Bump and Run

Definition: The "bump and run" is an approach shot to the green usually played from roughly the same distance you might play a pitch shot. A pitch shot, however, is struck with a high-lofted club such as a pitching wedge, producing a high trajectory and a ball that typically hits the green and quickly stops.

A bump and run, on the other hand, is played with a lower-lofted club relative to a wedge (an 8-, 7- or 6-iron, for example), and with very little airtime for the ball. With a bump and run shot, the ball is typically played from the back of the stance, producing a very shallow trajectory, with the ball mostly scooting along the ground and running up to the green.

The bump and run is played more along the ground; the pitch shot is played in the air.

Why would a golfer prefer a bump and run to a pitch? The front of the green might be open, with a hard fairway and hard green, making an approach that lands on the green tough to stop. Or the wind might be howling, with the bump and run making it possible to keep the ball from getting up into - and blown around by - that wind.

Bump and run shots are very common on links courses and on golf courses in dry and/or windy locations, where greens and fairways may be be harder.

Alternate Spellings: Bump-and-run