The Art of Scrambling: Low Risk, High Reward

Scrambling is the art of saving par when you miss the green. Most amateurs add strokes here because they try to be too fancy. They pull a lob wedge and try to hit a high, soft flop shot like they see on TV. The result? They chunk it 2 feet or skull it over the green.

The Secret: Get the ball on the ground as fast as possible. The ground is your friend. A rolling ball is predictable; a flying ball is not.

1. The Order of Operations

To lower your scores, you must swallow your pride and choose the boring shot. Always run through this checklist in order:

1. Putt It: If you are on the fringe or the fairway is tightly mown, use your putter. A bad putt is usually 3 feet from the hole. A bad chip is often still off the green.
2. Bump and Run: If you can't putt, use a low-lofted iron (8, 9, or PW) to pop the ball just onto the green and let it roll the rest of the way like a putt.
3. Pitch/Lob: Only—and I mean only—use your Sand Wedge or Lob Wedge if you have to carry a bunker or deep rough and have very little green to work with. This is the highest-risk shot in golf. Avoid it if you can.

2. The Setup (The "BLT" Method)

For a basic chip or bump-and-run, do not use your normal full-swing stance. Use the "BLT" setup to ensure clean contact:

• B - Ball Back: Play the ball off your back foot (right foot for righties). This helps you hit the ball first, then the ground.
• L - Lean Forward: Lean your weight onto your front foot (60-70% of weight on the left side). Keep it there throughout the swing.
• T - Tilt Handle: Press your hands forward so the shaft leans toward the target.

3. The Ratio System (Simplified Rule of 12)

How do you know which club to use for a bump-and-run? Use "Ratios." Visualize the shot in two parts: Air (how far it flies) vs. Roll (how far it rolls).

• Sand Wedge (1:1): Flies 1 part, Rolls 1 part. (Good for when the pin is in the middle).
• Pitching Wedge (1:2): Flies 1 part, Rolls 2 parts.
• 8-Iron (1:3): Flies 1 part, Rolls 3 parts. (Good for when the pin is all the way at the back).

The Strategy: Always pick a landing spot just 2 or 3 feet onto the green. Then, pick the club that has enough "roll" to get from that landing spot to the hole.

4. Respect the Lie

Before you even pick a club, look at how the ball is sitting in the grass.

• Sitting Down (Buried): The grass will grab your club. You must swing harder, and the ball will come out with zero spin and roll a lot. Plan for the rollout.
• Sitting Up (Perched): Be careful not to slide the club right underneath the ball (the "pop-up"). You need a shallow, sweeping motion.

Additional Reading

To master the simple short game, check out these top-tier resources:

• Kevin Kisner Fixes Weekend Golfer's Chipping Game: Frankie, otherwise known as "Frankie Butter Knives" has a terrible case of the skulls when it comes to chipping and Kevin Kisner helps fix his game.
• Try My 3 Simple Shots To Get Up And Down From Anywhere: Save your short game with the help of PGA Specialist Coach and Honorary Member Sarah Bennett, as she teaches you how to play three simple shots around the green.
• Golf Rule of 12 Explained: Tips and Strategies: The Rule of 12 offers a systematic framework that takes the guesswork out of these critical shots, allowing golfers to develop more confidence and save strokes every round..