Getting "up and down" means getting the ball in the hole in two shots from off the green: one chip, pitch or bunker shot, then one putt. It's the skill that separates golfers who turn missed greens into pars from those who turn them into double bogeys. Good players aren't perfect ball-strikers, they just recover well. Here's how to get up and down more often.
What's a good up-and-down rate?
Elite professionals get up and down well over half the time. Typical club golfers manage far less, often 20–35%. Improving by even 10 percentage points can save several shots a round for a golfer who misses many greens. Read golf statistics to track.
Step 1: assess the situation
Before choosing a shot, check:
- The lie: good, tight, in rough, on a slope? Read greenside rough shots.
- What's between you and the green: fringe, rough, a bunker?
- How much green you have between the edge and the hole.
- The slope of the green around the hole.
- Where the best putt would be: usually below the hole.
Step 2: choose the simplest shot
| Option | When |
|---|---|
| Putt | Smooth ground, nothing to carry |
| Hybrid chip | Fringe or tight lies, lots of green |
| Bump and run | Some fringe to carry, plenty of green. Read the bump and run |
| Standard chip | Short carry, moderate green |
| Pitch | Rough or bunker to carry, less green |
| Lob | Only when nothing else works. Read how to hit a lob shot |
The lower the shot, the more predictable the result.
Step 3: pick a landing spot
Choose exactly where you want the ball to land, then picture the roll to the hole. Read the green as you would for a putt. Many golfers find it helps to look at the landing spot, not the hole, during practice swings.
Step 4: leave an easy putt
Your target is a zone, not the hole. Aim to leave:
- An uphill putt, which is easier to hole aggressively.
- A straight putt, rather than a big breaker.
- A short putt, within three or four feet.
If the hole is on a slope, aim for the side below it, even if that means a slightly longer putt. Read uphill and downhill putts.
Step 5: hole the putt
Up-and-downs are completed with putts from three to eight feet. Practise this range constantly. Read how to hole more short putts.
Strategy: miss in the right place
Getting up and down is easier from some places than others. On approach shots:
- Avoid short-siding yourself, where there's little green between the edge and the hole. Read short-sided recovery shots.
- Miss on the side with more green.
- Avoid deep bunkers if a miss into a grassy area is possible.
- Play to the centre of the green when the pin is tucked.
Read golf course management.
Practice games
Up-and-down challenge
Drop nine balls in different spots around the green: fringe, rough, bunker, slopes. Play each one until holed. Count your up-and-downs out of nine.
Par-18 game
Play nine short-game "holes" from different spots, each with a par of two. Try to beat 18.
One-ball scramble
Play a short-game hole with one ball, going through your full routine, as if it's the last hole of a competition.
Read golf practice games and short-game practice plan.
The mental side
- Expect to get up and down, but accept a bogey calmly when it happens.
- Stay patient after missed greens.
- Commit to one shot and one landing spot.
Read bouncing back after a bad hole.
Frequently asked questions
What does "scrambling" mean in golf?
Making par or better after missing the green in regulation, usually by getting up and down.
Should I try to hole chips?
From good lies with simple shots, be aggressive. From difficult lies, aim to leave an easy putt.
Which matters more, the chip or the putt?
Both, but a good chip makes the putt much easier.
The bottom line
Getting up and down is about choosing the simplest shot, landing it in the right spot and leaving an easy, uphill putt. Miss greens in the right places, practise scoring games and track your percentage. For the full chipping technique, read how to chip in golf.