Get up and down more often by using these clubs – Shot Scope

While we would like to hit every green on the course, inevitably, at some point, we will miss the putting surface and be forced to attempt an up and down. The team at Shot Scope have pulled some short game statistics from their on course performance database of over 350 million shots to see how amateurs attempt an up and down.

How often have you witnessed your playing partner use a high lofted wedge around the green and make a complete mess of it, either chunking it 2ft or thinning it 20ft? Yes, when it comes off it looks good, but really matters, one shot or the total score when you finish your round?

A sign of a good short game is the ability to use different clubs when the situation calls for it and you might be surprised how effective lesser lofted clubs can be. 

Below we have short game data, 0-50yds from the green, for both the SW and 9i from the Shot Scope handicap benchmarks:

We can see that the higher handicappers, in particular the 20 and 25hcp golfers elect to use the higher lofted option more than any other benchmark. Despite such a strong preference for loft, they have the lowest likelihood of getting up and down with the SW. 

The 5hcp golfer, the low single figure player, uses SW for roughly ¼ of their short game shots and converts approximately ⅓ attempts – not bad at all but it could be better as we see with the 9i.

Less loft, lower scores

A 9 iron is by no means lacking in loft and many players will use lesser lofted clubs like 7i for their bump and runs but for those who are used to using wedges, this club is a happy medium.

Across all of the Shot Scope handicap benchmarks, we see that the 9i is seldom used around the green by the amateur golfer, and yet it yields such great results.

The 25hcp golfer is 3x more likely to get up and down with a 9i compared to a SW and yet will elect to use the wedge for nearly half of their shots around the green.

When we consult the below table on general up and down likelihood from inside 50yds we can see that most players are unlikely to successfully convert their attempt.

However, based on the club selection data presented previously, perhaps these numbers could be higher if players made better decisions around the green. Instead of solely relying on high tariff wedge shots, get the ball rolling on the putting surface as quick as possible with a lesser lofted option.

Lastly, the Texas Wedge – the best option around the green

Whilst it is not always possible to use a putter when you miss the green, if you can, it is hugely beneficial, check out the stats below:

This is not to say hit putter from everywhere, but if you think it could be an option, it probably is the best one.

In terms of margin for error, as the loft comes down, the margin goes up (less likely to be punished for a bad strike). A saying that embodies this goes like: Putt when you can, chip if you can’t putt, and pitch only if you have to.

Making better decisions is a key component to lowering scores and Shot Scope have various award winning GPS watches and laser rangefinders to help you make informed decisions on the course.

Want insight like this and more into your game?

If you want to learn which club gives you the greatest likelihood of getting up and down, check out Shot Scope performance tracking products. 

Shot Scope users enjoy subscription-free access to game-changing insight into their golf with over 100 tour level statistics to analyze on their performance including strokes gained and handicap benchmarking.

Handicap benchmarks make data analysis easier than ever allowing you to quickly compare your performance to players of a similar level instantly.Take your game to the next level with Shot Scope.