When to Bump and run or lob shot?

[max power]

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

Yeah-but Mickelson puts himself in more of those forced flop shot positions with his drives and approach shots!

Not that Phil's short game isn't great-I think his instructional DVDs are really helpful.

[Slammin' Sam]

If I have no more than 5-10 feet of rough/fairway to get over and a few feet of green between me and the pin I bump and run with a 7 iron because it's the shot I can execute the best. For most stuff over that but less than 75-80 yards out I prefer a 52* or 60* wedge depending on pin placement. I'm less consistent with a flop than I am with a bump and run so I prefer to use the latter wherever possible.

[sean_miller]

to me it makes sense. to others it might not.

Sense or no sense, it's how you play and that's fine.

I enjoy reading the break from off the green, thinking about where I want to land the ball to get it in the cup (or stop very close to it). Sometimes that shot requires a lob wedge and other times something less lofted. Hit the shots you enjoy to hit, because at our level, enjoying the game is the most important thing.

[max power]

I used to hit only my SW as soon as I was close enough. It's what I practiced with and what I was comfortable with, and not having another option did make things simpler. I was about a 16 handicap, and my Dad (around a 7 or 8), would point out when I should actually be hitting the shot with a 7-iron, or PW, chip or bump and run vs my normal SW pitch/flop shot. I resisted for quite a while, but giving in and learning to hit the appropriate shot for the lie and pin position was a big part of lowering my handicap to single digits.

I certainly understand not going to a lower-lofted chip or bump and run on the course until you are comfortable, but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't practice these shots when you get the chance.

[vmsea]

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.

The teachings i refer to is - go to the "reading room" forum.. Of all the books discussed there about 'technical' golf (i.e. not the mental side). can you tell me one where they say for the short game, use only 1 club? (except putter)?

I'm not saying using one is right or wrong. .like someone mentioned.. enjoyment is not only the key, it's everything. but to answer your question, that's what i meant by 'teachings'. I don't think for every 1 person who teaches you to use several wedges, you're going to find 1 person who teaches you to hit everything inside 50 using 1 club only (again except putter)? just learnin'. :)

[Chas]

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.

I agree - that is my idea of a bump and run as well. Many posters here are talking about some other shot (mainly the chip shot from closer in). I think that the B&R; is less played here in the States than over the Pond, for reasons I don't fully understand - course conditions or differences in green protection perhaps?

I used NEVER to B&R; from 30-100 yds out, even with a nice open green and decent, smooth grass in between, because of uncertainty about exactly how the ball will roll when it hits the fairway. I seem to fear that it will just roll a few yards and die an ugly death with muggins looking like an idiot - as opposed to my usual pitch shot that hits the green alright but often also results in my looking like an idiot* ..... But I'm starting to try the B&R; occasionally if conditions are good (plenty of green to work with, well maintained fairway) and the results are mildly encouraging. My brother plays it more and it seems to work for him. So no, a pitch from that sort of distance is not ALWAYS the way to go, but it's still what I mostly do. * yes, it's important to read the green at all times.

[rwfastrax]

I used to fly everything to the hole...some lies just aren't great for doing that, and learning to play b&r; shots with every club between 7i to 60 wedge has really gotten me up and down a ton this year. It's weird...this year I just seemed to know which club to bump with to get the proper amount of runout. Rarely am I either more or less than 3-4 ft away speedwise with this shot.

[ERdiesel]

The teachings i refer to is - go to the "reading room" forum.. Of all the books discussed there about 'technical' golf (i.e. not the mental side). can you tell me one where they say for the short game, use only 1 club? (except putter)?

Funny that you ask, in Stan Utley's "The Art of the Short Game", he says and I quote: "I hit virtually all my short-game shots with my 58-degree wedge. I believe it's easier to learn how to adapt one club to a variety of different shots than judging distance with a lot of different clubs." (page 356, iphone ibooks electronic version - btw, wtf is the ibooks version more money than the physical version...........but i digress) That was exactly the point I was trying to make. For me I have limited practice/play time, and I would rather become extremely skilled with the one club and have the confidence of knowing how to pull off a given shot (as well as the predictability) inside of x yards because i've done it many times before than be mediocre and unpredictable with half a dozen clubs because i've never had the time to practice with all of them equally. BTW, i'm advocating the one club approach if you're like me, limited in practice and play time (avg 2 rounds a week). However if you can get out on the range/course 5-7 days a week and have the time and money to do it, than i would advocate learning to execute short game shots with a multitude of clubs for short game shots just like the pros do. it can only help your game in the long run. I simply choose to do what I believe is most efficient and beneficial given my circumstances, which I believe to be the case for most amateurs.

[vmsea]

(page 356, iphone ibooks electronic version - btw, wtf is the ibooks version more money than the physical version...........but i digress)

Touche!

and yes.. i never get why a kindle/ibook version cost more!!

[goob3r]

I only hit the flop when I have no other choice. One of the best tips I ever got was to get the ball on the ground as soon as possible. Saves me quite a few strokes.

[armandoartist]

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.

The Truth!! same here.

[armandoartist]

Touche!

If the printing is out of the way and no handling charges WTF does kindle/ibook versions have? The writter can write a book on his Ipad and upload it and that's it!! WTF?

[vmsea]

WTF does kindle/ibook versions have?

Copyright i guess? but yah it's a good business :)