How to Get Up and Down for PAR

[enis750]

How to get up and down and SAVE PAR

Ok…we have all been there
Hit your approach into the green, and you’re a club short or long…damn….
Ur in the fringe or just off the green and have a pitch from 5 to 25 paces to get up and down for par
Knowing what club to pull in each situation and save par, will be the key to lower scores
I have been using this drill for the past few months and I can say w certainty that it has helped me save par and keep my up and down’s over 50%

Here’s the drill:

-Take 5 balls (not sh*tty range balls, A1 practice balls or the same balls u play with regularily
-you want to be able to simulate what the ball will actually do, so use good balls
-place them in the short grass around the green and hit your pitch shots to a hole on the practice green
-practice different type of pitch shots w your SW, PW LW, and 8i
-knowing how to use different clubs and remembering what that club will do, is key
-now here is the hard part – instead of picking up the balls and trying again……grab your putter and putt out each ball
-my goal is to get up and down 4/5 times (also trying to hole at least one ball from the pitch)
-set your own goals based on your level and abilities and work to increase this number
-NO PUTTER from the fringe, just pitch shots, bump and runs etc..
-try all distances, from 2 paces to 25 paces
-I want the ball to stop within a 2ft circle all the time, as I know I can make these putts all day long

I have learned a lot from this site and believe it has helped me get my index down to where it is
Just wanted to give something back

This drill will help you save par, bogey, get that birdie more times than not if you practice it often
Also take the monotony out of the same practice drills

Have fun w it and post your progress!

PS – Erik, if you want this moved to another section, please do so – just figured it would get more action here

[michaeljames92]

Good drill man. I already do something like this however I do it from different lies as well. Usually if there are around 3-4 of us at the chipping green, we will do an up and down competition for a drink. Just trying short sided misses, flops over bunkers, simple pitches/chips. The best part is when you have to hole the putt because your shot to 4ft might have the same value as someone holing their 8 footer or you may even miss a short putt.

Another drill that I do is using an 8 iron out of the bunker. At our pennant team training, our club pro was showing us the proper technique to bunker play by first using an 8 iron and then using a lob wedge. Once you have worked out how to play a 8 iron green side bunker shot, a lob wedge is a walk in the park

[rebby]

Not a bad drill. My biggest problem getting practice with chipping is all these practice areas with the "no chipping" signs. Every time I ignore them and practice chipping anyway, somebody from the club comes out and hassles me about it. Grr. I need to find a better place to practice!

[enis750]

Not a bad drill. My biggest problem getting practice with chipping is all these practice areas with the "no chipping" signs. Every time I ignore them and practice chipping anyway, somebody from the club comes out and hassles me about it. Grr. I need to find a better place to practice!

yea that would be frusterating

our club is ok w it, if the practice green is fairly quiet

[rebby]

yea that would be frusterating

That's the most annoying part of it. In all my hours across various practice greens this summer, very seldom has there been anybody else there. When somebody else shows up, they're there for the 5 minutes before their tee time and no longer. There is no way that I'd be bothering anybody on these massive practice greens by hitting a few chips. My guess is that these policies are being put into place as a result of a few bad seeds either tearing things up and/or bladeing balls across the greens. Frustrating to say the very least.

[2bGood]

That's the most annoying part of it. In all my hours across various practice greens this summer, very seldom has there been anybody else there. When somebody else shows up, they're there for the 5 minutes before their tee time and no longer. There is no way that I'd be bothering anybody on these massive practice greens by hitting a few chips. My guess is that these policies are being put into place as a result of a few bad seeds either tearing things up and/or bladeing balls across the greens. Frustrating to say the very least.

Our club has three chipping greens and one putting green, go figure.

[zeg]

I would *love* to do the drill you describe, but our putting greens have the "no chipping" signs all around. There is a short game area, but its green is really just fairway cut grass, and not even fairway quality, just short-cut. There's no point practicing putting on it.

[stianvm]

Another drill that I do is using an 8 iron out of the bunker. At our pennant team training, our club pro was showing us the proper technique to bunker play by first using an 8 iron and then using a lob wedge. Once you have worked out how to play a 8 iron green side bunker shot, a lob wedge is a walk in the park

Anything that makes it easier with the lobwedge is worthy of giving a shot. Care to outline the specific technique when using the 8iron ?

[bwell]

I practice a lot in my backyard. I have a nice size yard with some bushes and trees I aim at. I can't putt but at least I can get a good feeling for distance and accuracy.

[double_j]

Amen to short game practice.

Honestly, learning how to hit bump n' runners with an 8 iron from the fringe or just into the greenside rough has saved me at least 2 to 3 strokes per round. No more skulls across the green or leaving a 56 degree sandwedge short due to an unpredictable lie. I'm almost guaranteeing a putt from within 5 feet or closer no matter how long the green, etc.

You don't need a ton of practice at this one to start playing it either since its basically your putting stroke. Maybe 4 or 5 shots just to get the feel for the roll and how the ball comes off the clubface. And the best part is that it really opens your eyes to greenside creativity - you'll no longer automatically reach for the 56 or 60 and will actually think about different ways to play from in close.

Do it and score better.

[brgolf]

Where short game practice is concerned I am an advocate of science and precision. If you have a 20 yard shot which needs 15 yards of carry you need to combine the feel of the shot with a knowledge of the mechanics that are required.

Also when people talk about hitting different short game shots be sure to practice from below and above the green as I find that a reason I miss some greens is they are elevated and so you end up pitching to a putting surface at head height.

Finally it is important to simulate the pressure of having to make the shot as best you can. Every shot must go as close as possible to the pin. Hit multiple shots if you are working on your technique but once that is down then you must hit shots in isolation to simulate shots on the course.

[chilly]

I do exactly the same thing, but sadly I'm usually in the 2/5 range. Getting better though, last time out I was consistently 3/5. For right now I usually go with just 52*, I have enough trouble getting up/down with that. I also started practicing "putting" from the fringe well off the green with my hybrids...this has been HUGE in getting my scores down as I hate chipping from the tight lies we're seeing this time of year.

[DavidFehertysBike]

That is similar to the way i practice short game at the practice green. I simulate getting up and down. I don't stop until i get 10/10 balls in for a theoretical par save, or i chip or pitch two balls in the cup. I do 2 short chips, to medium chips, 2 long chips (w/6 or 5 iron), and do the same with pitches from the rough and fringe. Sometimes its a short day, sometimes ive been there for 2+ hours...haha.

[bwell]

What club do you guys use for chipping? I have been using 58* and have been doing pretty good with it but sometime my accuracy is better with my pw...

[stianvm]

What club do you guys use for chipping? I have been using 58* and have been doing pretty good with it but sometime my accuracy is better with my pw...

I use anything from 5iron to 60', it all depends on factors like distance to flag, how far from the green i am chipping from, ondulations both outside and on the green, speed of the green, dangers related to a possible mishit with a given club.

Greenside play is the part of the game where imagination and individual style really comes into play, therefore experiment with alot of shottypes with different clubs.

[Leftygolfer]

I do the same thing. I only use 3 balls though. It also helps practice the most important shot in golf, the almighty 3-5 foot putt. The momentum maker or breaker of a round.

And personally I wouldn't use anything except wedges around the green. I find bump and runs to be really hard to judge. My PW is more like a 9 iron and I will play a running shot with that. It is amazing how different you can hit the same club. I can play around 5 different type shots with my 58.

[cody west]

why no putting from the fringe. if you are looking to get up and down your best bet is putting

[double_j]

why no putting from the fringe. if you are looking to get up and down your best bet is putting

Yes - I usually always putt from the fringe if I'm within a couple feet off. That said, if you're far enough off that the ball might not roll true or have divots, etc. in front then the 6 or 8 iron runner is nice. The loft helps it to carry the junk but it still plays like a putt.