Getting it Up and Down

The key to good scoring is getting the ball up and down around the greens. Not all of us hit as many greens in regulation as we would like. Therefore we need to learn how to hit several different shots to save strokes around the green. Club and shot selection are of utmost importance in getting the ball up and down. How far you are from the green, how far the pin is from the edge of the green and what type of terrain is in front of you determines what shot you must execute.

A golden rule around the greens is the more you can run the ball along the ground, the better the shot will be. Pitching the ball in the air leads to too much uncertainty regarding how far to carry it and what will happen when the ball hits. However, if you have to hit the ball over water, out of a bunker or high grass, you will need to use a pitch shot, choosing a lofted club to get the ball up and have it stop as quickly as possible.

For a low pitch-and-run shot use a less lofted club, keeping the ball out of the air and low to the ground. For this shot, you should read the chip just as you would a putt, taking into consideration speed, break and distance. Then just chip (or run) the ball up to the green.

Even if you have a favorite club with which you chip, it is best to use a variety of clubs to chip the ball. This will give you more options with your short shots and more confidence in your game.