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Bump-and-run approachesWedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 5 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Bump and Run Chip Shot: Céline Boutier's Lesson

It's a simple chip, yet we often overcomplicate it. For GOLF.com, Céline Boutier teaches an amateur the bump-and-run shot: a precise address that gets the ball rolling, a smooth swing, and keeping your eyes on the landing spot rather than the hole.

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Céline Boutier
Céline Boutier · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.
Schedule · Step 3 of 7Master Your Short Game in 7 StepsCounted when: The ball rolls at least two-thirds of the distance 8 out of 10 times.
Step 4 →

To be continued

15 minSame problemChip and Run: Common Mistakes with Dan GrieveDan Grieve · Beginner / Intermediate13 minSame problemA chip shot played like a putt: Jon Rahm's methodJon Rahm · Beginner / Intermediate2 minFrom the same proCéline Boutier's Long Putts: Reading Slope and SpeedCéline Boutier · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Céline Boutier plays this chip with her 58° wedge, a versatile club that works for both lobs and roll shots. There's plenty of room here: she drops the ball a few steps onto the green and lets it roll. To keep the ball low, she positions the ball to the center or toward the right foot, and weight slightly to the left. This reduces the club's loft and makes the ball roll farther.

When she swings, she mainly keeps an eye on the rhythm. She tends to start off too fast, then slow down so as not to hit the ball too far, which throws off her speed control. So she’s thinking about a a slow and smooth start, neutral hands, minimal movement. Another key point: she watch where it lands, not the hole. His student made the shot on the first try with a 60°, simply by positioning the ball a little further back. His final piece of advice: don't overthink the technique; choose the right landing spot and the right club, then let the club do the work.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Choose a spot just a few steps from the green.
  2. Place the ball in the center or toward your right foot, with your feet square to the target.
  3. Shift your weight slightly onto your left foot, with your hands in a neutral position or slightly forward.
  4. Focus on where you're landing rather than the hole.
  5. Start slowly and keep your swing simple, using minimal hand movement.
  6. With a more open clubface, position the ball a little further back.

Key Takeaways

You can even play the bump-and-run with a very open wedge.
Ball in the center or toward the right foot, with your weight slightly to the left.
This shot takes aim at the loft and gets the ball rolling.
Starting too quickly forces you to brake and throws off the speed control.
We look at the landing spot, not the hole.
The more open the club is, the farther back the ball is placed.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overcomplicating a simple chip with too much technical detail.
  • Starting too fast and then slowing down upon impact.
  • Aim for the hole instead of the landing spot.
  • Holding the ball too far forward when you want to roll it.
  • Putting too much effort into the movement.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A towel or a tee as a landing spot on the green
  2. A series of 58° chip shots, ball toward the right foot
  3. Same series, but with a more open club and the ball positioned even further back
  4. Slow start: Count in your head to keep the rhythm

Your Questions

Can you play a bump-and-run shot with a 58° or 60° wedge?

Yes. Céline Boutier plays it at 58°, and her student hits it at 60°: you just need to position the ball a little further back to reduce the club's loft.

Where should the ball and the weight be placed?

Position the ball in the center or toward your right foot, with your weight slightly shifted to the left. Keep your stance neutral, square to the target.

Why does its speed control sometimes become irregular?

Because she tends to start off too fast, then slow down so she doesn't hit the ball too far. So she focuses on a slow, smooth start.

What does she look at before she plays?

Her landing spot, not the hole. In the video, she chooses two ball marks on the right because of the slope.

Learn More

All “Bump and Run” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Wedge Play = Pitching and Chipping” →Find the lesson that's right for you Rickie Fowler's Wedge Backspin: When to Try ItRickie Fowler demonstrates the "biting" pitch—a lie that stays open—and, most importantly, when to play it: only if the lie allows it; otherwise, go for the simple shot. Matsuyama's draw approach: why he changed itHis ball “slipped” along the face in the United States: Matsuyama switched from a cut approach to an inside path and a shallow entry. Matsuyama's one-handed drill: his key to the wedgeMatsuyama begins his practice sessions with one-handed approaches—first with his left hand, then with his right—to “guide” the ball onto the clubface and connect his short game with his long game. Céline BoutierAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Céline Boutier). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros