Tag: Fairway Bunker

What are the different types of golf shots?

What are the different types of golf shots?

Though it sometimes seems that there are dozens of different golf shots that a golfer must learn to be a “good golfer” (e.g., consistently shoot in the 70’s or 80’s), there really are only a critical few golf shots that matter outside of the putting game.  If golfers can master these critical golf shots which can be applied and adapted for just about any golf situation, then they will certainly see a drop in their scores and more consistency in their game.  Below is a listing and description of each of these golf shots and how they are applied around the golf course.

1.Straight Golf Shots: As the name implies, a straight golf shot starts straight and holds the line toward the target.  It is used when the target is straight in front of you and shaping the golf shot right or left is unnecessary.  A straight golf shot is achieved when all the golf fundamentals are executed and synchronized effectively including setup position, grip, swing path and weight transfer.

2.Draw Golf Shots: A draw golf shot is used to curve a shot right to left around an obstacle to the target. The basic fundamentals of straight golf shots are followed, except alignment is right of the target and the grip is rotated in a “stronger” position to encourage right to left ball flight.

3.Fade Golf Shots: A fade golf shot is used to curve a shot left to right around an obstacle to the target. Similar to a draw, the basic fundamentals of straight golf shots are followed, except alignment is left of the target and the grip is rotated in a “weaker” position to encourage left to right ball flight.

4.Fairway Bunker Golf Shots: A fairway bunker golf shot is hit from fairway bunkers adjacent to the fairway. A good fairway bunker shot can position you well for your next shot and help save your score.  On these shots, it is important to position the body so that ball lies in the middle of your stance and stand “taller” throughout the shot to strike the ball cleanly.

5.Greenside Bunker Golf Shots: A greenside bunker golf shot is hit from bunker adjacent or very close to the putting surface. Since loft, rather than distance, is more important on these golf shots, it is important to position the ball forward in the stance while weight is distributed (and kept) favoring the left side throughout the golf shot.

6.Pitch Golf Shots: Pitch golf shot spends more time in the air than on ground and are typically used when 60 yards or more from the putting green.  The setup and weight distribution used for pitch shots are different than for straight, draw and fade golf shots and a lofted club such as a sand wedge or lob wedge is used.

7.Chip Golf Shots: Chip golf shots are typically used when the golf ball is 3 to 6 feet off the green and putting the ball is not a good option.  Chip shots are miniature versions of the full swing where just enough power is applied to land the ball quickly on the surface and roll toward the cup.

Of course, there are several other types of golf shots, but most are just variations of the ones above.  If golfers can focus on mastering these golf shots, then their games are sure to quickly improve.

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Mastering The Three Wood

Mastering The Three Wood

Why – because players who hit a lot of greens in regulation tend to have lower golf handicaps. Those who don’t tend to have higher golf handicaps. The 3-wood is a great club for aggressive players. It’s also a great club for senior players who may have lost some flexibility and power over the years, but can still play well.

The 3-wood is the second longest club in your bag, so it can be hard to hit for some. Hitting a crisp 3-wood from a tight lie is especially challenging, as I tell students attending my golf instruction sessions, no matter how good you are.

You can use the 3-wood in man situations. Since it’s shorter than the driver, it’s easier to control, so you can use it off the tee on tight fairways. Using the 3-wood ton the tee may cost you some distance, but it increases your chances of hitting the fairway.

In fact, some players who can’t hit a driver hit a 3-wood off the tee instead. Players also use the 3-wood to chip with when on the fringe, in a fairway bunker if the bunker’s lip is low, and on long par-3s when there’s a head wind. But the 3-wood is used mostly off the deck on par 5s, when you need a good second shot. Another common use of the 3-wood is on long par 4s, where you need a long second shot to reach the green. Hitting a good 3-wood there can put you on the green in two, something neither a long iron nor a hybrid can do.

If you can master the 3-wood off the deck, you can save a lot of strokes. Sweep The Ball From The Fairway Unlike irons, which require a downward blow, the 3-wood (and other fairway woods) need a sweeping motion that strikes the ball as the clubhead moves parallel to the ground.

Below are five keys to hitting the 3-wood:

1. Keep your weight balanced

2. Position the ball opposite your front heel

3. Keep you head and body behind the ball

4. Pull the club through with your lead hand

5. Extend your arms on the follow-through

To hit the 3-wood off the deck, you must take a wide stance similar to that used for a driver. Position the ball opposite your front heel or in some cases, slightly back from this position, and your weight balanced comfortably on the balls of your feet.

Start your swing on a low path that almost skims the grass to replicate the shallow path you want to take on your downswing. Keep your back shoulder level and pull your right hand (left for left-handers) through with your other hand. Above all, stay behind the ball after impact. Brush through the ball and extend your arms toward the target on the follow-through – something a lot of players I find in my golf lessons must work on.

Not Designed For High Shots

The 3-wood is designed to hit a line drive type of shot. But you don’t need to feel that you have to help it get the ball in the air. The 3-woord has more than enough loft to drive the ball forward for distance. If you need to hit something with more loft, use the 5-wood. It provides less distance but more height than the 3-wood.

In the right circumstances, the 5-wood can be just as effective as the 3-wood. The 3-wood is a great club in the right hands. It’s not as versatile as a hybrid, but it’s more versatile than the driver. Don’t be afraid to hit it. Used wisely, it can set you up for short shots into the green on par 5s or serve as the club of choice off the tee. If you’re serious about improving your game, master the 3-wood. It will shave strokes from your scores and your golf handicap.

Golf Swing Tips

How to Play Golf – The Importance of Your Go-To Shot

How to Play Golf – The Importance of Your Go-To Shot

Article by Stephen Simmons







What Is A Go-To Shot?

Your go-to shot, is a shot you have practiced many times, and because it is repeatable has the greatest probability of success under the circumstances. You’ve seen Tiger hit his “stinger” many times under the stress of tournament conditions. You have seen many examples of the go-to shot when watching a PGA Tour telecast.

Tour players are willing to sacrifice significant distances to increase the odds of hitting the fairway. These players understand that the probability of hitting the green from 200 yards away in the fairway is much greater than hitting the green from 150 yards away in the deep rough, a deep fairway bunker, or behind the trees. They are willing to choose a club, even an iron, that increases the probability of hitting the fairway.

Finding Your Go-To Shot

Finding your go-to shot happens during a practice session on the range. This practice session needs to have your full attention and should not be part of your normal range practice.

Start by analyzing the range for structures that can be used as imaginary boundaries. Two greens or flag positions would be an example. The structures need to be the approximate width of a typical fairway on your course. One flag will mark the left rough, the left most position you can hit the ball without going into the rough. The right flag defines the right most fairway position. Your goal is to imagine a golf hole on the range that can be used to evaluate the success of several shots.

The next step is to select the longest club you think will be used on the greatest number of tee shots during a typical round of golf. Most golfers start with the driver. If you are a beginner golfer you can save yourself some time by starting with a three or five wood. Most golfers do not have the fundamentals to use the driver as their go-to shot. Even Tiger Woods has a go-to shot other than a driver. For 99% of us, the driver serves as a starting point that will not end up as our go-to shot.

Hit ten balls at your imaginary hole. Measure the results of the ten shots. How many shots stayed on the fairway and did not roll into the rough? If you hit more than 7 drives that stayed in the fairway you can congratulate yourself and then re-evaluate your imaginary hole to make sure that it is not too wide. You want this test to be difficult enough to really help you find a shot that you can rely on when the pressure is on. Your go-to shot should have a success percentage of at least 70 percent. Chances are that your success percentage with the driver was less than 70 percent, so go to the next club in your test, the three wood. Hit ten more balls using the three wood and measure the results.

Continue this process until you find a club that you can use that will get the ball into the fairway at least 70 percent of the time. You may find that you can only keep short irons in the fairway because your shot dispersion is to wide.

Identifying Your Ball Flight Tendency

The first time you try this test you may find that your shot dispersion is all over the range, some right and some left. The success of your go-to shot will be higher if you can identify your most natural ball flight tendency.

For Kenny Perry, his natural ball flight tendency is a right to left draw. The process of finding his go-to shot would be to aim down the right side of the hole and rely on his natural shot shape to curve the ball to the left and into the middle of the fairway. For a left to right player that hits a fade, the process would be the opposite.

In both of these cases the player is maximizing the space the ball can curve in the air, roll after landing, while staying in the fairway. All great players learn how to eliminate one half of the course or the other. It might seem that aiming down the middle of the fairway is your best option, however, that only gives you half of the golf hole to work with. Ben Hogan learned how to eliminate the left side of the hole which gave him the entire width of the fairway to work with. Jack Nicklaus also hit most of his shots with a left to right ball flight.

It will be much easier for you to find and practice a go-to shot if you can find your natural shot shape. If you hit a slice because you have an over the top club path, play your slice until you can straighten your shots.

Practicing Your Go-To Shot

For beginner golfers it is important to work with your PGA Professional to find your most natural ball flight pattern. Your goal should be to find a simple golf swing that repeats itself with reasonable certainty. If you want to change your pattern over time, work on that change during your practice sessions. Learn how to play golf by maximizing your opportunities for success. Learn how to play golf with your most natural ball flight tendency; right to left, or left to right.

For more accomplished players find the shot that has the highest probability for success. Your go-to shot will save you many dollars if you gamble or will help you win more competitions as a tournament golfer. Your biggest challenge will be learning a second go-to shot; the shot you can rely on if your primary go-to shot is not an option. What are you going to do if your primary right to left shot is blocked by a very large tree guarding the right side of the hole? Have you found a go-to left to right shot that can be played under these circumstances? If you can’t hit a left to right shot with any level of reasonable accuracy, what are your options for shooting the lowest number on the hole?

Regardless of your skill level, you need to practice your go-to shots during every practice session. You don’t have to hit a lot of go-to practice balls but you need to hit enough that keeps your confidence as high as possible so when it comes time to use the shot your ready.

You will also want to keep searching for the longest possible shot that you can rely on from the tee box. You may start out with a 2 iron as your go-to shot from the tee and then club up to a three wood with practice.

Go-to shots should not be limited to tee shots. You need to have a go-to fairway approach shot. and you need to have a go-to short game shot. Your golf scores will be lower, if during a round of golf, you only play golf shots that have been practiced on the range. Play golf like a pro. Find and practice your go-to shot.



About the Author

Stephen Simmons is the author and publisher of the Strategic Golfer Instruction Series. Steve is a single digit golfer living in San Antonio, Texas. Find more golf tips for beginners, proper golf swing, and how to play golf lessons located in how to play golf at http://www.strategicgolfer.com. Please feel free to leave your comments or inquiries on our Contact Us page at http://www.strategicgolfer.com/contact-us.