Updated on February 28th, 2023 at 04:00 pm
Bump and Run Shot
A bump and run shot with my pitching wedge or 9 iron, will forever be my go-to short-game shot. Even as I worked my way down to a single-digit handicap, this shot was just so much more reliable than standard chips with a higher lofted club.
If you are wondering what this bump and run shot is, how to hit a proper bump and run, and which club would be the best to use, we have you covered.
Bump and run meaning
The bump and run shot is a low spinning short game shot that keeps the ball lower to the ground, eliminates many of the errors seen in a typical greenside shot, and helps golfers get the ball close enough to the hole for a one-putt.
Many bump and run shots will land halfway between you and the pin and roll the other half of the way.
With most shots in golf, there is a certain risk involved. When you hit a variety of shots, especially high-lofted flop shots, you need a larger swing with a higher-lofted club, which can cause chunks and skulls. You can learn how to Stop thin and fat shots here.
The bump and run is a simple shot, and you can use many different clubs in the bag to make it happen.
When should I bump and run?
The bump and run is best to use when there is room between you and the golf hole, with very little trouble in between. When the ground is flat, and the golf ball can bump the green and still stay on the proper line, the bump and run is a great choice.
Sometimes if you short side yourself, you can hit a small bump with a lob wedge or sand wedge and hope that it doesn’t run as far as it would with a lower lofted club. If there is a lot of rough between you and the pin, it’s best to hit something other than a bump and run.
Clean, short grass between you and the pin will make it the perfect condition to hit a bump and run shot.
How far should you bump and run?
How far you hit your bump and run shot will depend on the club you are using and the skill level of the golfer. The general rule is about one-third carry and two-thirds roll. The bump phase of the shot can sometimes be slightly more elevated if you are using a Gap wedge or a 60-degree golf wedge.
With the higher bump and run shots, expect that you may fly the shot halfway there and have it roll the other half of the way. In addition, the way the ball bounces when it hits the green will impact the total distance it rolls.
For most bump shots, it’s best to have a lower spin; if your shot spins on you all of a sudden, this won’t be one of your favorite golf shots.
What club should you bump and run with?
A lower lofted club is often considered best for a bump and run shot; however, anything from a 4 hybrid down to a pitching wedge can work as long as you know the technique. It takes a bit of practice time to learn how to control the length of your bump and run shots.
Since you will be using a different golf club, depending on your distance to the pin, expect to see some issues with distance control initially. I love the bump and run shot with my 7-iron and 8-iron.
These clubs have just enough loft to have a softer impact on the green and help me keep my golf game more controlled. Even golf professionals will use a bump and run type shot at times, but they will use clubs with a little more loft and control that loft as they play.
See this post on the Chipping rule of 12 to determine how far each club will carry and roll while chipping near the green.
Hitting A Great Bump and Run: 3 Key Tips
Now that you know what a bump and run are and how they can help make you a better game player,here are the things to keep in mind while you are playing these shots on the course.
1) The Bump And Run Is Always Safer Than The Flop Chip Shot
We know it’s fun to watch confident and competent players hit these high-lofted approaches that stop quickly on the green. However, that is not for everything. Keep the ball closer to the ground, focus on clean contact, and your results will greatly improve.
2) Make Downward Contact With The Golf Ball
If you try and lift a chip up and forget to hit down and through, you will not see the best results. Higher ball speed, ball first contact, and consistency of strike are important in a bump and run shot. Make this as clean and simple of a shot as you can.
3) Choose A Club Based On Distance
Distance control skills are incredibly important when hitting a bump and run shot. You can control distance by club selection but keep your stroke almost exactly the same. For mid-range bump and run shots, I take out the 7 or 8 iron, the Pitching wedge shots are for shorter shots, and the long irons are when there is a lot of green to work with.
Keeping the swing simple and changing out the club can help make these short approach shots much more accurate.
The team at AEC Info hope you enjoyed this little lesson on hitting the bump and run, and with practice, you will become more confident and accurate chipping around the green. Be sure to check out the following posts to improve your game while having more fun doing so.
