Ground Game
The ground game in golf is a style of play that keeps the ball low and lets it roll along the firm turf toward the target, rather than flying it through the air and stopping it quickly. It is also known as bump-and-run golf.
What is the ground game in golf?
The ground game is an approach to playing shots where the ground does much of the work. Instead of launching a high shot that lands softly and stops near where it pitches, a golfer plays a lower shot that lands short of the target and runs the rest of the way. The bounce and roll are part of the plan, not an accident.
This style exists because of the ground itself. On firm, fast turf, a high shot that lands on a green can bounce and skip away, while a lower running shot stays under control and finishes closer to the hole. Wind is the other reason. A ball kept near the turf is far less affected by a stiff breeze than a ball sent high into it, which is why the ground game is so closely tied to seaside links courses.
The term is usually set against “target golf,” the aerial style common on softer American parkland courses, where the ball tends to stop close to where it lands. Golf fans hear the phrase most often during The Open Championship, played on the firm, windswept links courses of the UK, where run-up shots and bump-and-runs are often the smart play rather than the exception.
How the ground game works
The idea is simple: use less loft, keep the ball down, and let it roll. A lower-lofted club produces a flatter flight and more run-out once the ball lands. Where a lofted wedge might carry almost all the way to the flag and stop, a 7-iron or 8-iron played with a shorter, putting-style motion sends the ball low and lets it chase toward the hole. Some players reach for a hybrid or fairway wood for longer running shots, and from tight lies just off the green a putter is sometimes the safest choice of all.
Reading the ground matters as much as club choice. A golfer playing the ground game reads the slope and firmness of the turf, along with the contours around and on the green, then picks a landing spot that will feed the ball where they want it to finish. On a Redan-style par 3, for example, the front slopes of the green can be used to funnel a running shot back toward the hole, whereas firing straight at the flag would send the ball off the back.
Ground game vs. target golf
Most golfers arrive at this term because they have heard it contrasted with target golf, so it helps to see the two side by side.
| Feature | Ground game | Target golf |
|---|---|---|
| Ball flight | Low, running | High, landing soft |
| Where the ball stops | Rolls out toward the target | Stops near where it lands |
| Typical course | Firm links courses | Soft parkland courses |
| Conditions that suit it | Firm turf, wind | Calm air, receptive greens |
| Clubs often used | Lower-lofted irons, hybrids, putter | Wedges and short irons |
| Main skill | Judging bounce and roll | Controlling carry distance and spin |
Neither style is “correct.” Target golf asks the player to control how far the ball flies and how quickly it stops, which is why it suits soft courses and skilled ball-strikers. The ground game asks the player to picture the bounce and roll before the shot, which many find both harder to predict and more rewarding when it comes off. Good players carry both, choosing whichever the course and weather call for on a given hole.
Where you’ll see the ground game
The ground game reaches well beyond shots around the green. It shapes decisions across the course. Off the tee on a firm fairway, the shape and height of a drive change how the ball behaves once it lands, and the right shot can use a slope to gain yards or a better angle. Approach shots bring it in too: a player might land the ball short of a firm green and let it run up, sometimes the only way to hold the putting surface at all. Then there is the area close to the green, where getting the ball rolling early gives a wider margin for error than a delicate high shot. That forgiveness is why so many coaches favour it for everyday play.
Related Golf Terms
- Robbed — Slang for a putt that lips out after looking certain to drop.
- Pin seeker — Slang for a shot tracking straight at the flag.
- Tips — Slang for the back tees, the longest setup on a course.
- Blow-up hole — Slang for a hole that goes disastrously wrong.
- Dime — Slang for a shot that finishes very close to the pin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “ground game” mean in golf?
It means playing shots that stay low and roll along the turf toward the target, using the firmness of the ground instead of flying the ball all the way there. Bump-and-run is the same idea.
What is the opposite of the ground game?
Target golf. That is the aerial style where the ball flies high, lands soft, and stops close to where it pitches, which is common on soft parkland courses.
What clubs are used for the ground game?
Lower-lofted clubs that keep the ball down and encourage roll, such as a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron, a hybrid for longer shots, and sometimes a putter from just off the green.
Why is the ground game linked to links golf?
Links courses have firm, sandy turf and steady coastal wind. Both reward a low, running ball, so the ground game is often the highest-percentage play there.
Is the ground game good for beginners?
Often, yes. A low running shot around the green has a bigger margin for error than a high, lofted one, which is why many coaches teach it early.
Sources
- Golf.com. “What’s wrong with ‘target golf’? And what are its alternatives?” Accessed July 2026.
https://golf.com/travel/whats-wrong-target-golf-alternatives/ - SportsEdTV. “What Does Playing Golf’s Ground Game Mean?” Accessed July 2026.
https://sportsedtv.com/blog/what-does-playing-golf-s-ground-game-mean - PGA of America. “Four Tips to Play Better Links Golf.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.pga.com/story/four-tips-to-play-better-links-golf - Golf Compendium. “What Is ‘Target Golf’?” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golfcompendium.com/2025/01/target-golf.html - Hole19. “Parkland vs Links Golf: Understanding Course Styles.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.hole19golf.com/the-19th-hole/parkland-vs-links-golf-course-styles - Golfspan. “Bump and Run in Golf: Pros, Cons, & How-To.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golfspan.com/bump-and-run
