Putter or wedge from off the green? Data from real golfers has the answer

Club choice around the greens is an often overlooked part of strategy on the golf course. But, deciding whether to reach for the putter or the wedge is a scenario we all find ourselves in. So, what’s the best option?

We’ve all played with the golfer who, no matter how far off the green they are, reaches for their wedge. They might be a matter of inches away from the putting surface but, for whatever reason, they think that the aerial route is the best play. But, is there method in the madness?

Well, thanks to our data partners Shot Scope, we’ve taken a look at some data from amateur golfers, which paints an interesting picture.

Putter or wedge from off the green? The numbers

Thanks to Shot Scope’s database, we get a picture of what clubs golfers use around the greens, and how often they get up and down with each one.

Firstly, let’s look at the numbers for a ten handicap golfer. When it comes to club usage from the side of the green, these golfers hit putter 27% of the time, while they reach for their sand wedge 25%.

So, how do the usage numbers relate to the up and down percentages?

When these players use their wedge from the side of the green, they get up and down 23% of the time. But, when they take putter out, that number drastically jumps to 71%.

Analysis

Now, that’s a pretty big difference, and there’s probably a few reasons for this.

It’s worth noting that the putter is likely to come out of the bag more when a ball is just off the green. If you’re 20 feet away from the hole but only a foot off the putting surface, you’ll still technically have made an up and down, which is great for the stats.

When you’re in the rough and in a poor spot, however, you’re naturally going to gravitate towards using a wedge, and you’re not going to see as many up and downs here, purely because you’re in a worse position.

However, it’s impossible to ignore the difference in these numbers. From the side of the green, an average player gets up and down seven out of ten times with the putter. That drops to two out of ten times with the sand wedge.

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Putter or wedge? Top amateurs

You might think that the more skilled the player, the smaller the gap in the number between putter and wedge up and down success is. But, even with scratch players, there’s a big jump.

As you would expect, these players get up and down more often with both of these clubs, but there’s still a much higher rate of success with the putter. 81% of the time, when the putter is pulled from off the green, scratch players get up and down.

That number drops to 43% with the sand wedge.

Putter or wedge? The high handicappers

Interestingly, golfers who have the highest handicaps are most likely to pull out the sand wedge from beside the green. On average, those with a 20 handicap or higher use a sand wedge 40% of the time when they’re green side.

However, that doesn’t translate to many up and downs for these players. In fact, the average 25 handicapper gets up and down just 9% of the time when they use a sand wedge. When they use the putter, however, that jumps up to 62%.

The Conclusion

While we always want to apply some real life common sense to these numbers, they paint a very stark picture.

There is, of course, going to be situations where you need to get the sand wedge out. We’re not suggesting you start putting when you’re in thick rough and need to get the ball in the air quickly.

However, the numbers show us that, wherever possible, you really ought to be getting the putter in play as quickly as possible.

Even if it’s not the most exciting option, it’s going to give you the best chance of getting up and down more often. If you can do that, you’ll shave plenty strokes off your game.

The saying that your worst putt is better than your worst chip might be a cliche, but it’s almost always true.

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor