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why do gimmies exist in golf

by Dr. Beryl Koss Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The point of gimmies is to speed up play in confidence the putt would be made. If a fool wants to chance it then it is their choice. In the original example above, I would remind the player, "if you miss then it is recorded as a miss" to make the player think about it.

Why do golf gimmies exist? Gimme in golf exists to speed up the game. Instead of waiting and lining up an unmissable putt, a gimme allows you to pick up the ball and move onto the next tee. This speeds up the game for everyone on the golf course.

Full Answer

What does Gimmie mean in golf?

A gimme is a slang word in golf used to say that a golfer can count his next putt as if it went in due to how close it is in the hole. An example of this could be if a player chips his ball right to the rim of the cup. The other golfer he is paired with may say “thats a gimmie” and pass him the ball.

What is a Gimme putt?

In concept, the gimme putt is supposed to be emblematic of golf's "gentlemen's game" mantra. Often it's anything but, as evidenced at the U.S. Girls' Junior.

Are Gimmies illegal in golf?

Gimmies are illegal under the Rules of Golf. Therefore, they exist only informally, most commonly seen in recreational rounds of golf or other rounds among friends. Gimmies and conceded putts, which are covered under the Rules of Golf, are not the same thing.

Does a Gimme count as a shot in golf?

It is still counted as a shot, but the player does not actually play it. Its name comes from a corruption of “give me” as in “will you give me that shot?” asked by a player of their opponent. In the video below, rules guru Jezz Ellwood looks at when gimmes can and cannot be used under the rules of golf.

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Are gimmies allowed in golf?

The short answer is: If you're playing by the Rules of Golf, never. Gimmes (sometimes spelled "gimmies" or "gimmees") are never allowed under the rules.

Does gimmies count as stroke?

In golf, a gimme is a shot that the other players agree can count automatically without being played. When a player has only a very short putt left to play, other players may grant a gimme (i.e., one stroke is counted), but the ball is not played.

How close is a gimme in golf?

2 feetWhen a putt is a gimme. If it's inside the leather of the putter: Lots of groups call a gimme when a putt stops closer to the hole than the distance from the near lip of the cup to the bottom of the putter grip. It's a little more than 2 feet.

What are gimmies?

A gimmie, or "gimme putt," is a putt so short that you feel it is unmissable, so you ask another golfer to "give me" that putt — to allow you to count it as made without actually putting it. Gimmies are illegal under the Rules of Golf.

How long should you take to putt?

Player B averaged 21 seconds per putt, with a low of 12 and high of 26. Player C's average was 28.5, with a low of 6 and high of 62. Player D had the highest average of the four players, with 38; a low of 21 and high of 53. The ultimate champion, Tom Hoak, required the lowest average time per putt, 21 seconds.

How far is inside the leather?

That is "inside the leather." If your ball is closer to the hole than the distance from the bottom of your putter to the bottom of your putter's grip, then it is inside the leather. So, with a conventional putter, inside the leather roughly means about two feet.

Where do you stand golf etiquette?

Directly behind. To either side. It shouldn't matter. So long as you're at a safe distance and you aren't moving, your presence is no different than that of a parked cart, or a ball washer or any number of inanimate objects one encounters on a course.

What is a mulligan in golf?

The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.

What does inside the leather mean golf?

When you hear the phrase "inside the leather" in golf, it means that your opponents or playing partners will give you the next putt (so you don't have to putt it) if your preceding putt finishes close enough to the hole that it's within a circle from the lip of the cup whose radius is the distance from the sole of the ...

What is a conceded putt?

A 'conceded putt' happens, in match play only (they are not allowed in stroke play), when one golfer tells her opponent to count their next stroke as holed. When the concession is made, the ball is considered holed and the golfer whose putt was conceded is finished playing that hole.

Can I get a mulligan?

A mulligan is a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder. Its best-known use is in golf, whereby it refers to a player being allowed, only informally, to replay a stroke, although that is against the formal rules of golf.

Should be a gimme?

A gimme is a short putt conceded by an opponent. It is still counted as a shot, but the player does not actually play it. Its name comes from a corruption of “give me” as in “will you give me that shot?” asked by a player of their opponent.

How do you read a golf score?

0:062:38How to Read a Golf Scorecard - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then anyMoreIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then any handicap that you have subtracted from your total would be the net.

Why are gimmies unofficial?

The key word there is "unofficial," because gimmies are never allowed under the official rules.

What is the difference between gimmies and conceded putts?

The main difference between gimmies and conceded putts is this: Conceded putts are covered in the Rules of Golf and exist as a sanctioned part of match play; gimmies are not, and do not. Conceded putts are ones that , in a match play setting, your opponent tells you to count as made, and pick up your golf ball.

What is a conceded putt?

Conceded putts are ones that, in a match play setting, your opponent tells you to count as made, and pick up your golf ball. A golfer cannot ask his opponent to concede a putt, a concession can only be granted. And concessions are made only in match play, not stroke play . You can think of gimme putts as the unofficial, ...

What is a gimme putt?

You can think of gimme putts as the unofficial, unsanctioned (by the Rules) stroke-play counterpart to match play's conceded putts.

Do gimmies get longer?

And it's easy for the length of gimmies to keep creeping upward, so that what a golfer claims as a gimmie gets longer and longer as the round goes on. In that way, gimme putts can become crutches relied on by poor putters who don't have the confidence to putt out the short ones. Many golf instructors consider gimmies counterproductive ...

Can you putt with a gimmie?

Many recreational golfers play using gimmies for any short putt. The unofficial standard governing what length of putt is OK to treat as a gimmie is " inside the leather " — that is, if a golf ball is closer to the hole than the distance from your putter head to the bottom of the putter grip when laid flat on the green, ...

Can you use a gimmie putt in a golf tournament?

Here's a very important point about gimme putts: They are not allowed under the rules. Gimmies cannot be used in any round of golf played under The Rules of Golf, at least not by golfers who want to claim they are abiding by the rules. A golfer who does claim a gimmie in a round of golf played under the rules — a tournament round, a handicap round, any round in which golfers are supposed to be abiding by the rulebook — is actually committing a penalty.

What is a gimme in golf?

A gimme is a short putt conceded by an opponent. It is still counted as a shot, but the player does not actually play it. Its name comes from a corruption of “give me” as in “will you give me that shot?” asked by a player of their opponent.

What was the most famous gimme in the Ryder Cup?

Perhaps the most famous gimme was the one Jack Nicklaus gave Tony Jacklin on the final hole of the final game of the 1969 Ryder Cup match. The concession of the 2ft putt resulted in the match being drawn and America retaining the cup. If the putt had been played and missed, Nicklaus’ USA side would have won the match as well as the cup.

Can you give a gimme over a distance?

A gimme can be given over any distance or none at all. There is no requirement for someone to give a gimme. Indeed, other than in match play, it is incorrect to do so.

Is golf simpler than life?

Golf – and life – would be much simpler if we just did away with them and the few seconds it saves in earth time it only adds on in terms of bitterness, resentment, and outright loathing.

Do you look for silly drops on golf courses?

Generally speaking most of us behave quite well on the course, we don’t look for silly drops and we don’t try to find small gains whenever possible.

Do you have to act the tour pro if you lie down your putter?

Just because you’ve seen someone do it at the Ryder Cup, either hilariously lying down their putter to fake measure their putt or making some snide comment in front of everyone, or holding out their hands to signify how short the putt was , it doesn’t mean you have to act the tour pro.

Is there a place for gimmes in golf?

In a perfect world there would be a place for gimmes in golf. Sadly it’s not and there isn’t. Try as we might to find an acceptable length to just concede a putt, the very phrase inside the leather shows just how long we’ve been trying to give each other a knee-knocker, but we still haven’t managed it.

Do gimmies exist in stroke play?

That would be because gimmies don't exist in competitive stroke play. Any gimmies in stroke play are happening in friendly matches and should be governed by the same rules you'd apply in a competitive match play game in regards to conceded putts. Once the concession is accepted, any further strokes are automatically deemed practice.#N#I guess the point I'm trying to get across is the way you word it in your statements kind of goes against the spirit of the gimmie. It seems in your situations, the opposing player is unaware how gimmies function. Perhaps you can explain that they can accept your concession and continue on as a practice stroke, but they must first make it known that the concession has been accepted. Beyond that any further strokes are considered practice without need for clarification.

Is it good to putt in a friendly game?

Once a putt is given, it's good. Same in match play or friendly game.#N#However, if a player putts it anyways and misses, maybe they won't be given those putts in the future.#N#Take Dead Aim

What is a gimme putt?

In concept, the gimme putt is supposed to be emblematic of golf's "gentlemen's game" mantra. Often it's anything but, as evidenced at the U.S. Girls' Junior. Many observers cried foul after Elizabeth Moon, who just missed a six-footer to win the match, raked away her ball inches from the cup, only for opponent Erica Shepherd to assert she had not given Moon the putt. If that didn't qualify as a gimme, what does?

What to do if you feel like it's a gimme?

If you feel like it's a gimme, than go ahead and make it, knucklehead.

What does lack of reps do in golf?

Not only does this set an affable tone for the round, it has a hint of Machiavellianism sprinkled in: when your opponent needs to make a short putt down the stretch, the lack of reps puts extra pressure on the shot.

Do you apologize for a putt?

DON'T: Apologize for making your opponent putt. It comes off as insincere, especially if they miss. Plus, you don't see basketball players patting a rival on the back after a turnover, or a pitcher telling a batter he's sorry after a strikeout. In that same vein...

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