I hear you’re a pretty solid ball striker. So… why aren’t those scores dropping? Could it be that your short game decisions keep you stuck? It’s time to take a different (literally, lower) approach to those little shots around the green. Be honest—aren’t you reaching for that 60° wedge every time you pitch or chip? Save the lob wedge for special occasions. All that airtime? It’s just extra room for error! Quit trying to float every shot high into the sky. You’re not precise enough (yet?) to land the ball exactly where you imagine. (And yes, you DO need to pick a landing spot!) To make matters worse, once you’re standing over the ball, you’re deep in mechanics mode—thinking about how to “do it right” like you did on the range. Trouble is, your brain’s so busy with form, there’s no space left to figure out where to land the ball, how hard/soft to hit it, and how it’s going to roll out based on the club you chose.
A safer, more reliable, and lower-risk option? The low bump-and-run chip. Picture your ball skimming under the limbo bar. That’s the shot you can count on because it comes with more consistency!
You can get really good at this shot—easily—by simply reaching for your 7, 8, or 9 iron most of the time. The idea? Land the ball just 3 to 6 feet past the fringe, and let it run out to the hole…like a putt.
Set up with the ball back in your stance, feet close together, weight forward. Grip the club with the shaft more vertical—toe down, heel slightly off the ground. And remember to stand closer to the ball to make the motion feel more like, yep, a putt! I promise—you’ll be shocked how foolproof this shot is! Every club sends the ball out low—knee-high to a grasshopper—with the goal of landing just past the fringe and letting it roll. The 7-iron rolls out the farthest. Hit the 8-iron with the same energy, and it rolls about 10 feet less. The 9-iron? Another 10 feet less than that. The key is to use the same “putting energy” with each club. Get consistent with your strike, and let the club do the distance control. Let the club be the variable, keeping the motion the same!
Truth is, this “low down, under the limbo bar” shot can be played with almost any club—it’s the rollout that changes, not the energy supplied. No more guesswork on how hard or soft to hit the ball. Save your high pitches for when you need to clear a bunker or hit to an elevated green. For more one-putt chances…make this low-roller your go-to secret weapon. How low can your scores go?
