The Simple Shot That Still Saves Strokes.

A great question came up recently in a conversation with a golfing friend of mine, and I thought it was worth sharing.

"Bill, in your articles you talk mainly about wedge shots, but whatever happened to the bump-and-run? Did you teach this shot? And what tips do you have?"

That's a great question!

Now, I probably shouldn't admit this, but since we're in the business of selling wedges, I suppose the official Edison Golf answer should be that you ought to use a wedge for every shot around the green. Preferably one of ours!

But here's the thing. While we certainly want to sell more Edison wedges, what we really want is for our friends to play better golf and shoot lower scores.

And sometimes, the smartest shot around the green doesn't involve a wedge at all.

Sometimes, it's a good old-fashioned bump-and-run with an 8- or 9-iron.

So, to answer the question, absolutely! I taught the bump-and-run, and I still believe it's one of the most useful shots any golfer can have in their short-game arsenal.

But you're right. We don't seem to hear nearly as much about it these days.

Watch golf on television and you'll see players hitting beautiful, high-lofted shots that land softly and stop almost immediately. They're impressive shots, and there's certainly a time and place for them.

But somewhere along the way, I think many recreational golfers got the idea that every shot around the green needs to be played with a sand wedge or lob wedge.

And that's simply not the case.

The Simplest Shot Is Often the Best Shot

Let me give you an example.

You're 10 yards short of the green, with another 15 yards from the front edge to the hole. The grass is closely mown, the green is relatively flat, and there's nothing between you and the flag.

What club do you reach for?

I suspect many golfers immediately pull out their 56- or 60-degree wedge and try to fly the ball most of the way to the hole.

But why?

You've just turned a relatively simple shot into one that requires a bigger swing, precise contact, and accurate control of how far the ball flies.

Instead, why not take a 9-iron or pitching wedge, make a small, controlled stroke, land the ball just onto the green, and let it roll toward the hole?

That's the beauty of the bump-and-run.

You're taking a shot that could be complicated and making it simple.

And in golf, simple is usually a pretty good idea.

Why I Like the Bump-and-Run

One of the things I always tried to teach golfers was to use the least complicated shot that would accomplish the objective.

The bump-and-run fits that philosophy perfectly.

Think about what happens when you hit a high-lofted pitch shot. You need to control the length and speed of your swing, make reasonably precise contact, and judge exactly how far the ball will carry.

With a bump-and-run, you're generally using a smaller swing and getting the ball rolling on the green sooner.

Once it's rolling, the shot becomes much more like a putt.

Now, that doesn't mean a bump-and-run is foolproof. You still need to read the green, select a landing spot, and control your speed.

But for many golfers, it's a much easier shot to execute consistently.

Remember, the objective isn't to hit the prettiest shot. It's to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes.

Bill's Five Tips for a Better Bump-and-Run

So, what are my tips for bringing this classic shot back into your game?

Whether you're new to the bump-and-run or just haven't used it in a while, these five fundamentals can help you make this simple shot a reliable part of your short game.

Five simple fundamentals to help you choose the right club, simplify your setup, control your stroke, and get the ball rolling toward the hole.

Here's one more suggestion: The next time you're at the practice green, spend 10 minutes experimenting with different clubs from the same spot. You might be surprised at how much easier some shots become when you let the ball roll instead of trying to fly it all the way to the hole.

When Should You NOT Play a Bump-and-Run?

Now, I don't want anyone to think I'm suggesting the bump-and-run is the answer to every situation around the green.

It isn't.

If you've got a bunker between you and the hole, you'll obviously need enough loft to carry it.

If you're playing to an elevated green, you may need a higher shot.

And if the ball is sitting down in thick rough, a low-running shot may be difficult to execute predictably.

There are also situations where you simply don't have enough green to work with.

That's when your higher-lofted wedges become especially valuable.

The key is learning to recognize which shot gives you the best chance of success.

One Last Thought

I think one of the biggest mistakes recreational golfers make is believing they need to hit the same kinds of shots they see the professionals hitting on television.

Those players have extraordinary touch, tremendous practice time, and the ability to execute shots most of us shouldn't even attempt.

But there's no extra credit in golf for hitting a difficult shot.

A simple bump-and-run that finishes three feet from the hole counts exactly the same as a beautiful high-spinning pitch that finishes three feet away.

And if the bump-and-run is easier for you to execute, why wouldn't you use it?

So yes, I'm still a big believer in the bump-and-run.

And I'd encourage every golfer to spend a little time rediscovering it.

Sometimes the best way to improve your short game isn't to learn a new shot. It's to remember an old one.

Thanks for the question. Keep them coming.