The Bump and Run and Spin.

I currently am having issues hitting bump and runs. For my handicap I chip the ball pretty bad, I just generally hole out those 6-8 footers. Ive come to notice that im just as likely to hit a difficult shot close as a very straightforward easy one and I need to take care of that.

ANYWAY

so on a straightforward bump and run i have the problem of my ball skidding. I play the ball back in my stance with hands forward and the ball either comes out extremely low and i cant control the distance, or has this horrible skidding problem where it might check and it might not. Id ideally like to hit the ball with 0 spin on these shots (say a chip shot to a back pin on a flat green) A friend of mine who is very good at chipping likes to play these shots with the ball in the middle of his stance and his takeaway is entirely one piece with no wrist cock at all, He doesnt really have his hands ahead of the ball either.

Ive tried that technique, and I just dont like it. It feels like im going to either blade it or hit it fat and occasionally it comes off hot and i cant control it. Ive never seen any article or tip that recommends to hit bump and runs like this. So why the hell am I getting this ugly amount of spin that is incredibly inconsistent and what is the deal with my trajectory.

anyone who is good at playing a bump and run with virtually no spin id appreciate feedback. I dont chip in very often and have issues getting the ball past the hole and I feel like this would solve a lot of headaches and lower my scores significantly. Thanks

I love the bump and run. When I play it, this is what I focus on:

- Relaxed set up, I prefer feet together and open - Ball off the right toe - Slight forward press - Soft hands - 35% back, 65% through - Keep head down Be soft though, a deathgrip will cause the flaws you seem to have. Nice and light. No flippy wrists either. I hit down on the ball, the loft of the club will do its job. Soft...

If you are looking to make a wholesale change, the chipping method in The Art of the Short Game might interest you. The author's method is one where the ball is played further foward, and not a lot of spin is imparted to the ball.

I am reading this book currently, though it is too early to tell if my short game will improve. You might find it interesting.

I dont like that, Ive tried it and i feel like im scooping the ball. I can play check shots fine with my SW, I have issues with the soft lob occasionally. The bump and run I just suck at which is why I made this topic. I play blades so chipping with my 9 or 8 iron shouldnt be an issue with the ball coming off hot. Thanks for the tip Ben, ive gone to a really soft grip the past few weeks and it helped my shots with my SW tremendously, I just havent noticed much improvement in the bump and run department. Ill have to work on it I guess.

What club are you using? Make sure your tempo through the ball is smooth and consistent. I normally hit a bump and run with my PW or 8 iron for LONG chips/going uphill.

Ben's tips are spot on also.

Try the hook chip. Basically play a standard chip (8 or 9 iron, ball back, hands forward) just close your stance and the club face as if you are playing a hook or draw. It gets 0 spin on it, so it's very predictable.

It sounds like you are using your SW for this shot? A spin ball and a SW on a long chip and run are a bad combo.

Use what ever club that will get the ball on the ground (over any fringe) as soon as possible. If that means using a 3 iron, so be it.

I personally like to use my 9 iron on medium chip and runs, and a 6 iron for longist chip and runs, and my 3 hybrid for the really loooong ones.

Use your putting stance, and grip (assuming you do not putt cross handed - but I HAVE tried this, and it worked pretty good too). Play the ball where you normally would for a putt, and swing as hard as you would for a putt of the same length.

NO WRIST ACTION, just like a putt!

You already have the "touch", just use the right tools.

I play it pretty similar to what Ben described, and I only use a high enough loft to get me to the landing zone... usually 6-PW... I don't even try one with my 52 or 58 (for the most part)... those are for shots with a little more check to them. I play with a narrow and open stance and hands very slightly ahead.

i have issues w/ this as well.

i can make great contact - but i cant predict the distance - if i bump it w/ a 9 iron i can easily put it through a 35 yard deep green.

i would love to be able to execute a nice little 9 or 7 iron bump and run... but ive never really committed to practicing it, so i guess i shouldnt expect to be able to hole em just yet...

I thought that if you want no skidding or backspin on your chip you just let your left wrist break after impact so that you impart some "topspin" on the ball; turn the face of the club over after impact

If you keep your left wrist flat after impact (face of club facing upwards), you'll impart backspin and get the skidding you're talking about. Works for me.

This is exactly the way I was taught, by a bogey-to-scratch golfer friend.

Consider the 7-iron to be the "standard" club for the bump-n-run, and move up or down depending on conditions. On a very long chip last weekend, he had me try using a 5-wood. Obviously we need to practice this for each club, to be able to gauge the amount of bump versus run. But the key is to use a putting stroke, not a regular swing.

If you use no wrist action on the follow through the ball will skid and i believe he is trying to alleviate that portion of his chip.

Read the original posting again - the OP says his friend does the bump-n-run just as described, with no wrist cock. Yet has no skidding problem.

It's not the lack of wrist cock that is causing his skidding problem. But a classic bump-n-run is done like a putt - no wrist cock.

Another endorsement from me for Stan Utley,I played yesterday for the first time since I started practising his method and went no higher than a PW,I even used a 60" on one chip.

Anyway it closely resembles a mini pitching action,and one my playing partners that day commented on the bite I was getting around the greens,I just don't see the gain in having a seperate action for chipping when most situations for me on the fringes particulary just are not that long.

I prefer some airtime instead of roll and I know if you get it rolling there's more chance of treating it like a putt and it might go in,but if it's hit slightly to hard you roll miles past.

Stop and check and I'm still putting from a reasonable distance.

Don't get bogged down with technical thoughts. Rely on feel and imagination. Study the line like a putt, and have your brain let the club do it's job. Try to hole every chip. Visualize the ball on the line rolling into the cup.