What is your 2.0 Putt Distance?

What is your 2.0 Putt Distance?

by: Peter Sanders

Founder of ShotByShot.com, the leading game analysis website.

In studying performance at all levels for more than 25 years, I have found that there are two distinct skills needed to become a good putter: Alignment and Distance Control. Proper alignment is especially critical in the 1-Putt range. Distance control is critical to avoid 3-Putts from longer range. It is important to practice both skills. I recommend spending 60% to 70% of your practice time on the former, or putts inside 10 ft., with special emphasis on 3, 4 and 5 footers. I carry the SeeMore Triangulator in my golf bag, and do not let a week go by during the season without using it to sharpen my short putt alignment.

I like to measure skill levels in these two important skills in terms of the 50% Make distance – the distance at which a player consistently makes 50% of their putts; and, the 2.0 Distance – the distance from which a player averages 2.0 putts. Simply stated, from your 2.0 distance, you 2-Putt the vast majority. But when you don’t, you 1-Putt and 3-Putt with the same frequency.

The two graphs below display these two important skills over an array of handicap levels. Over your next few rounds try to get a feel for where your skills stand. If you would like to know precisely, log on to www.ShotByShot.com and register for our FREE Trial.  We have been providing Strokes Gained Analysis to all golfers since 1992.

(Author) Peter J. Sanders – President & Founder – SHOTBYSHOT.com Complete Game Analysis – In 1989, Peter founded Golf Research Associates creating what is now referred to as Strokes Gained Analysis. His goal was to design and market a new standard of statistically-based performance analysis programs based upon computer models that he created. A departure from “traditional stats,” they would provide real analysis with answers, supported by comparative data.

In 2006, the company’s website, ShotByShot.com, was launched and provides interactive, game improvement analysis for individual golfers and over 130 instructors and coaches that have joined the website to build and monitor groups of their players.

Peter has written, or contributed to, over 50 articles in major golf publications including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf for Women. Since 2007, Peter has been an exclusive contributor and Professional Advisor to Golf Digest and GolfDigest.com.