How often do you get up and down? The PGA Tour average is about 60 percent. Data from Shot Scope shows that a 25-handicap golfer gets up and down about 25 percent of the time from less than 50 yards. Ever wonder why the pros make it look so easy? Sure, they have more skill and golf is their livelihood, but you can make simple changes and adjustments to get up and down more often.
Not utilizing the club’s full loft
Trying to lift up and down usually requires a high golf club. The mistake many amateur golfers make is not using full club lofts in their hands.
Using maximum loft on your wedge helps you stop the ball on the green and develop more control. This is especially important for chips and delicate balls.
Check that your hands are in line with the ball (but not too far in front). Too much shaft tilt throws the club away, making it very difficult to stop the ball on the green. Keep the clubface neutral and do not force your hands in front of the golf ball.
Poor aim and scope
Chipping and pitching is not a time to ignore aim. You still need to make sure your clubface is in line with your target. When practicing shots under 100 yards at the driving range, place a few alignment sticks on the ground to confirm your alignment.
A more open stance sometimes encourages higher ball flight, but you need to control the alignment of the clubface to ensure your shots don’t end up too far off target.
Wrong choice of club
Choosing the wrong club is a classic mistake when trying to get up and down. Many amateurs aim for a multi-loft club when they don’t need it. Those high shots may look nice (when they work), but your chance of pulling them off is pretty slim.
The lower you can keep your shots around the green, the easier it is to get up and down. Shooting range Data shows that a 15-handicapper is three times more likely to get up and down with his putt than with a lob wedge.
If you’re not comfortable driving off the green, a 9-iron, 8-iron, or wedge gives you at least a 10 percent better chance of getting up and down than a lob wedge.
The conclusion? Keeping the ball closer to the ground gives you the best chance to get up and down.
Weak green reading
You want to give yourself the best shot possible when trying to get up and down.
This means taking every opportunity to get the ball closer to the hole. Start by looking at the green slope. Where do you want to leave the ball? Can you land your shot in a certain spot that helps it roll more toward the hole and increase your chances of making the putt?
Can you spare yourself an uphill shot?
Incorporate some basic green awareness and reading into your making and presentation.
Practice only from the best lies
How many perfect lies do you get during a round of golf? If you want to get better at putting up and putting up, teach yourself to play from different lies. (Hard, rough, sand, etc.)
Here’s a basic cheat sheet for these different types of lies.
| Kind of Lie | Characteristics | Club selection | Configuration and Execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Pan Lie OR The tight lie | Firm, compact soil with minimal grass cover. | Use a 7-iron or 8-iron. | Place the ball slightly back in position, focus on a simple action more like a shot. |
| Thick Approx | Tall, dense grass covering the club face. | Use a sand wedge or lob wedge. | Open the club face and stance, maintain a steady pace. |
| Easy rough | The grass is a little thicker, the ball is not buried. | Use a 9-iron or wedge depending on the stroke required. | Center the ball, keep a smooth and controlled swing, open the clubface if you don’t have room to stop the ball on the green. |
Mental approach and belief
If you don’t have confidence in your short game, it’s hard to stand on a delicate chip or pitch and feel like you can hit it. Spend time practicing pitch and chip shots from different lies and conditions and making shots that are 10 feet or less. Most importantly, when you stay on a shot, commit to it.
Neglecting to track your stats
Start keeping track of how often you get up and down. This data can tell you if you are taking the right shots. At the very least, note how far your chip or pitch landed from the hole. If you’re 35 yards away every time and you’ve never made the putt, your putting isn’t really the problem.
You will need to get your approach within 10 feet of the hole as often as possible to start getting up and down more.
Equipment control
The equipment you use will also affect your ability to get up and down. Look for accurate wedges that can roll (even through wet grass) and focus on picking a putter that works well from 10 feet.
Final thoughts
At this point, you have some tips and tricks to help you get up and down more often. While hitting more greens can eliminate the need to get up and down, even professional golfers don’t hit every tee right. Getting up and down is just one part of the game you have to master!
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