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Rory McIlroy Bump and Run Drill: Land It, Then Let It Roll
Your drill at a glance
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Get the ball onto the green and rolling towards the hole with a simple, compact chip. This Rory McIlroy bump and run drill gives you a clear setup to explore, followed by a small target game.
Rory demonstrates the bump-and-run in this TaylorMade lesson. The 18-shot game and scoring below are our practice adaptation.
Step 1. Choose the shot and set up
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose your lie | Start just off the green with short grass and plenty of putting surface between you and the hole. |
| Choose your club | Try a lower-lofted wedge; Rory demonstrates with a 52-degree wedge. |
| Organise the setup | Place the ball back in your stance, stand a little closer with the shaft more upright, and favour your lead side. |
Step 2. Rock the shoulders and watch the roll
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pick a landing patch | Choose a clear patch on the green beyond the fringe. |
| Make a compact motion | Rock shoulders back and through. Land it on the green and let it run |
| Read the result | Watch where the first bounce happens and how far the ball travels afterwards. Adjust the size of the motion for your next attempt. |
Step 3. Play an 18-chip target game
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Mark a finish zone | Before you begin, place two flat markers roughly a putter-length either side of the hole, outside the ball’s route. Imagine a circle of that radius. |
| Play two sets of nine | Use one starting spot for the first nine. For the second nine, move a few paces around the green and choose a fresh landing patch. |
| Score the result | Award one point when the ball finishes inside your chosen circle, including a holed chip. Keep the zone size the same for all eighteen. |
Our practice format: eighteen attempts in two sets of nine.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | The chip finishes in the chosen target zone, including a holed chip. |
| 0 points | The chip finishes outside the chosen target zone. |
Keep the first session simple: one club and one finish-zone size. If most balls finish long, bring the landing patch closer or shorten the motion. If most finish short, make one small adjustment and try again. A single change makes the feedback easier to understand.
George’s Practice Tip.
Judge the landing and the rollout separately. A chip can land where you intended and still finish too far away. That tells you something useful about the club, the green and the pace you chose.
For another short practice task, try the Rory McIlroy One-Hop Stop Chip Drill.
