The 50/50 Putting Game Explained

The putting game named 50/50 (Fifty-Fifty) is one that is played on the practice green. You can play it as a competition between golfers, but it is probably best for a single golfer: You can use 50/50 to spice up your practice session, challenging yourself to earn points on putts of varying lengths.

The 50/50 in the title of this game refers to 50 putts and 50 points. The goal is to attempt 50 putts from varying distances, ranging from five feet to 50 feet. Scoring at least 50 points from those 50 putts is the goal, with 100 points representing perfection (and also probably impossible for recreational golfers who really are including long putts).

This is how points are earned in 50/50:

• 2 points for every 1-putt;
• 1 point for every 2-putt;
• -3 (minus-3) points for every 3-putt;
• -5 (minus-5) points for every 4-putt or worse.

It is up to the golfer to decide where to putt from — how long each will be, how straight or how breaking each putt will be, how easy or how difficult each putt will be. If you do not 3-putt any of your 50 putts, you are guaranteed to reach 50 points.

But if you are playing this game as a way to work on your putting, it's perfectly OK to "lose" (score less than 50 points) because you want to challenge yourself. Give yourself some flat, straight, 5-footers, sure, to make some 1-putts and earn 2 points each. But also include some long breakers where lagging it relatively close is the key. Challenge yourself, in other words.

If you want to play this as a betting game with your buddies, then it's high points wins, obviously. And be sure your game isn't interfering with anyone else's practice on the practice green.

More golf games:

• How to play the Crenshaws game
• How to play 'Putt for Dough'
• The 21 (Twenty-One) putting game: don't leave it short!

Sources:
Rodriguez, Chi Chi, and Anderson, John. Chi Chi's Golf Games You Gotta Play*, 2003, Human Kinetics
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