Quick Poll: The Gimme Putt?

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By Mike D., Titleist Staff

  • 18 Likes
  • 49 Replies
  1. Team Titleist Staff

    Hey Team Titleist, 

    For this latest quick poll, we wanted to hear your thoughts about the sometimes hotly debated Gimme putt.

    Do you take them? Do you give them? How close does it need to be? Or do you always need to see the ball drop into the cup?

    We know it varies from golfer to golfer, so let's hear what you have to say in the poll below and don't forget to add a reply to get the conversation going.

  2. DK

    DK
    Doylestown, PA

    Depends on the situation. If I'm by myself and playing around I'll pick up just to speed things up. If I'm with others, everything counts. I've seen (and done) putts lip out from 8" so there is no such thing as a "gimme"
  3. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    It's variable for me. I've played matches against guys that I know are terrible putters and I would never give them a putt and on the opposite side I've played against guys that I know are really good putters and give 2 to 3 foot putts.
  4. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    No crying in baseball as Tom Hanks said in a League of their own and no gimme putts in golf. A lackadaisical putt can be missed at any distance. We do not allow them in our men's group, and if you assume it is a gimme and pick it up, it is a zero score. NO POINTS.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Putts are good inside the leather. Can get ridiculous, if you play that rule. Have you seen how long some of the putter grips are. Sorta subjective.
  5. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Oh, forget there is one time that it is a gimme. Triple bogey. Pick it up and move along. For those who keep handicaps.
  6. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Depends. Match play versus stroke play. Watch out for Allan, he likes to make you putt short ones late in the match.
  7. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    Depends on the situation. Playing for fun, it's good up to about 18". Playing for money, it's good when it hits the bottom of the cup.
  8. l

    l

    Good call
  9. Guy W

    Guy W
    Statesville, NC

    All depends on the situation and what's at stake. In our casual games it's usually inside the handle of the putter. I personally like to see them drop. There's something about the sound of the ball hitting the bottom.
  10. Jim V.

    Jim V.
    St. Marys, GA

    I love it when I give a putt, the person insists on putting and misses and takes it anyway.
  11. Sean M

    Sean M
    Liberty, MO

    Military
    Depends…..competitive round everything has to be putted out. Weekend game with the fellas if it’s inside the leather and you can’t win the skin pick it up (or putt it out) just don’t hold up the field.

  12. Military
    In our group everything has to be putted out,
  13. Mary Beth S.

    Mary Beth S.
    Lenexa, KS

    It depends. Generally, my group always putts out. When the course is full and busy, we will give inside a foot, just to keep up the pace of play. The only time we gave anything outside the leather was this past summer when we were playing on a local private course that had top-dressed the greens with sand and fish fertilizer. It was a humid 90 degrees and none of us could take it. The smell was so overwhelming, we were giving putts if you got anywhere near the pin on some greens…

    It was not a fun round on what is usually a fantastic course.
  14. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    I’ll play whatever the group wants to give. Although I won’t concede a birdie or par putt over a foot. Competitive rounds will stipulate hole it every time.
    Just know if the putt is over 6 inches, I use my full routine as I’ve missed too many 2 footers if required to hole it. Tic-Tock.
  15. Dr. Kovatchian

    Dr. Kovatchian
    Carlsbad

    I always putt out when playing in a game or competition!!!
    Also nice to see people sweat over 2 footers!!!

    Cheers,
    Dr. K
  16. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    It's a variable for me. Making someone putt from 6'' or less is just a time waster as far as I'm concerned.
  17. It depends on the player, situation and type of putt. A good putter will get anything from 1.5 feet and a bad putter everything must drop :-), a 1 foot flat putt is a gimme, 1 foot putt on a slope no way. Pick up if you reached your max for handicap purposes to keep up pace of play. A great match play story. I was 4 down through 5 holes, and was playing like garbage, not that the other guy was playing well. On 5th hole he hooked his drive, bounced off the roof of a house and back into the fairway, and we ended up tieing the hole, so maybe he felt guilty on the 6th hole because I was struggling and he gave me a very generous putt from 5 ft out to tie on a par 3. I am a pretty good putter and it was not an easy putt. Long story short i came all the way back and won 1 up on 18. I would be very careful giving gimmies in match play, it could be the break the other player needs. I would say in match play unless it is a tap in, no gimmies is my rule.
  18. I would say it depends on the player and situation. Generally tap ins are always gimmie i.e. from 1 foot in, unless on a slope. If you maxed out for handicap purposes, pick up and keep the pace of play moving. In Match Play, only tap ins are gimmies. Great match play story for a season long Club Match Play Tournament. I was playing like garbage down 4 through 1st 4 holes. We tied 5. We get to 6, i have a 5 footer and it was not an easy putt, he gave it to me. It was the break I needed. I came all the way back and won 1 up on 18. Be careful on gimmies in Match Play, it may be the break your opponent needs. My Match Play Rule is no gimmies other than tap ins
  19. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    A few guys lost The Masters over a 2' putt. Just saying.
  20. GIL B

    GIL B
    Prescott Valley, AZ

    We love the game and at the same time we like to speed it up. We're not PGA Tour players out to make our mark on some tour. We're out there to have fun and enjoy the day. Life is too short to be lining up putts if we're within the leather.
  21. It varies for me. I play some tournament golf (poorly ‍♂️) where there are no gimmes, so I know I can miss short putts. My league is very forgiving, so lots of gimmes there. In match play, I think it’s rude to insist on putting after your opponent has given you the putt.
  22. Mike D., Titleist Staff said:

    Hey Team Titleist, 

    For this latest quick poll, we wanted to hear your thoughts about the sometimes hotly debated Gimme putt.

    Do you take them? Do you give them? How close does it need to be? Or do you always need to see the ball drop into the cup?

    We know it varies from golfer to golfer, so let's hear what you have to say in the poll below and don't forget to add a reply to get the conversation going.

    Always putt it out everytime. I like hearing the sound of the ball going in, its a mental thing. I wont improve if I don’t putt everything.
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