Chipping · Tip
Plan Your Bump-and-Run From the Hole Back
Part of our chipping programs for distance control. Build a program with it
On firm ground, see the ground as a path, not something to fly over. Most golfers look at the lie and grab a club. Try reading it backward. Start at the hole. Trace the ball's path back to where it sits. Read the green like a putt. Then keep going off the green. Look for changes in grass height. Bumps and dips. The edge where fringe meets green. Soft or firm spots. A landing spot is only good if the bounce after it is predictable.
Step by step
- Start your read at the hole.
- Trace the path back to the ball.
- Check the fringe and the edge of the green.
- Look for firm, soft or bumpy spots.
- Choose a landing spot with a clean first bounce.
Why it works
A bump-and-run is a short flight followed by a long roll, so most of the result is decided by what the ball does on the ground. Reading from the hole back shows you the line and speed the ball needs when it arrives at the green. That tells you where the ball must land, and you can then pick a club and swing to match. A landing spot only works if the first bounce is clean, so reading the ground before you choose it removes guesswork.
Common mistakes
- You pick the club first and then look for a place to land the ball.Read the path from the hole back to the ball first, then choose the club that fits the landing spot.
- You read only the green and ignore the fringe and the ground just off the green.Keep tracing the path past the edge and check grass height, bumps, dips and the edge where fringe meets green.
- You choose a landing spot on a bump, a hard patch or the edge of the fringe.Move the landing spot to a flat, even patch so the first bounce is predictable.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball lands on your chosen spot and the first bounce goes where you expected.
- The ball rolls out along the line you traced back from the hole.
- Your misses come from speed, not from an odd hop on the first bounce.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a flat, firm area with a short, clear path and a wide, even landing strip.
Harder: Practice with a bump, a slope or a change in grass height between you and the hole, and pick a landing spot that deals with it.
Common questions
Where should a bump-and-run land?
It should land on a flat, even patch, usually just onto the green or on the short grass before it, where the first bounce is clean. Pick the spot by reading the path back from the hole.
When should I use a bump-and-run instead of a lob?
Use it when the ground is firm, there is clear, open ground between you and the hole, and you have room for the ball to roll. Then the ground does most of the work and the path is easier to predict.
