Chipping · Tip
Pick the Right Club for a Bump and Run
Part of our chipping programs for thin or bladed, distance control. Build a program with it
The right club depends on two things. How much green you have. And how far you need to carry it. Less carry and more roll means less loft. More carry means more loft. Learn the carry and roll for a few clubs. Then you'll have options instead of reaching for the sand wedge every time. Try the same stroke with three clubs and watch the difference.
Step by step
- Check the distance to the green's edge and the hole.
- More carry: more loft.
- Lots of green: less loft.
- Hit one stroke with three clubs.
- Write down carry and roll for each.
Why it works
Loft sets how steeply the ball leaves the face. A lower lofted club sends the ball out lower, so it spends less time in the air and rolls more once it lands. A higher lofted club sends it up, so it carries farther for the same stroke and rolls less. If you keep the stroke the same and change only the club, you can see exactly what loft does and choose the club that matches the green you have.
Common mistakes
- You change your stroke to make each club do a different job.Keep the same setup and stroke length for all three clubs and let the loft change the carry and roll.
- You pick the club before you look at the green.Check the distance to the edge and to the hole first, then choose the loft that lands the ball just onto the green.
- You judge a club from one ball.Hit at least three balls with each club and write down the average carry and roll before you decide.
How you'll know it's working
- Each club lands in a clearly different spot, with the lower lofted clubs landing later and rolling farther.
- Your written notes show a repeatable carry and roll for each club, not random numbers.
- The ball lands on the green's edge or just past it and rolls toward the hole instead of stopping short or flying past.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a flat, open lawn or a practice green with no slope and hit to a target at one fixed distance.
Harder: Change the distance to the hole and the amount of green between you and the target, then pick the club for each shot before you hit it.
Common questions
What club should I use for a bump and run?
Use the least loft that still lets the ball clear the rough or fringe and land on the green. With more green to work with, a lower lofted club such as an 8-iron or 9-iron is often a good choice.
How do I know how far a chip will roll?
Hit several chips with the same stroke and note where the ball lands and where it stops. The carry and roll you record for each club become your guide for similar shots.
