F-O-R-E Minute Friday – Stop The Bumping & Running Please

Welcome back to the Imagen Golf podcast, everyone. Daniel Guest here, and today, we're talking about a shot that I see way too often from amateur golfers: the bump and run. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic shot, a classic piece of short game artistry. But here's the thing—it's become the default for a lot of you, and in doing so, you're leaving strokes on the table.

The problem isn't the shot itself; it's the application. The bump and run is a niche tool, a scalpel for very specific situations. It's designed for tight lies, firm greens, and when you have plenty of room to let the ball release. But what I see is golfers using it from the rough, on soft greens, and even over bunkers. The result? A lot of unpredictable bounces, a lack of control, and a whole lot of frustration.

When you're constantly defaulting to the bump and run, you're neglecting a more versatile and often more reliable shot: the pitch. A simple pitch shot with a higher lofted club gives you a steeper angle of descent and more stopping power. It’s the kind of shot that works in a wider variety of conditions and provides more control, especially when you don't have a perfect lie.

So, let's make a deal. The next time you're around the green, before you automatically reach for that 8-iron, ask yourself: is this really the right tool for the job? Or would a pitch with your sand wedge or lob wedge give you a better chance to get that ball close to the hole?