Up + Down Golf
The Short Game Game
- Your watch picks the distance.
- You chip, putt it out, enter your score. 9 holes. 15 minutes. Done.
- $5. No subscription. No ads. No Tracking. Practice like you play.
My Short Game Practice Was Aimless
“Practice” was hitting ball after ball from the same spot until I got bored. Maybe I’d move, maybe I’d quit. No structure, no pressure, no point. It wasn’t practice — it was just hitting balls.
So, I read some books and developed the Up + Down game. One ball. Real pressure. Simple to use.
On your Garmin or Apple Watch.
I knew I should practice my short game more, but I didn’t. Because it was boring. And I didn’t really know how.
Facts: Hitting 30 chips from the same spot isn’t golf. On the course, you get one chance. Time to practice like you play.
Up + Down is a different experience:
Turns out deliberate short game practice is a literal game changer. You probably already knew this, but I guess I just needed to find out for myself. No spoilers.
$5. One time. No subscription.
Full disclosure:
When I started this, I was neither a great golfer NOR a great programmer. What I learned most was how to swear. In multiple programming languages. After I built this for myself, it became obvious any golfer who used it would benefit. So here it is. I hope you enjoy it like I do.
This app collects zero data. No logins. No subscriptions. No tracking. Your short game struggles are between you, your watch, and your ears.
A couple bucks and a couple of weeks.
Commit to a streak of 15.
Mid to high handicapper, I suspect you will see a fundamental change to your game.
Low handicappers, I doubt you will find a better spit shine on your technique anywhere else for half the cost of a bucket of balls.
Bonus: It’s fun! Because it’s golf!
Quick Answers
Yeah. That’s golf. No mulligans, no “I’ll try that again.” Simulates the pressure you feel when it counts.
For Up + Down mode, yes. Somewhere you can chip and putt. Pitch Perfect just needs an open field, park, or dedicated pitching area. Turns out when you’re looking for them, they’re not hard to find.
Miss more than two days, it resets. Turns out skills stay sharpest with consistent practice. Your watch keeps track. And judges. Accountability works.
For you? I don’t know. But for me? It didn’t shave strokes – it tore them from the bone.
You should have started yesterday. Next best option is today. Your buddies will notice.
Quick Start Guide
Up + Down Mode (2 minutes to learn)
Before you start: Stand at the hole on your practice green with a ball, putter, and wedge.
Setup:
- Pace from the hole to the edge of the fringe
- Enter that number in the app
- Press START
Play:
- App shows a distance – walk to it
- Chip or bump onto green, putt out
- Count your strokes
- Tap +/- to enter your score
- Press START
- Repeat for 9 holes
That’s it. 15 minutes. Done.
Pitch Perfect Mode (2 minutes to learn)
Before you start: Drop a target (bag, towel, anything) in an open field or pitching area.
Setup:
- Pace the maximum distance of your practice area
- Enter that number in the app
- Press START
Play:
- App shows a distance – walk to it
- Hit one shot toward your target
- Pace from where your ball landed back to target
- Tap +/- to enter that distance
- Press START
- Repeat for 9 holes
That’s it. 15 minutes. Done.
First Session Tips
- TOSS means underhand toss onto green (like bocce), then putt out
- SAND means toss into bunker, play from there
- The half-step toggle (1/2) adds precision if you need it
- Don’t overthink it – you’ll have it figured out after 2-3 holes
Full documentation below if you want the details.
How It Works
Two Game Modes:
My average game is 14 minutes. Your mileage will vary, but it’s a good number to know if you want to squeeze in a session between errands.
UP + DOWN
Practice chips and tosses from the fringe (5-60 feet)
One ball. Chip or bump onto green, putt it out. Just like on the course.
Step 1: Set Your Minimum Distance
- Stand at the hole on your practice green
- Pace off the distance from the hole to the middle of the fringe (typically 5-20 paces)
- Enter this distance by tapping left (-) or right (+) to adjust
- Tap the title “hole to fringe” to view instructions
- Tap middle of screen to toggle half-step (1/2) for more precise measurements. A white “1/2” appears when active
- Tap bottom of screen to toggle Sand Trap option (Yes/No)
- Press START button when ready to begin
Step 2: Play Your Shots
How to Play:
- Walk to the indicated distance
- Check the shot type:
- No label – Hit with a club (chip or bump)
- TOSS – Underhand toss onto green
- SAND – Toss into bunker, play it as it lies
- Play ONE BALL – Execute your shot, then follow the ball and putt out. No mulligans
- Count strokes to hole out
- Tap left (-) or right (+) to adjust count
- Press START to record and advance
Congratulations! You’ve just completed one hole of actual practice that mirrors real golf.
Step 3: Complete Your Round
After 9 holes, you’ll see your final score. You have two options:
- Cancel Returns to main menu, does NOT save this round
- Confirm Saves the round to your stats and continues your practice streak
PITCH PERFECT
Practice approach shots (13-90 yards)
One shot per hole. Measure proximity. Build pressure skills.
Step 1: Set Your Maximum Distance
- Pace off the maximum distance of your practice area (typically 30-80 paces)
- Tap left (-) or right (+) to adjust the maximum distance
- Tap the title “max distance” to view instructions
- Tap middle of screen to toggle half-step (1/2)
- Press START when ready to begin
The game will randomly assign distances between 13 paces (minimum) and your selected maximum for each hole.
Step 2: Hit Your Approach Shots
How to Play:
- Place your target (bag, towel, or marker) at the hole location
- Walk out to the indicated distance from your target
- Hit ONE shot – No mulligans. This is the one that counts
- Measure – Pick up your ball, pace back to the target, count your steps
- Tap left (-) or right (+) to enter the distance from target
- Press START to record and advance
Pitch Perfect Scoring Guide
- Hole-in-one (0 paces away)
- Birdie – 1-2 paces from target
- Par – 3-4 paces from target
- Bogey – 5-6 paces from target
- Double Bogey – 7+ paces from target
Step 3: Complete and Save
After 9 holes, review your results:
- Cancel Returns to main menu without saving
- Confirm Saves round to stats and continues streak
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some holes say TOSS in orange?
TOSS means you should underhand toss the ball onto the green (like bocce ball) instead of hitting it with a club. This trains your ability to read green speed and rollout without the variables of club contact. After tossing onto the green, you putt out normally with your putter. When there’s no label shown, use your club to chip normally. The game tracks both separately to help you develop well-rounded short game skills.
What does SAND mean and how do I play it?
If you enabled Sand Trap practice in the distance input screen, the game will occasionally assign a SAND shot. When this happens, no distance is shown—simply toss your ball into the practice bunker and play it as it lies. Execute your bunker shot and putt out as normal. This adds bunker practice to your short game routine and keeps you sharp from the sand!
How do I fix a score from a previous hole?
During gameplay, tap the blue arrows at the top of the screen to navigate back to previous holes. Left arrow goes back, right arrow returns to current hole. Arrows are gray when unavailable.
What does “1/2” mean on the distance input screen?
Tap the middle of the distance input screen to toggle half-step precision (adds 0.5 to your pace count). White “1/2” appears when active for more precise distance measurements.
Do I need to play all 9 holes?
You can exit anytime by pressing BACK, but only completed 9-hole games can be saved for handicap tracking.
How accurate are the pace measurements?
Pace accuracy depends on your stride consistency. Calibrate your step size in settings for best results. Walk naturally and count carefully. If your paces are wildly inconsistent, might I suggest walking lessons? They’re probably a thing.
Why isn’t there an undo button?
Because learning to live with your mistakes builds character. Also because I couldn’t figure out how to implement it elegantly. Mostly the character thing though.
Can I practice without saving my scores?
Yes! When you finish a game, tap DISCARD instead of SAVE. This lets you practice without affecting your handicap.
There’s a lot of walking in Pitch Perfect
First, that isn’t a question. Second, there’s a lot of walking in golf. I recommend taking that time to think about what you’ve done and what you’re going to do differently next time. Consider it meditation. Or cardio. Or punishment. Pick whichever makes you feel better about it.
User Guide
Jump to:
Getting Started
Main Menu
When you launch the app, you’ll see a splash screen followed by the main menu with two options:
- Tap the top half to start Up + Down mode
- Tap the bottom half to start Pitch Perfect mode
- Tap the handicap bubble in center to view your stats and settings
- Press BACK button to minimize the app
The handicap bubble shows your overall performance (average score relative to par across all games).
Screen Features
Common elements across game modes:
- Blue arrows (top) – Navigate to previous holes to fix scores. Gray when unavailable.
- Clock (top center) – Shows the current time. This used to be what watches did.
- Hole number – Shows current hole.
- Distance displays – Shown in paces with feet/meters conversion.
- BACK button – Always takes you back to previous screen.
- START button – Confirms actions when applicable.
UP + DOWN
Practice chips and tosses from the fringe (5-60 feet)
One ball. Chip or bump onto green, putt it out. Just like on the course.
PITCH PERFECT
Practice approach shots (13-90 yards)
One shot per hole. Measure proximity. Build pressure skills.
Watch Controls Quick Reference
| Screen | Action | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Main Menu | Start Up + Down | Tap top half of screen |
| Main Menu | Start Pitch Perfect | Tap bottom half of screen |
| Main Menu | View Stats | Tap handicap bubble (center) |
| Distance Input | Increase distance | Tap right side (+) |
| Distance Input | Decrease distance | Tap left side (-) |
| Distance Input | Toggle half-step | Tap middle of screen |
| Up + Down Setup | Toggle Sand option | Tap bottom of screen |
| Active Game | Adjust stroke count | Tap left (-) or right (+) |
| Active Game | Record hole | Press START button |
| Game Complete | Save round | Tap Confirm |
| Game Complete | Discard round | Tap Cancel |
| Stats Screen | View game history | Tap game mode row |
| Stats Screen | Access Settings | Swipe UP |
| Settings Screen | Back to stats | Swipe DOWN |
| Any Screen | Return to menu | Press BACK button |
Stats & Settings
Viewing Your Stats
From the main menu, tap the handicap bubble to view your statistics:
Each row shows: Game mode followed by games played, handicap average, and average duration
- U+D – Stats for Up + Down mode
- PP – Stats for Pitch Perfect mode
Streak Counter (displayed prominently at bottom):
- Green – Day 1 of current streak
- Yellow – Day 2 of current streak
- Red – Day 3 of current streak
On the fourth day it resets to zero. Sorry. Better luck next time.
Tap any game mode row to view your game history. Tap individual games to see hole-by-hole breakdown.
Swipe UP to access settings from the stats screen.
Configuring Settings
Adjust these settings to personalize your experience:
- Step Size – Calibrate pace length to match your stride
- S – 22in (0.56m)
- M – 26in (0.66m) – Default
- L – 31in (0.79m)
- XL – 36in (0.91m)
Tap the row to cycle through options
- Units – Choose between Statute (feet/yards) or Metric (meters)Tap the row to toggle
- Reset Data – Clear all saved games and handicap data (requires confirmation)
Swipe DOWN to return to stats, or press START button to return to main menu.
QR Code Screen
From the settings screen, swipe DOWN one more time to access the QR Code screen. This displays a scannable QR code that links directly to this documentation page—perfect for sharing the game with friends or quickly accessing the guide on your phone.
Swipe UP to return to settings.
Game History & Details
Tap any game mode row (U+D or PP) on the stats screen to view your game history list.
Game List View
- Shows all saved games for that mode
- Displays: Date, Score, Duration (minutes)
- Tap any game to view hole-by-hole breakdown
Game Detail View
- Shows complete hole-by-hole results
- Displays total score and duration
- Shows which shots were played (CHIP/TOSS/SAND for U+D, distances for PP)
- Delete option available – Remove individual games if needed
Duration Tracking
The game tracks how long each round takes:
- Timer starts when you begin
- Timer stops when you save/discard
- Duration shown on game detail view and stats page
- Average duration calculated per mode (rounded to nearest minute)
Thank you, friend, for reading to the end. I sincerely hope this simple little app helps you to enjoy the great game of Golf more and more every day. It has for me.
-bob