There are certain shots on the golf course that can make or break your round, but many of them seem to revolve around the short game for amateur golfers.
The ability to get up and down from inside 50 yards is one of five key improvements that could slash your handicap, but what does the data tell us about our chances of success from this distance?
How Often Do Amateur Golfers Get Up And Down From 50 Yards?
When comparing the Shot Scope data across all measured handicap indexes (0-25), the average up and down percentage from inside 50 yards is 38%.
That figure is impacted by a significant variation between the success rate of a scratch golfer in comparison to a high-handicap player, so let's break it down to provide a little further clarity.
A scratch golfer has an average up and down percentage of 54%, which is 18% higher than the general average and significantly higher than other amateur golfers. This highlights the significance of a sharp short game, specifically from this key distance.
The correlation in the data says getting up and down from positions like this more often will help you in your quest to reduce your handicap
A 10-handicap golfer has less success from 50 yards and in, with an average up and down percentage of just 39%. That means six out of every ten attempts result in at least three shots to hole out.
That downward trend continues when you look at the data of a 20-handicap golfer, who has an average up and down percentage of 31%. The difference in outcome from the same distance, when compared to a scratch golfer, further outlines the importance of consistency with a wedge in hand.
But, how can you tidy up your short game to chase down the dream of a single figure handicap?
How To Get Up And Down From Anywhere
Learning how to get up and down from anywhere, by practicing from tricky situations you are likely to find on the course, is the perfect way to build confidence for the real deal.
There are some great tips and drills in our comprehensive guide (link above), but here is a list of the key shots you should focus on:
1. Chipping from a downhill lie
2. Plugged bunker shot
3. Flop shot over danger to a tight pin
4. Long bunker shot
5. Buried in long greenside rough
6. Up against the collar
So, next time you head to your local short game practice area, stop with the ego-boosting 15 yard chip shots off a lovely flat lie and give yourself a challenge. You'll be glad you did the next time you face one of these shots on the course.
When practicing your short game, it's important to add some variety and pressure by regularly changing your lie, position and level of difficulty
What does 'up and down' mean in golf?
The basic explanation of this term is to get the ball from it's current location onto the green and hole out with your first putt.
Essentially, you need to take less than two shots to get the ball in the hole from around the green to get 'up and down' successfully.
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