BIG STICK vs FLAT STICK

Obviously we are major fans of the putter. Putting is an entire “game within the game” that we feel there is deep and complex art form that is fun to “nerd out” about. But does this mean that we are “anti-driver“?

Short answer, definitely not

We would have to be completely delusional to not understand the value of a long, accurate tee shot. Ensuring the ball is in play is extremely important. Really all aspects of the game are important and any severe deficiency in any aspect of the game is a problem. What we do believe however, is that the putter as a club is the most important in the bag. It is used the most and yet can easily be the most overlooked. A driver wielded skillfully is a huge advantage. But the best drive in the world doesn’t really matter if your putting is horrendous.

Most golfers seem to enjoy the saying “drive for show putt for dough”. But even though its seems counterintuitive, we here at the Flat Stick aren’t big fans of that saying. In fact we’re kind of sick of it. First of all its its ridiculously cliché by this point. Plus we don’t feel its 100% accurate, especially in the modern game. It kind of lulls golfers into thinking that putting alone is the whole picture.

We really wish that was the case but it simply isn’t.

How you start anything has a big impact on how you finish. If you are wild off the tee, being a putting wizard will undoubtedly help you out of your troubles to some degree, but it’s not a “miracle cure”.

Does this mean then that the driver is more important than the putter as a club? That thought doesn’t seem to hold up. For one thing you don’t have to hit driver off the tee. There are lot of situations where it makes sense to leave the driver in the bag. And some golfers see a noticeable change in their scores when they focus on accuracy off the tee more than just the distance a driver provides.

One thing is obvious, becoming a better putter is the one element of the game where average folks like us can be as good as the best in the world. Most of of us just can’t physically hit a ball over 300 yards, let alone do it accurately. But all of us can hone our putting skills into a truly impressive golf weapon. These are skills that don’t require an overpriced driver. They don’t require a driving range, a net or a high priced launch monitor.

So yes work on ripping that driver as far and as straight as humanely possible! Just don’t do it at the expense of the 1-3 (or more) strokes you could be focusing on with the putter.

Just some food for thought