MP-60
MP T-Series Black Ni
Masterclass - Play controlled greenside lobs
Masterclass - Swing plane for accurate iron play
Masterclass - Sweeter fairway wood shots
Masterclass - Control your distanceBUMP AND RUN
TAICHI TESHIMA: PGA EUROPEAN TOUR / JAPAN TOUR
| NAME: | TAICHI TESHIMA |
| BORN: | FUKUOKA, JAPAN |
| DOB: | 16/10/68 |
| TURNED PRO: | 1996 |
| CAREER WINS: | WON FOUR TIMES ON THE JAPAN TOUR 2001-2006 |
A runner is helpful when the pin is cut on the back of the green, or when the green has severe uphill or downhill slopes, or simply when you're not sure how a higher shot is going to react on landing. Keeping the ball low to the ground gives you a more redictable trajectory; played properly, it's a much lower-tariff shot - and often has a higher success rate than a high, floating shot that has to be judged perfectly.
The low, running chip-and-run shot is one we use much more on the European Tour than in the US. The cropped green surrounds mean we can get the club on the back of the ball more often, which gives us an opportunity to play this useful shot.
SET-UP
Set up to take Loft off the club face
Of course I need the ball to fly lower than normal - and I do this by taking loft off the clubface.
1. The ball position may look pretty central here but I've added a little more weight to my left side. That tends to move my upper body slightly forward - which promotes a slghtly downward strike, the ball squeezing out a bit lower than usual.
2. I also make sure my hands are ahead of the ball at this stage. On this shot we want the hands to lead the club into impact a little more than normal, which helps deloft the club. It makes sense to preset that at address.
With those set-up changes - hands forward and the ball effectively further back - I'm in danger of hitting the ball right from a square position. So I aim off for that by adopting a slightly open setup, feet and shoulders aiming a little left.
BACKSWING
Keep the back knee flexed
On this shot It's vital your right or back knee retains its address flex. It's a common error to allow it to straighten. Not only does that pull the club too much on the inside; it also tends to shut or hood the clubface too much. These gang up to produce an over-low, hooking shot that often whistles through the back.
Instead, If you keep that knee flexed the face rotates that bit better. See how here it is perfectly parallel with by spine angle, a good posiiton to find. This allows you to deliver the club on a better path, applying the correct of amount of clubface loft to the ball.
THROUGHSWING
Mirror backswing length for control
These shots are all about control of power, and the simplest way to gain that control is by matching up backswing and throughswing lengths. This gives your action rhythm, and the smooth acceleration into impact which encourages a crisp strike.
The focus here on arms, hands and clubshaft. See how my end-of-backswing position is basically repeated at the end of the followthrough , hands just at belt-buckle height with a slight angle in the shaft. If you have trouble finding these corresponding positions, practise without a ball.
PICKING THE RIGHT CLUB
Club selection will depend on how far you have to go and how low you want to keep the ball. But to play this shot well you need a crisp, firm downward strike; if you take too strong a club, it can feel difficult to hit the ball firmly enough. Personally, my Mizuno MP 60 wedge does the job for most bump-and-run shots.
Work on these pointers at set-up, backswing and throughswing. They will make your action simple and repeatable - allowing you to pop the ball forwards with control every time.