We have all been told to play with less loft around the greens before, but often, we are expected to know the correct technique. In the video below, PGA Professional Jack Backhouse simplifies the technique and explains some drills to help improve your touch.
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Why will I get up and down more with the bump and run?
Choosing to play the low-running chip shot lowers your expected score statistically over a higher lofted shot because of the risk involved. With more loft, you have to make a longer swing and be more precise with your contact, and the potential bad outcomes are far worse than when you choose to play the same shot with a low-lofted club.
When chipping with an 8 or 9 iron, it is quite often the case that a poorly stuck shot performs as well as a well-struck one, meaning your dispersion will be smaller and more predictable.
Common faults
There are 3 faults that I commonly see golfers get wrong when setting up and playing the bump and run:
- Standing too wide and too far away. Just because we are choosing an iron to play this shot doesn’t mean we set up for it like a regular iron shot. We should be narrow in the stance and much closer to the ball.
- Gripping at the top of the grip. We can add control and precision to our shots by gripping down at the bottom of the grip with our fingers almost on the steel.
- Hitting the ground with the club. A thin shot goes just as far as a well-struck shot when chipping with a low loft, so we shouldn’t let the club touch the ground at all in our swing.
What does a good chipping technique look like with a low-lofted club?
Let’s get this ironed out so there is no confusion in how to address the ball:
- Narrow stance
- Ball back of the centre
- Hands at the bottom of the grip, slightly ahead of the ball
- Weight 70/30 on the front foot
- Lead shoulder tilted down
Drills
There is only one drill you need to master this shot and develop a great touch around the greens. This drill will also help convince you that chipping with low loft is an optimal strategy whenever you approach a missed green.
- Three-club drill. Take a lob wedge, nine iron, hybrid, and three balls to anywhere around the green. Play one ball with each club as a competition from nine different locations around the green, and note which club wins the most holes and which one loses the most.
If you are anything like most golfers I teach, the hybrid and 9 iron will be head-to-head for most holes won, with the lob wedge a comfortable third. If you change location each shot, you will quickly develop a great feel with each club and learn when and when not to play with each club. I like golfers to try doing this once per week, and their short games always improve.
If you want to watch some more of Jack’s swing tips instruction videos, you can get to his YouTube Technique Tips playlist by clicking here. Please check out our other instruction articles if you liked this bump and run article!
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