When to Bump and run or lob shot?

[bkoguy07]

Lately I've been working on my Bump and run skill set with my 8 iron, I used to just use a sand wedge and lob it up there and pretty much have it sit where ever it landed and can do this quite well. Now that I have been practicing the bump and run I feel comfortable with both... So I'm a little torn on what to do when. What kind of lies and distances do you feel appropriate for each tactic. I use bump and run when I'm on the fringe usually and the green is pretty firm. I use the lob with my 56* when I'm outside the fringe either in light rough or sometimes the fairway depending on what I have to lob it over (greenside bunkers etc..)

Just looking for different situations people find these 2 things appropriate for and when and how they use it and with what effectiveness.

[etlreams]

I use to flop everything with my lob wedge. As the summer goes along and the fairways harden, however, I sometime find that floping and sometimes even pitching when I'm on the fairway up to 20 yards out makes it tough to get under the ball. So I bump and run it.

So....if the fairway is hard and I have a clear pathway to the green (no elevatio to green, thick rough or traps), I'll bump and run it with my 8 iron.

[saevel25]

Really, i try to keep it as low as i think it possible. Also depends on the lie, is the green running away from me, ect..

If i am going into the slope of the green i will mostly use lower trajectory to get it running up the green. If the slope is away from me, i will try to land it softer and letting release slower. It just depends, but i usually advocate take the least lofted club as possible dictated by the conditions of the shot.

Even if i have to carry a bunker, if its a long distance, i will take the club which the ball might carry over the top of the bunker by a few feet to get the ball rolling earlier, i just wont take the lob wedge and try to high a sky ball and carry it to the hole.

[double_j]

I never really try to fly it to the hole unless the situation calls for it or I'm more than 50 or 60 yards out (not really a chip, more of a half wedge). I'll usually play the ball to land short and let it roll out. Unless I'm really close to the green or conditions say otherwise (e.g., downward sloping green), I'll shoot for a 50/50 split between carry and roll.

I'll only attempt the flob/lob when absolutely necessary (e.g., to carry a bunker when shortsided). If I'm really in trouble, I'll play a 'safe' chip to the center of the green. The one time in 5 that I actually pull off a flop isn't worth the other 4 skulls, chunks, or hazards.

[bwdial]

Another advantage (for me at least) is that a bump and run shot gives you some idea of the green's slope and speed as the ball travels toward the hole.

My money club for chipping is my 8 iron, and I nearly canned two of them last time out.

[Zeph]

I always strive to use the lowest lofted club and getting the ball on the ground as soon as possible. I used to do the other way around, and hit high lob shots all the time, but when I started experimenting, I found that keeping the ball on the ground is easier.

Chipping from right off the green with an 8 iron is my ideal position. I don't like using anything loftier than the 52º, but sometimes need the 58º too, mostly from more fluffy lies where I can get the club speeding down and pop the ball up.

[pxc]

Learning to use a 7i to bump and run the ball up toward the hole saved me some strokes the last couple of times out. I used to try to pitch/lob everything, which at my skill level is stupid. I actually read about using a 7i with a putting or exaggerated putting stroke here on TST. It works!

[trickymicky69]

I use a lob wedge for everything withing fifty yards

Using one club all the time makes it soooooo much easier

[vmsea]

I use a lob wedge for everything withing fifty yards

When you say easier, do you mean easier as in not having to go to cart, and pull out new club.. thus time to chug the Coors Light? or easier as in you score better?? b/c using only a LW 50 yard in, seems to go against every teaching out there? then again if it works for you.. i'm just wondering if you're say 3 yards on the fringe/light rough, and there's 50 feet of green.. you lob wedge it as well?

[Zeph]

I used to try to pitch/lob everything, which at my skill level is stupid.

At your skill level? How often do you see a player on the PGA Tour hit a high pitch from the fairway or fringe? Compared to how often they hit bump and run.

[kpaulhus]

Ill only play a bump n run if I have a lot of green to work with. Usually Ill play a really low shot with my 60* and have the ball check near the flag. I hardly ever have to flop a shot where I dont control the spin. When it comes to chipping around the green its all about spin/loft/angle of attack on the ball.

[Gerald]

Lately I've been working on my Bump and run skill set with my 8 iron, I used to just use a sand wedge and lob it up there and pretty much have it sit where ever it landed and can do this quite well. Now that I have been practicing the bump and run I feel comfortable with both... So I'm a little torn on what to do when. What kind of lies and distances do you feel appropriate for each tactic. I use bump and run when I'm on the fringe usually and the green is pretty firm. I use the lob with my 56* when I'm outside the fringe either in light rough or sometimes the fairway depending on what I have to lob it over (greenside bunkers etc..)

What you describe isn't a bump and run actually, but more like a chip !!!

For me it is bump-n-run or chip shots 90% and lobs etc. the other 10% only when it is the only option, because the grass surrounding the green is unpredictable, to thick or if there are hazards in the line to the green, and even then I might opt for a safe route and a longer putt. Bump-n-run is from about 30 - 100 yds of the green, mostly done with a 5-6 iron and the roll is longer than the air travel, important to chose a landing area where at least the first kick will be forward. Chips are used near the green, where putting from the apron or fringe might give you a roll you can't control..... then you play a chip where the air travel should go to about 1 meter from the edge of the green .... so it should land on the green amd roll like a putt to the hole (important to read the green !!!) and the club you chose can be about anything from a 5W to a PW depending on the length of the roll and the demanded airtravel....... the shorter the iron, the shorter the roll and KEEP your wrists locked. Lobs, flops, flips, etc. all USA players will know better than me.

[armandoartist]

I use a lob wedge for everything withing fifty yards

Same here.. I use my 60* vokey for everything 50 yards and in. It makes it easier to (confidence wise) and no indecision of what strategy. I can place the ball back for more bump and run and place the ball forward for flop shots.

[kpaulhus]

Same here.. I use my 60* vokey for everything 50 yards and in. It makes it easier to (confidence wise) and no indecision of what strategy. I can place the ball back for more bump and run and place the ball forward for flop shots.

I only use my 60* from the fringe or fairway, from 60yrds and in. If its in the second cut or worse, I use my 56* becasue it has a little more bounce.

[bwdial]

About the only time I pull my 60º is if I'm short sided and need it to get up and down quickly. My 56º is ported, so I can play shots a little lower, and with a lot more bite, so that's usually my go to club in situations where I've got to get the ball in the air.

[saevel25]

The only time i pull out my lob wedge is in bunkers with little sand, or when it gets hot out and the rough doesn't give much protection agains the rock hard ground below it. Other than that, its my gap wedge, PW, or 9-iron, depending on distance, and amount of roll i want

[pxc]

At your skill level? How often do you see a player on the PGA Tour hit a high pitch from the fairway or fringe? Compared to how often they hit bump and run.

Fair point. Though Mickelson still seems in love with the flop shot.

[ERdiesel]

When you say easier, do you mean easier as in not having to go to cart, and pull out new club.. thus time to chug the Coors Light?

What "teaching" are you referring to? For every "teacher" that says do something one way, i'm sure you can find another "teacher" that says do it the other way. I too use my lob wedge (60* vokey) for pretty much anything from 80 yards and in, with sand traps usually being the one big exception depending.............and yes in your example i would use my lob wedge off the fringe even to chip it across 50 ft of green. When i practice my greenside game, i pretty much only practice with my lob wedge, instead of "splitting" my time between lw, sw, pw, 9i, 8i, 7i. I honestly don't have enough time to spend experimenting with all the different clubs and all the different variables with power and length of stroke to get a good feel for what to hit under what circumstance. By only practicing with my lob wedge, i have a pretty good feel for how far back to take the club to get it 50 ft on the green, or 20 ft, or 10 ft, etc. Just as I only use one single putter to putt with regardless of length of putt, i will only use and practice with the LW from most greenside lies to get my up and downs. to me it makes sense. to others it might not.