Bump and Run
A bump and run is an approach shot in which the ball flies briefly and then rolls a long way across the green towards the hole.
The bump and run is the workhorse shot around the green. Instead of throwing the ball up high, you play it in flat with a small swing, let it land on the apron or the green and roll out. It is used when there is plenty of green in front of you without an obstacle and the ball can roll undisturbed. In the English-speaking world this style of shot is also called a run-up shot. It is the counterpart to the high, quickly stopping pitch and is part of the foundation of the short game.
The execution is deliberately kept simple. An example: your ball lies five metres in front of the green, the flag stands twenty metres further back, the ground is firm. You take an 8 iron instead of the wedge, position the ball slightly back in your stance and swing as you would for a long putt. The ball flies only the first few metres and rolls the rest like a putt towards the flag. The swing stays short, the wrists quiet, and the clubface provides the height.
The most common mistake is choosing the wrong club out of habit. Many automatically reach for the wedge even though the flat version is clearly safer, because less flight also means fewer sources of error. Second-rate bump-and-runs often finish closer to the hole than half-hearted high shots. On fast, firm courses and in wind the rolling ball is the clever choice anyway — golfers on old links courses appreciate this in particular.
FAQ
When is the bump and run the better choice than a high pitch?
Whenever there is plenty of open green in front of you without an obstacle and the ball can roll undisturbed. On firm ground and in wind the flat-rolling ball is clearly safer than a high pitch, which is vulnerable in the air. It is part of the foundation of the short game.
Which club do I use for a bump and run?
Not automatically the wedge — that is the most common mistake. An 8 or 9 iron is perfectly sufficient, because the ball is meant to fly only the first few metres and then roll to the flag like a putt. Less flight means fewer sources of error, and even mediocre bump-and-runs often finish closer to the hole than half-hearted high shots.
What does the swing in a bump and run feel like?
Like a long putt. The ball is positioned slightly back in the stance, the wrists stay quiet and the swing stays short. You swing through in a relaxed way, and the clubface of the iron provides the little height that is needed — you need almost no force for it.