Chipping · Lesson
A Reliable Bump-and-Run in Six Steps
Part of our chipping programs for distance control. Build a program with it
A low shot has less that can go wrong. It uses the ground to give you steady carry and roll. Here's how to hit one. Use a short iron or pitching wedge. Play the ball a bit back, toward your trail foot. Narrow your stance. Set your hands a little ahead of the ball. Keep the swing short and compact. Use a smooth, steady tempo. Then practice it to learn how far it flies and rolls.
Step by step
- Short iron or pitching wedge.
- Ball back, stance narrow.
- Hands slightly ahead.
- Short, compact swing.
- Smooth tempo, then learn your distances.
Why it works
A less-lofted club with the ball back and hands ahead delivers the club to the ball on a slightly downward path with little loft. The ball launches low, lands soon, and then rolls like a putt. A short, compact swing with a steady tempo keeps the low point of the swing in the same place, so contact is repeatable and distance depends mostly on swing length.
Common mistakes
- Leaning back or trying to scoop the ball into the air.Keep your weight slightly toward your lead foot and let the club's loft do the work.
- Flipping the wrists through impact, which adds loft and causes thin or fat contact.Keep your hands ahead of the clubhead through the strike and turn your chest to move the club.
- Swinging too hard or at an uneven pace.Shorten the backswing and match the length of the back and through swings at a smooth tempo.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts low and lands within a few feet of your landing spot on the green.
- You feel a clean brush of the turf with a shallow mark in the grass, not a deep divot.
- Your shots stop at similar distances when you repeat the same swing length.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a flat, short-grass lie with a target only a few paces away, so you can focus on contact.
Harder: Hit to a small target on a green with a slope or a rough lie, and choose a landing spot before each shot.
Common questions
When should I use a bump-and-run instead of a lob shot?
Use it when you have a clear, fairly flat path to the hole and little rough or hazard in the way. It has fewer moving parts, so it is a safer shot than a high one.
Which club is best for a bump-and-run?
A short iron or pitching wedge is a good start. Less loft means more roll, so try different clubs to see how far each one carries and rolls.
