How to Get Up and Down in Two - Short Game Tips

Short Shot Golf Game, Improve Chipping, Save Golf Shots Near Green

Jun 29, 2009 John Hoskison

Being able to save shots round the green by getting up and down in two more often can help win matches and lower scores. A good quality short game and better chipping can also give confidence when hitting long shots. Knowing you are likely to get up and down in two shots if you miss a green allows a golfer to swing with more freedom.

Calculating Club Selection to Get Up and Down in Two

• To be able to get the ball close enough to the hole to consistently to get up and down in two shots, a golfer has to choose the right shot to play. Normally club golfers automatically reach for the most lofted wedges in the bag but choosing the right shot is more complicated than that. Firstly it requires a golfer to calculate the right club to use when chipping.

• In nearly all circumstances a golfer should try to land the ball on the green as quickly as possible letting it run to the pin. In normal circumstances a seven iron would travel a third of the distance through the air, then run two thirds. On a thirty yards shot the ball must consequently land ten yards away from the golfer. But every club is different and time must be taken to work out how far each club travels through the, and how far it runs when it lands.

• Write down how far the ball runds with each club and you will have a table to use. Each time you face a short shot, work out roughly how far it is to the flag by taking a few paces towards the hole and estimating. Then use your table to find out which club you must use to just land the ball on the green. The less loft you can use the easier the shot becomes and the easier it is to get up and down in two shots.

Up and Down in Two Swing Technique

Most people try to use their hands too much when playing short shots. Unless the ball needs to be lofted into the air keep your hands out of the swing. This allows the clubface to release more consistently through impact.

• At address have the hands forward, weight forward and the ball back in the stance.

• Grip down the club as much as possible to give extra feel.

• Keep your backswing slightly shorter than your follow through, this will promote acceleration through the shot.

• Above all keep you head still.

In most cases the technique needed to get the ball up and down in two shots is relatively simple; power isn’t required and unless you have to elevate the ball quickly the hands should remain passive.

Try not to underestimate the importance of selecting the right club for the job and make sure you do not automatically reach for the lob wedge. It might occasionally lead to a spectacular shot but more often than not you will end up thinning the ball over the green or fatting it into a bunker. Learn the simple shots first and you will be well on the way to getting up and down in two shots more often.

See also: How to Hit a Draw Golf Shot or What Does Over the Top Golf Swing Mean or Understand the Perfect Swing - Golf Swing Tips