If you’re looking to improve your game in 2026, there’s no need to blow up your swing or start from scratch. Sometimes the best way to make gains is to start with something simple and manageable.
While it’s tempting to spend all your practice time on ball-striking, hitting endless drivers on the range, dialing in your shots around the green will likely have double the impact on your score. So what’s the ultimate shot to master in order to strengthen your short-game repertoire? I asked Fiddler’s Elbow teaching professional Gia Liwski for her pick.
“Every player needs a nice little bump shot,” she said. “Something really basic, either with a 7-iron or a 6-iron or even a hybrid. You want something that’s going to get the ball low and rolling towards the target to give yourself a chance to get it on the green.”
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What’s the best technique to execute a shot like this? Liwski says the first thing to do is to gauge the quality of your lie.
“For super-tight lies, stand a little closer to the ball,” she said. “Bring the handle a little higher to take some bounce off the club.
“Lean into the lead foot, which will bring the handle a little bit more forward. It also de-lofts the club and takes off even more bounce.
“Then, the move is basically like a putting stroke,” she continued. “Sometimes you have to soften that trail arm to allow for the club to move far enough.”
Liwski says you can experiment with a straight-back-straight-through motion, or make more of a swing, depending on the distance you’re trying to cover. Ultimately, the key to this simple bump is eliminating as much bounce as you can with your setup to allow the ball to roll.
“With this technique, you can just pick it off the grass and let it go,” Liwski said. “All you need to do is practice with it to get comfortable.”
You can use Liwski’s bump method with every club in your bag. Give it a try in your next practice session to level up your game in the new year.
