assured instead of something worse.
Logically, I know that I should not try to make the birdie but should lay up for a par but, emotionally, I want that birdie and am willing to risk a bogey to try to get it. I don't get many birdie opps, so each is pretty special. Conversely, I get lots of bogeys, so missing a par put and probably taking a bogey but potentially take a double seems acceptable. I feel that this is wrong and I would probably save myself a couple of strokes by playing smarter, but, you know, birdies! Do you guys do this also; do you act differently in a tournament round vice a casual round, etc.?
Obviously, this is for all putts outside my 20-25 foot comfort zone; anything inside that I am trying to make it, no matter the score.
I have noticed that when I have a birdie putt, even one with a fair chance of a rollaway, or one with trouble around the basket (water, woods, lava, whatever), I tend to go for it, sometimes ending up with a bogey for my efforts. When I have a par putt with trouble around, I will often play to not miss by much, so that my bogey is assured instead of something worse.
Logically, I know that I should not try to make the birdie but should lay up for a par but, emotionally, I want that birdie and am willing to risk a bogey to try to get it. I don't get many birdie opps, so each is pretty special. Conversely, I get lots of bogeys, so missing a par put and probably taking a bogey but potentially take a double seems acceptable. I feel that this is wrong and I would probably save myself a couple of strokes by playing smarter, but, you know, birdies! Do you guys do this also; do you act differently in a tournament round vice a casual round, etc.?
Obviously, this is for all putts outside my 20-25 foot comfort zone; anything inside that I am trying to make it, no matter the score.