JD Cuban
Many of the holes I teach at TPC Sawgrass have runoff areas around the green. If you miss your target by just a few yards or catch an unlucky hop, you can easily come across a delicate little uphill chip from one of these collection areas. Now, you could grab a wedge or putt the ball, but I think the easiest and most reliable way is to bump and run with a 5-iron. It’s essentially a putt, but the club’s weight and face loft make it easier for the ball to reach the hole. Here’s how to play this shot:
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JD Cuban
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At address, play the ball in the middle of your stance with your weight on your front foot. Grip all the way to the metal part of the shaft and lift the heel of the clubhead off the ground so that only the toe is touching the grass (On top of that). This allows the 5-iron to play the same length as the putter, giving you more control. It also increases the shaft angle, allowing the club to swing straight from the back like a putter, rather than in a rounded arc.
From there, just imagine yourself putting. Ask yourself: How hard must you hit a putt of the same distance to get the ball in the hole? Practice a few strokes to the side of the ball to match the length of your stroke to that distance. Then, when you’re ready, repeat the same stroke in real time (top). The ball should have a bit of dizzying movement and roll like a putt when it hits the green surface. You don’t have to worry about running out. Get your putter and knock your next shot to save a par.
Jordan Dempsey, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Florida, teaches at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.
