There are different ways to hit and run, you just need to understand how to do it effectively.
GOLF.com
Welcome to Shaving Strokes, the GOLF.com series where we share the progress, lessons learned and takeaways from novice golfers like you — including the speed bumps and challenges they’ve faced along the way.
Like many beginner golfers, I tend to default to some type of wedge when I’m around the greens – usually a 60-degree (lob wedge). But the problem with doing that is that it puts more pressure on me to be almost perfect in my execution.
Sure, there’s a time and place when trying to hit a flop shot can be fun (however difficult it is for an intermediate like me), but most of the time, just hitting the bump and running is the way to get your ball closer to the hole.
Why should you ditch the dangerous flop shot and try a simple bump and run
Jamie Mulligan, Nick Dimengo
For example, one day I was hitting balls with my father-in-law in the short game area. We were both using lob wedges and we both struggled to get any kind of consistency. That’s when I left the damn thing and decided to go on the rampage and run instead – which led to me taking his money in our closest challenges.
The best thing about bump and run is that it’s almost mindless. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, everyone can usually keep the ball down and watch it roll.
In a recent lesson by GOLF Top 100 instructor Mike Dickson, he showed me a new way to hit the ball and run. While the trajectory and roll looked similar, Dickson asked me to rethink my club choice – and the results were dire.
Reconsider the bump and run by expanding your club selection
In the video above, Dickson explains how many golfers work on their full swing to hit the ball better, but when they get close to the pin, they often see scores balloon due to poor club selection.
“We’re going through a green field and, suddenly, we start choosing the wrong tool,” he tells me. “So we want to put the ball down, and this is very common, everyone grabs a club with a lot of loft in the bag because it’s closer to the green.”
The expert says that only golfers who can do this should carry a high lob wedge
Jonathan Wall
Dickson points out the difference in loft between a putter (which typically has 3-4 degrees of loft) and a lob wedge (which has 60 degrees of loft), and how players often misuse it when they were going around the place.
“If you ever just showed up [of the green], you will probably put it down,” he adds. “However, if I take one step back, will I go from 4 degrees to 60 degrees? That doesn’t make sense.”
That’s when Dickson says more players should try unusual team options on the green.
“So we’re going to make a bump and run,” he said. “The short chip will be the pitching wedge, the medium chip will be the 8 iron, and the long chip will be the 6 iron.”
Wait, what? Dickson’s indeed suggests I use an 8 or 6 iron from about 35 the feet from where? There is no place I would get to on my own, but his mind is exploring. Let’s find it!
“We’re going to start with an 8 iron, so what I want you to do when you lift the club is to take your left wrist out,” he explained. “We do that by putting a grip under the thumb instead of under the heel. This is the only gun we will hold on to.”
The image below shows how this should look.
GOLF.com
Next Dickson told me to talk to the ball, making my setup mirror a normal motion.
“Cross your elbows slightly, and bow to the ball. We’ll be about 10 inches from the ball with our toes,” he instructed. “The heel of the club is actually high, so there’s less for the club to catch.”
As I hit my shot, I use about 20 percent backswing, which ensures that the ball travels about one-third of the distance to the cup, and then rolls all the way.
Justin Thomas: 3 simple keys to short shots
Nick Dimengo
Finally, Dickson explains what most startups do wrong when they try to hit the bump and run.
He says: “People don’t approach, so I want to make it vertical. “I don’t want power here, I want precision.”
By rethinking your strategy on the greens and expanding your toolbox of club options, you’ll have more shots — including bump and run — to get your ball to finish closer to the hole.
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