Golf Tips: Up And Down Challenge

This post could cross over into a Tuesday tip, but it could be considered more of a “fun” drill or game to play alone or with friends. Next time you are at the practice green alone or with a friend or two, work on up and downs.  Take ONE ball, one wedge and your putter and see how many up and downs you can make from various positions around the green. Every hole on the practice green will be considered a par-2.  Throw your ball somewhere in the rough around the putting surface and challenge yourself to get up and down in two shots, a chip and a putt. To me this sort of drill is much more useful than throwing down a bucket of balls in one spot and hitting 40 chips in a row for chipping practice.  It is better than throwing down a bunch of balls on the green and putting all of them from one position for putting drills. First, chipping 40 balls is boring. Second, it isn’t what you do on the golf course.  On the course you have one shot at making a good chip and one shot at making the first putt to save par. Pick 9 or 18 holes and play against a par of 18 or 36.  Everyone misses greens from 36 handicappers to PGA Tour pros.  The big difference between the two is the percentage they get up and down.