MET METHODS
By Travis Daniels, PGA
If you find yourself short of the green, a strong option is the bump and run to get you safely on the putting surface. Many golfers use a wedge or an 8- or 9-iron for this shot – I suggest trying a hybrid.
For this shot, I use my 4-hybrid with 21 degrees of loft. It’s going to allow the ball to get up in the air a little bit, and then as soon as it lands, the ball will roll like a putt. Using the hybrid for this shot will eliminate guessing how much the ball is going to check and spin when it hits the green. I position myself a bit closer to the ball in my set up and have the shaft of the club a bit more vertical than a typical shot. I choke down a bit so my right hand is actually off of the grip, and then I just rock my shoulders like a putt.
With a bump and run, your goal is to get yourself into a position where you have a chance of making the par putt or, at worst, two-putting it, taking our bogey, and moving onto the next hole. Hopefully, this tip will help. Good luck!
Travis Daniels is the Head Golf Professional at Laurel Links Country Club in Laurel, N.Y.