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This part-carry, part-roll beauty is a bonafide par-saver when you come up short of the green
By Carol Preisinger
Top 100 Teacher
This story is for you if...
• You're coming up short on long par-4s and par-5s...
• ...and you can't get the ball close enough on your third shot to save par.
The Situation
You're in no-man's land 40 yards from the green with a tight lie. You're finding yourself in this position more often than in the past as courses get longer and longer.
The Solution
Despite advances in technology in every facet of the game over the last two decades, the best play for when you come up short of the green is one that's been around for a hundred years: the bump-and-run pitch. It's one of the easiest shots you can hit, as long as you follow a few simple rules and convince yourself that landing the ball short of the pin is the best way to get it close. Here's how to do it.
HOW TO SAVE PAR WHEN YOUR APPROACH LANDS SHORT
STEP 1
Select a landing area
For a bump and run, a good rule of thumb is to fly the ball two-thirds of the way and let it run along the ground toward the hole the final one-third. If the pin is up, that means landing the ball short of the green, which is perfectly okay for this situation. When you pick your spot, imagine a lower trajectory, not a high-arcing balloon shot. This will put you in the proper state of mind when selecting your target.
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Credit: Angus Murray