MASTER THE BUMP-AND-RUN

My philosophy on the short game is to always pick the simplest shot available. There’s no point playing a flashy flop from the fringe when a simple bump-and-run will do the job nicely. I use this shot whenever I can since the method is easy to learn and repeat. It’s a great shot for amateurs to learn because it gets the ball on to the ground quickly where it can roll towards the hole without too much spin. It’s basically a long putt with an iron. Here’s how to play it. I like to play the ball back in my stance off my back foot and push my hands forwards towards the target. This takes the unnecessary hand action out of the shot. The first step in mastering this shot is knowing which club to select. Choose a club that will carry on to the green and then roll out along the ground to the flag. It may look like I’m taking the club away with my hands and arms here but, in reality, I’m controlling the movement with my shoulders – as I would with a putt. Playing the ball back in the stance also gives me the feeling that the club is going to work slightly inside going back. This ensures that I don’t create too much spin. The secret to playing this shot well is keeping it simple. As you rock your shoulders back and forth, simply allow your hands to lead the clubhead through impact. Through impact you just want to ensure that you keep the clubhead moving towards the target. Avoid decelerating through impact at all costs.