Putting Out of Your Mind
by Bob Rotella
The guru-cum-sports psychologist of choice among the world's top golfers will help you understand the rationale behind solid sustainable putting scoring
An approach shot is played into the green from outside the green, usually over a intermediate or short distance. Types of approach shots are:
Pitch: a high approach shot that makes the ball fly high and roll very little, stopping more or less where it hits the ground. Pitches are usually done with a wedge.
Flop
: an even higher approach shot that stops shortly after it hits the ground. It is used when a player must play over an obstacle to the green. It is usually played with a sand wedge or a lob wedge.
Chip
: a low approach shot where the ball makes a shallow flight and then rolls out on the green. Chips are done with a wedge or "short" (higher-numbered) iron.
Types of Shots
Recommended books
US Armed Forces officer Linda Jeffery, shooting from the tee.
Source: Air Force Services Agency Website http://www.afsv.af.mil/
A tee shotis the first shot played from a teeing ground. It can be made with a driver (i.e. a 1-wood) off a tee for long holes, or with an iron on shorter holes. Ideally, tee shots on long holes have a rather shallow flight and long roll of the ball, while tee shots on short holes are flighted higher and are expected to stop quickly.
A fairway shot is similar to a drive when done with a fairway wood. However, a tee may not be used once the ball has been brought into play, therefore playing from the fairway may be more difficult depending on how the ball lies. If precision is more important than length (typically, when playing on narrow fairways or approaching a green), irons are usually played from the fairway. Irons or wedges are also often used when playing from the rough.
A
bunker shotis played when the ball is in a bunker (sand trap). It resembles a pitch and is done with a wedge.
