What Is a Gimme in Golf?
A gimme is a short putt that your opponent agrees you would have holed, so you pick your ball up and add one stroke to your score without hitting it. The name is just a shortened "give me".
In the official Rules of Golf, a gimme is called a conceded stroke, and it's only allowed in match play. In stroke play, every putt has to be holed.
How a gimme works
Imagine you've hit your second putt to 18 inches on a par 4. Your opponent says "that's good" or "pick it up". You lift the ball, and you score a 4, counting the putt you didn't hit as one stroke.
- Only your opponent can concede. You can't concede your own putt, and in a team match only the other side can.
- Once given, a concession can't be refused or taken back.
- A concession can be made at any time before you hit, and it can be for a single putt, a whole hole, or even the whole match.
- A conceded putt counts as one stroke. It's not a free hole.
Match play vs stroke play
| Format | Gimmes allowed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Match play | Yes | You're playing hole by hole against an opponent, so they can concede a stroke, a hole or the match |
| Stroke play | No | Your score counts against the whole field, so you must hole out on every hole |
| Casual rounds | By agreement | Many friendly groups give short putts to keep the round moving |
In a stroke play competition, picking up a short putt and not finishing the hole can get you disqualified if you don't go back and hole out before teeing off on the next hole. If you're new to the difference between the two formats, stroke play vs match play explains it.
How long is a gimme?
There's no official length, because the Rules leave it entirely up to your opponent. In casual golf, two common habits are:
- "Inside the leather": if the putt is shorter than the distance from the putter head to the bottom of the grip, it's good. With a standard putter that's roughly two feet.
- "Within a putter length": a more generous version, measuring the whole putter.
Most players would say anything under a foot or so is a gimme in a friendly game. Beyond that it depends on the match situation, the slope and who you're playing with.
Gimme etiquette
Giving and taking gimmes is part of the fun of match play, and also part of its tactics.
- Don't ask for one. Wait for your opponent to offer. Reaching for your ball before they speak is poor form.
- Be consistent. Giving a two-footer on the first hole and refusing the same putt on the last can feel like gamesmanship.
- Use them strategically. Some players give short putts early, then make an opponent putt a tricky one later when it really matters. It's within the Rules, if a little cheeky.
- Never give yourself one in stroke play. If you're playing for a handicap or a competition, hole everything out.
Gimmes and handicaps
If you're posting a score for handicap purposes and a putt was conceded, you record the most likely score: usually the score you'd have made by holing the conceded putt. Under the World Handicap System, match play rounds can count for handicap in many countries, so conceded putts are common in posted scores. For more on how handicaps work, see golf handicap explained.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy is strict stroke play: no one is there to concede, so every hole finishes with your ball in the cup. In fact, only a putt can drop in Mashy, so short putts really matter. That makes it handy practice for the two-footers you'd normally be given: the view zooms in once you're inside 10 feet, and the green read shows you which way the ball will break. For tips on the real thing, read how to putt better.
Frequently asked questions
Are gimmes allowed in stroke play?
No. In stroke play you must hole out on every hole, and if you pick up without finishing and don't correct it before the next tee, you're disqualified. Gimmes are only part of the Rules in match play, though friends often agree to allow them in casual rounds.
Does a gimme count as a stroke?
Yes. A conceded putt counts as one stroke on your score, exactly as if you had hit it and holed it. If you're on the green in three and your opponent concedes your next putt, you score a 4 for the hole.
Can you refuse a gimme in golf?
No. Under the Rules of Golf a concession is final and can't be declined or withdrawn once it has been made. Some players choose to hit the putt anyway for practice, but the score is already settled and the result doesn't change.
What does inside the leather mean in golf?
Inside the leather is a casual gimme guide. If your ball is closer to the hole than the length from your putter head to the bottom of the grip, the putt is treated as good. It isn't an official rule, just a common habit in friendly matches.
Can you concede a hole in match play?
Yes. In match play you can concede a single stroke, a whole hole or the entire match to your opponent at any time before the hole or match is finished. Conceding a hole you can't win is a common way to keep play moving.