Three Short-Game Shots to Know

Most of the points you lose in a society round don't go missing from the tee — they disappear in the forty yards around the green, where the wrong shot choice or a tentative swing turns a salvageable hole into a wasted one.

The good news is that you don't need an extensive repertoire to stop the bleeding. Three shots, understood clearly and rehearsed until they're reliable, will cover the majority of situations you encounter. Here they are: the bump-and-run, the standard chip, and the lob. When to play each, how to set up, and — just as importantly — when to leave the riskier option in the bag.

The bump-and-run

This is the most underused shot in the amateur game, and the most consistently effective. The bump-and-run keeps the ball low, uses the ground as an ally, and removes the need for precise contact. When there's nothing between you and the flag that requires the ball to be airborne, this should be your default.

When to reach for it

Any time you're off the green with a clear, firm runway ahead of you and the flag is not sitting tight behind a hazard. Links courses and firm inland tracks in summer are ideal bump-and-run conditions. Tight lies, short rough, fairway or apron — all suit it well.

Setup and swing thought

Use a 7- or 8-iron (some players prefer a 5-iron for longer bump-and-runs). Grip down slightly, ball back in your stance, weight favouring your front foot. The stroke is more putt than pitch: a pendulum motion with very little wrist action. Let the loft of the club do the small amount of lifting required, then trust the roll.

The standard chip

Where the bump-and-run won't work — longer rough between you and the green, a raised green edge, a firm collar that would send a running ball past the flag — the standard chip is your workhorse. A little height, a controlled landing, enough roll to reach the hole. It's not glamorous, but executed consistently it will save you a shot on almost every green you miss.

When to reach for it

Rough or fringe between you and the putting surface, a green with a pronounced upslope at the edge, or any situation where a pure running shot would leave you exposed. The standard chip lands the ball on the green and lets it roll out to the flag.

Setup and swing thought

A sand wedge or gap wedge (50–52 degrees) works well for most standard chips. Ball central to slightly back in a narrow stance, hands ahead of the ball at address. The swing is a compact, controlled motion — lead with the hands through impact, keep the face pointing at the sky in the follow-through. Avoid scooping: the shaft leans forward at impact, the loft of the club does the lifting.

The lob

The lob is the shot everyone wants to play and the one that causes the most damage when applied unnecessarily. It requires a precise strike — you need to slide the club under the ball at speed — and a miss-hit produces a skull across the green or a fat shot that travels two feet. It has its place, but that place is specific.

When to reach for it

The lob earns its spot when you genuinely have no other option: a bunker or water between you and the flag, a flag cut tight behind a hazard with almost no green to work with, or a downhill chip where you need the ball to stop quickly. In each of these situations, a chip or bump-and-run would carry you past the target. The lob is for when height and stopping power are the only tools that will do the job.

When to leave it alone

Any time a simpler shot will do — which is more often than you think. Players who default to the lob from reasonable lies are taking on unnecessary risk for no additional reward. The lob from a tight lie is particularly unforgiving; on hard summer ground, the bounce of the club can send the leading edge into the equator of the ball at pace.

Setup and swing thought

Use a 60-degree lob wedge with the face open slightly. Ball forward in your stance, weight slightly back (unusual for short-game shots, but the lob requires a slightly more sweeping strike). The swing is longer than it looks — you need enough speed to slide the club under the ball. The follow-through is full and high. Landing spot matters most: aim to land the ball short of the flag and let it check up.

Building reliability under pressure

The difference between a short game that holds up in competition and one that doesn't is usually commitment. Knowing which shot to play, addressing the ball with a specific landing spot in mind, and swinging without hesitation — these are the things that produce a usable result even when the nerves are up.

Practise all three shots in short sessions rather than hitting the same chip fifty times. Vary the lie, the distance, and the target. Over a season, these three shots — done reliably — will be worth more Stableford points than almost anything you could improve on the driving range.