Golf Glossary
Up and Down
In short
An up and down in golf is a result in which you hole out from a lie beside the green in just two strokes: one stroke onto the green and one putt. The lie can be rough, fringe or a bunker. The term describes the short game skill of saving par after a missed green.
Up and down in golf: the meaning explained
The term has two directions. In the usual explanation, up stands for the stroke that brings the ball onto the green, high or low. Down stands for the putt that drops it into the hole. Together that is two strokes, no more.
An up and down starts after a missed green. The ball lies beside the green, for example in the rough, on the fringe, in a hollow or in a bunker. You play a chip, a pitch or a bunker shot onto the green and hole the first putt. A putt from the fringe can also be the first stroke of an up and down, if the ball then drops with one further putt.
If you missed the green in regulation, an up and down usually gives a par. The reason: two strokes for the way to the green have already been used, and the two strokes of the up and down are added. On a par 4 that is four strokes in total. That is why the up and down is also described as saving par.
Example: an up and down on a par 4
A par 4 of 340 metres. The tee shot flies 210 metres and finishes on the fairway. There are still 130 metres to the green. Your second shot lands just right of the green in the rough, three metres from the flag. No green in regulation.
Now comes the short game: you choose a pitching wedge and play a chip onto the green. The ball lands one metre beyond the edge of the green and rolls to 80 centimetres from the hole. The putt drops. You have used four strokes, exactly par. That is a successful up and down.
A different course of events: the chip gets stuck in the thick rough. The second chip lands on the green and two putts follow. That is six strokes in total, a double bogey. In the statistics this hole reads: green missed, up and down not made.
This example shows that an up and down is often a question of lie and decision. If you choose a safe target from the rough, you save par more often.
Up and down, sand save and scrambling: the difference
The three terms belong together but do not mean the same thing.
- Up and down: two strokes from a lie beside the green into the hole. The route counts, not the par.
- Sand save: an up and down from a greenside bunker. It is therefore a special case.
- Scrambling: the percentage of holes on which you miss the green in regulation and still make par or better. This also includes holes where a long putt or a further stroke was needed.
The fine difference lies in the reference point. The up and down refers to a ball beside the green, scrambling to a whole hole. If your ball lies at the edge of the green after three strokes, you can still make an up and down with a chip and a putt. The hole then ends in a bogey and does not count as a par save in scrambling.
Many apps and statistics sites do not use the terms consistently. Check which definition your tool uses before you compare values.
What is a good up and down percentage?
The up and down percentage is the number of successful up and downs divided by the number of all attempts, times one hundred. If you have five attempts and succeed twice, the percentage is 40.
For PGA Tour players the scrambling percentage according to the usual statistics is in the order of just under 60 per cent. Even the best players in the world fail about four times in ten. This is down to difficult lies, bunkers and fast, sloping greens.
For amateurs the values are lower and depend strongly on handicap and course. If you want to improve your percentage, first make sure that the first shot lands on the green at all. A ball on the green usually means a bogey at worst, and for many players that is already a good result.
The distance matters as well: an up and down from five metres succeeds more often than one from 30 metres. Note the lie and the distance as well as the result.
Club choice: chip, pitch, bunker shot or putter
Which shot makes the up and down safest depends on the lie and the distance. A simple rule helps: as little air as possible, as much roll as possible.
- Putter: if the ball is on the fringe and the grass is short, the putter is often the safest choice. Contact is simple.
- Chip: the ball lands just beyond the edge of the green and rolls to the hole. An 8 or 9 iron, or a pitching wedge, is usual for this.
- Pitch: the ball flies higher and lands more softly. It is chosen when there is an obstacle in the way or little green to roll on.
- Bunker shot: from the greenside bunker you play with the sand wedge. You will find details under sand save.
- Flop shot: a very high shot. It is risky and only worthwhile when there is little room between ball and flag.
Before the shot, pick the spot where the ball should land. Then see how far it rolls. If you know the landing spot, you automatically choose the right club.
Typical mistakes with the up and down
These mistakes cost most players strokes:
- Too much risk: a flop shot from a poor lie sounds spectacular but often fails. A simple chip saves a stroke in many cases.
- Looking up too early. The head lifts, and the club makes poor contact with the ball or hits the ground too early.
- Too little speed: a chip that stops short of the edge of the green gives away a stroke. Swing through firmly.
- A poor putt afterwards: even a good chip often finishes one to two metres from the hole. If you do not hole these putts reliably, you give away pars.
- The wrong target: not every flag can be attacked. If the flag is close to the edge, the middle of the green is the better target.
A note on etiquette: mark your ball on the green before you pick it up, and repair pitch marks. That belongs to every up and down.
Drills: how to practise the up and down
The short game can be practised well in a small space. Three drills have proved their worth:
- Nine-ball game: place nine balls at different spots around the green, for example in the rough, on the fringe and in the bunker. Play each ball until it is holed. Count how often you finish in two strokes. Repeat the drill and try to improve your number.
- Landing spot practice: put a towel on the green. Play ten chips with the aim of landing the ball on the towel. This improves your feel for the roll distance.
- Putts from two metres: practise five putts from two metres and count the makes. A good up and down needs a secure second stroke.
Practise with targets and counting, not just repetitions. That way you see progress and train under a little pressure, as on the course. A coach can show you which type of shot suits your swing.
Try it at Golf Lounge
The short game improves much faster with guidance. At Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg you book a one-to-one lesson with a PGA Pro online, 60 minutes, daily by appointment. Besides full lessons there are short impulse sessions, for example on the short game or putting. If needed, your swing is analysed with TrackMan.
Frequently asked questions
What does up and down mean in golf?
An up and down means you hole out from a lie beside the green in two strokes: a chip, pitch or bunker shot onto the green and one putt. If you missed the green in regulation beforehand, that gives a par. It is a measure of your short game.
Is an up and down the same as scrambling?
No. The up and down describes two strokes from a lie beside the green. Scrambling is the percentage of holes on which you miss the green in regulation and still make par or better. The terms are close, but they are counted differently depending on the statistic.
How do you calculate the up and down percentage?
You divide the number of successful up and downs by the number of attempts and multiply by one hundred. Two successes in five attempts is 40 per cent. Because there are only a few attempts per round, the figure only becomes reliable over several rounds.
Which shot is safest for an up and down?
It depends on the lie and the distance. Usually: as little air as possible, as much roll as possible. If the ball is on short grass at the edge of the green, the putter is a safe choice. From the rough a chip with a mid iron often fits. The pitch makes sense when an obstacle is in the way.
How can I improve my up and down?
Practise with targets and count your successes, for example with the nine-ball game around the green. Train the landing spot and the roll distance. Also practise putts from one to two metres. A coach can help you find the right type of shot.
As of: October 2026