You’re a yard off the green, facing a long, uphill chip with plenty of curve. Most golfers reach for the putter and call it a day. But according to Santiago Mari of the Leadbetter Golf Academy, you have another choice — one that can take your short game scoring to another level without asking much of your technique.
It’s called the bump and run, and in the video below, Mari breaks down exactly how to hit it.
Watch: The Bump & Run Explained — Leadbetter Swing Aids
The Setup: Think Putt, Not Chip
The beauty of the bump and run is that it takes the feel of your putting stroke and pairs it with a low-lofted iron. Here’s the recipe Mari uses:
- Club selection: a mid-iron — somewhere between your 7, 8, or 9 iron depending on how far you have to cover. In his demonstration (a long, uphill lie about a yard off the green), he grabs a 7 iron.
- Grip:Â take more of a putting grip. You’re not trying to hit this shot hard at all.
- The stroke: move the club straight back, straight through. Use a straightaway alignment rod to check that the club is tracking parallel to your toe line — that’s the feeling of being efficient. Do as little as possible to get the ball as close to the hole as you can.
- The feel:Â treat it like a long putt. Look at the hole, pick your line (Mari aims a touch left of the flag on a curving uphill shot), make your putting stroke, and let the ball roll out.
- The payoff: because the club has some loft, you don’t have to smash it like you would a true putt from that distance. The ball just bumps up and rolls — no stress, no wasted effort.
“With this shot, I don’t feel like I have to stress too much on the strength or the effort. I just bump the ball up and it’s ready to go.” — Santiago Mari
Why the Bump and Run Is a Weapon Around the Green
Mari points out that when you have tools, it “aids you into making better choices” — and the bump and run is a tool worth adding for six clear reasons:
| Advantage | What it means for your game |
|---|---|
| Versatility | Adapts to different lies and terrains — it’s not a one-condition shot |
| Control | The putting stroke gives you excellent command of both distance and direction |
| Consistency | A repeatable motion means fewer mishits when it matters |
| Risk management | Minimizes the risk of overshooting the target and leaving yourself a nightmare comeback putt |
| Course-condition proof | Especially effective on fast greens or downhill lies where flights shots can run away from you |
| Shot-saving | Can salvage pars — or turn a bogey into a par |
When Should You Use It?
The bump and run shines in exactly the situation Mari demonstrates: you’re just off the green, the flag is a long way from the fringe, the lie is uphill, and the terrain is breaky. Firing a pitch at the flag risks running well past; a full putt needs too much speed to fair. The bump and run splits the difference — a putting stroke, a bit of loft, and a ball that rolls out with intent.
It’s also a great option on days when the shoulders tighten and you don’t trust your hands. There’s nothing fancy to rehearse here: putting grip, straight-back stroke, let the loft do the work.
Bottom Line
You don’t always have to putt when you’re near the green — you just have to make the right choice. The bump and run gives amateurs a low-risk, high-reward option that simplifies the most stressful shots in golf. Watch the full breakdown above, give it a try on your next practice session, and watch your up-and-downs improve.
Video credit:Â Leadbetter Swing AidsÂ