When putting, from what distance will a one-degree direction change hit the edge of the hole instead of the center of the hole?

When putting, from what distance will a one-degree direction change hit the edge of the hole instead of the center of the hole?

• A. 10 feet
• B. 5 feet
• C. 15 feet
• D. 20 feet

Answer: (A)

A one-degree misalignment translates into a lateral offset that grows with distance to the hole. The edge you want to avoid is the hole’s radius away from the center. A standard hole is 4.25 inches in diameter, so the radius is 2.125 inches. The offset at the hole plane for a path deviating by θ is approximately distance × tan(θ). To just graze the edge, set this offset equal to the radius: distance ≈ radius / tan(1°). With tan(1°) ≈ 0.01745, distance ≈ 2.125 / 0.01745 ≈ 122 inches, about 10 feet. So from about ten feet away, a one-degree direction change will hit the edge rather than the center. Closer than that, you’d still hit the center; farther than that, you’d miss the edge entirely.

A one-degree misalignment translates into a lateral offset that grows with distance to the hole. The edge you want to avoid is the hole’s radius away from the center. A standard hole is 4.25 inches in diameter, so the radius is 2.125 inches.

The offset at the hole plane for a path deviating by θ is approximately distance × tan(θ). To just graze the edge, set this offset equal to the radius: distance ≈ radius / tan(1°). With tan(1°) ≈ 0.01745, distance ≈ 2.125 / 0.01745 ≈ 122 inches, about 10 feet.

So from about ten feet away, a one-degree direction change will hit the edge rather than the center. Closer than that, you’d still hit the center; farther than that, you’d miss the edge entirely.