'I do not need energy, I need precision'. Easy methods to reimagine the bump and run

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com collection during which we’re sharing enhancements, learnings and takeaways from newbie golfers similar to you — together with a few of the pace bumps and challenges they confronted alongside the way in which.

Like most newbie golfers, I sometimes default to utilizing some type of wedge once I’m across the greens — usually a 60-degree (lob wedge). However the issue with doing that’s it places extra stress on me to be almost good in my execution.

Positive, there’s a time and place when attempting to hit a flop shot could be enjoyable (regardless of how tough it’s for a mid-handicapper like myself), however more often than not, simply hitting a easy bump and run is the way in which to get your ball near the opening.

For example, simply the opposite day I used to be hitting balls with my father-in-law across the short-game space. We had been each utilizing our lob wedges and we each struggled to search out any type of consistency. That’s once I ditched the rattling factor and determined to go to a bump and run as a substitute — which led to me taking his cash on our closest-to-the-pin challenges.

The very best factor in regards to the bump and run is that it’s almost foolproof. Whether or not you’re an skilled professional or only a newbie, everybody can often maintain the ball low and watch it roll.

In a current lesson with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mike Dickson, he confirmed me a brand new method to hit a bump and run. Whereas the trajectory and roll appears the identical, Dickson had me reimagine my membership choice — and the outcomes had been completely deadly.

Reimagine the bump and run by increasing your membership choice

Within the video above, Dickson explains how so many golfers work on their full swing to hit the ball higher, however once they get close to the pin, they typically see scores balloon due to poor membership choice.

“We get by the inexperienced and, impulsively, we begin selecting the improper software,” he tells me. “So we wish to get the ball on the bottom, and this is quite common, everybody grabs the membership with probably the most loft within the bag as a result of we’re near the inexperienced.”

Dickson factors out the distinction in loft between the putter (which usually has 3-4 levels of loft) and the lob wedge (which has 60 levels of loft), and the way gamers usually misuse the latter whereas across the placing floor.

“If you happen to’re simply off the perimeter [of the green], you’ll most likely putt it,” he provides. “If I take one step again, although, I’m going from 4 levels to 60 levels? That doesn’t make any sense.”

That is the place Dickson says extra gamers ought to experiment with unconventional membership choices whereas across the inexperienced.

“So we’re going to do a bump and run,” he says. “A brief chip goes to be a pitching wedge, a medium chip goes to be an 8-iron, and the lengthy chip goes to be a 6-iron.”

Wait, what? Dickson’s actually suggesting I exploit both an 8-iron or a 6-iron from about 35 toes from the pin? That’s not someplace I might have arrived by myself, however his logic checks out. Let’s get it!

“We’re going to start out with the 8-iron, so what I need you to do whenever you maintain the membership up is zero out the left wrist,” he explains. “We try this by placing the grip proper beneath the thumb pad as a substitute of below the heel pad. That is the one shot we’re going to grip down on.”

The picture under exhibits how this could look.

Subsequent Dickson has me deal with the ball, making my setup mirror that of a typical placing movement.

“Pull your elbows in barely, after which bow to the ball. We’ll most likely be about 10 inches away from the ball with our toes,” he instructs me. “The heel of the membership is definitely up off the bottom, so much less of the membership goes to seize.”

As I hit my shot, I exploit a backswing of about 20 p.c, which ensures the ball goes about one-third of the space to the cup, after which rolls the remainder of the way in which.

Lastly, Dickson explains what most amateurs do improper when attempting to hit a bump and run.

“Folks don’t get shut, so I wish to get that shaft extra vertical,” he says. “I don’t need energy right here, I need precision.”

By rethinking your technique across the greens and increasing your toolbox of membership choices, you’ll have extra shot sorts — together with the bump and run — to get your ball to complete nearer to the opening.

TaylorMade Qi10 Max Custom Hybrid

$279.99

Introducing the Qi10 Max Rescue. Experience TaylorMade speed with the forgiveness of Qi10 Max, delivering your easy-to-hit tool for replacing long irons.
MAX FORGIVENESS

Extreme perimeter weighting and ultra-low CG create versatility and max forgiveness with the Qi10 Max Rescue. This user-friendly design is engineered for high launch and long carry distances.
LARGER CARBON CROWN

The larger carbon crown creates a strategic advantage for optimal mass redistribution and enhanced forgiveness.

Buy Now

View Product

Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor