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Weekly Quiz!

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Home-Green Advantage: Do Short Putts Really Drop More at Home?

A golf buddy told me recently, “Putting at your home course is just easier, especially inside 10 feet.” We chatted about this for a few minutes: is it true? If it is, is it comfort, reps, or just salty memories of away greens? I had to know the answer, so I took a deep dove into the Arccos database.

Who made the cut

I only used players who, over a 3-year span, logged:

• 100+ rounds at their home course, and

• 30+ away rounds (with no more than 15 away rounds at any single course).

I wanted to compare each golfer to themself. How did they do home vs away?

Short-putt strokes gained (10 feet and in)

When I looked at strokes gained per round from putts ≤10 ft, here’s what I saw:

• Home vs. away: On their home course, players averaged +0.28 strokes per round better than they did on away courses (on putts ≤10 ft).

• 71% of golfers had better SG/round at home on these short putts.

• 50% had a home edge of at least 0.25 strokes per round.

• 31% had a home edge of at least 0.50 strokes per round.

Make-rate by distance (each golfer needed ≥30 home and away putts at that distance)

• 4 ft: 55% had a better home make rate; 15% had a home make rate that was at least 10% better than their away make rate

• 5 ft: 62% better at home (17% ≥10% better)

• 6 ft: 58% better at home (16% ≥10% better)

• 7 ft: 59% better at home (18% ≥10% better)

• 8 ft: 51% better at home (12% ≥10% better)

• 9 ft: 50% better at home (13% ≥10% better)

• 10 ft: 50% better at home (12% ≥10% better)

Translation: The home-green edge concentrated inside 7 feet. Past that, the advantage flattened out to basically a coin flip between home and away.

Why the shorties love home cooking

I don’t know for sure but some guesses:

1. Speed familiarity: You are very comfortable with the speed at your home course.

2. Break familiarity: You’ve hit these putts before. You have a good idea how they are breaking. You don’t get fooled too often.

3. Confidence: Perhaps the comfort you have on speed and break enables a more confident stroke?

What to do with this if you travel a lot (or have a big match away)

• Crash-course the greens: Before you hit drivers, run a speed ladder from 20, 30, 40 feet… then a circle drill at 4–7 feet. Calibrate that speed!

• Bias high on unfamiliar reads. On away greens, slightly favor the high side on those shorter putts. Most ams tend to miss low, especially when you might not be all that confident with the break.

• Green book: Use a green book to help you read putts. Shop StrackaLine Green Books here. (Use code DATALOU15 to save 15%)

Lag putts are next

It is probably not surprising to see that players tend to putt better on their home course on the shorter putts. It was still interesting to see the details.

I’m planning a follow-up on lag putting to see if the home edge holds. What do you think? Does the advantage grow, shrink, or disappear from 20+ feet?

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  Have a great week!