How to Execute the Bump and Run
By Steve Silverman
Creativity is a great aspect of golf. Some golfers look at a difficult approach shot to the green and say to themselves, "This is impossible. I can't make this shot," while others look at their approach shot and say, "I can't wait to try this shot." The bump-and-run is a shot for the creative golfer.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Use your 9-iron or pitching wedge when you are about 30 yards away from the green and the flagstick is in one of the back corners. When hitting a bump-and-run shot, your ball will fly off your club on a line, take two bumps and run up to the flagstick. Play the shot with the ball an equal distance between your front foot and back foot.
Put your weight on your forward foot (left foot for right-handed golfers). There is little weight shift with the bump-and-run. You will take your club back to about mid-thigh level and extend it to knee level on the follow-through.
Do not break your wrists on impact. Keep your arms stiff and let your body's momentum help you bring your club through the ball with speed and purpose. With the short backswing and follow-through, the ball will stay low and bump before it rolls to the flagstick.
Hit your bump-and-run shot with a 7- or 8-iron for longer shots. If you lack confidence with your pitch shots and are unable to float them high in the air, you can hit the bump-and-run as an alternative when there are no hazards in your way. If you face a long approach shot and there are no bunkers, water hazards or trees blocking you, you can hit an accurate shot by executing the bump-and-run.
Tips & Warnings
Do not attempt to hit a bump-and-run with your lob wedge or gap wedge. Because of the design of the face of the club, the ball will come to a stop after taking a couple of bounces. You will not face this problem with a pitching wedge or 9-iron.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
