"Specialty" Shots

[upah]

When I'm on the course, I've noticed that I tend to hit the same shot over and over again. When presented with a shot from X yards out, I hit the club that carries X yards 90% of the time. My only variance is when facing a wind that will change my club distances. I tend to get good contact which minimizes roll, and I typically try to hit the ball straight (versus working shots). This means that most of my shots outside, say 120 yards, are full swings and of average trajectory for the given club. For years I have been marginally successful using this strategy.

My question for you lower handicaps is how many specialty shots (punches, knockdowns, stingers, draws/fades, etc...) do you employ during a typical round? Do you change your ball position often or hit the same consistent shots? I'm wondering if my lack of imagination is whats preventing me from getting into the single digits.

Thanks!

[Jay-Bird]

Do you play Colbert Hills or Stagg Hill?

I play all kinds of shots in a given round - if necessary . It obviously depends on the lie of the ball, the angle I have, the wind speed and direction, the course conditions, the flag position, the tee box position...

I can't really quantify it per round, but I do hit various shots. Might be none, might 25 times.

[Saint]

i think you're really limiting yourself by hitting straight only. It's a great thing, but working the ball comes into play nicely. You get really nice stop and drop with a fade as well.

[goblue107501]

One thing to work on is to be able to hit a club a variety of distances. Try choking down about an inch and using your full swing. That should drop a few yards off a club. Choke down a little more, and take off more distance. You can combine that with an abbreviated back swing. I can hit an 8-iron the same distance I hit a 9-iron by choking down and shortening my back swing. I can go as far as hitting 2 clubs down and maintaining control. It can give you a lot of options when you can do different things with one club, rather than just hitting a club 100% every time.

[mc0388]

When I'm on the course, I've noticed that I tend to hit the same shot over and over again. When presented with a shot from X yards out, I hit the club that carries X yards 90% of the time. My only variance is when facing a wind that will change my club distances. I tend to get good contact which minimizes roll, and I typically try to hit the ball straight (versus working shots). This means that most of my shots outside, say 120 yards, are full swings and of average trajectory for the given club. For years I have been marginally successful using this strategy.

I think this is a great question. I would like to think that I can hit most shots, but hitting 'specialty' shots when you don't need to can also get you into trouble. My dad (2 handicap) says I play cute (not always), which in his terms means, playing specialty shots that aren't needed. Sometimes keeping a shot simple, simply produces better results.

But I love shaping shots and trying different things, so learn all the shots you can, you'll know when to use them

[trjohnson2]

I found that once I started working shots by draw or cut or whatever into greens, I was able to really improve my scores due to the place I was putting from. Being able to bring a shot in right to left for a flag cut on the left allows me to play towards a safe shot and let it release to the hole. Then if I miss I'm middle of the green instead of chipping or in the sand, because I came in from the safe side. Plus the more you play these worked shots the easier they will be whenthey are really necessary.

[flanagan]

If hitting low and working the ball from around and under trees is a "specialty" shot, been doing that a lot lately, and pretty good at it (been doing it all my life).

I don't consider myself a "low handicapper", but I'm like some above who will choke down a little, restrict my swing, hit some knockdowns/punches, mostly distance control things. I don't consider myself real good at working the ball but I try.

If you know your distances and are accurate, I suspect it's the chipping and putting that's holding you back, rather than hitting the ball straight. I do think if you practice different kinds of shots you get more of a feel or connection with your swing and more confidence.

[ks8829]

If you are not sure why you have not lowered your handicap then the next 3 rounds records the following stats:

putts per hole
up and down per hole
greens hit on regulations
fairways hit on regulations

a) your scoring begins with putting, keeping your putts under 30 per round.
b) your up and down percentage is big, if you can get up and down around the green to save par, make birdie or even save boogie, your scores will lower and stay low.

Some shots that I play are:

a) low shots to keep the ball below trees
b) fade shots
c) draw shots
d) 3/4 shots when I am hitting into the wind and want to take more club
e) flop shots
f) high shots over trees


all these shots can be learned, next time you get into trouble and you need to hit a low shots you can try this shot at the range until you get comfortable trying it during a round

[Rolf Harris]

Bizzarely my specialty cut shots seems to end up better off than my standard iron shot. Might pretend there's a tree in my way more aften...

[mgresh]

Einstein said everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. I think that applies perfectly to golf in the sense that I try to hit what the circumstances call for and what I can realistically accomplish given my level of ability. If I'm just out dorking around I'll try all sorts of things but if I'm worried about my score in competition I try to keep it simple and within myself.

That said, when I feel my creativity on the course is a bit stifled, I'll go out and play 9 or 18 holes with just one club (my last was with a 7 iron but any mid to long iron will suffice). Talk about some "specialty" shots

[Fourputt]

I think this is a great question. I would like to think that I can hit most shots, but hitting 'specialty' shots when you don't need to can also get you into trouble. My dad (2 handicap) says I play cute (not always), which in his terms means, playing specialty shots that aren't needed. Sometimes keeping a shot simple, simply produces better results.

Amen. There is a difference between knowing how to play different shots and knowing

when to use them. For some, a 3/4 knockdown is their money shot... for others the standard swing and shot is the best choice unless it is inappropriate for the situation. It's silly to try and play a low punch draw when your standard shot is a high fade and there are no special circumstances requiring the low draw. When practicing, it's fine to try different things... that's how you learn. When shooting for score, play the shot that gives you the highest percentage for success.

[MuscleBack Sauce]

i would say don't focus on the specialty shots so much as where you want your "leaves" to be. Pick out where you want your ball to end up in the event it doesn't end up where you plan. i.e. hit a fade if there are bunkers on the left and just rough on the right. things like that

[wedge player]

if its a straightforward shot i play a straight shot i have speciality shots but prefer to hit them only wen need be.

[MiniMoe]

To be quite honest, I think distance control is much more important than learning how to draw and fade a shot into the green. How you control distance is to control the trajectory of the ball. You do that by learning how the ball reacts when you take a 7 iron and try to hit it 110. You put the ball back in your stance, choke down a bit and put an amr swing on the ball. You try anything you can think of to see how the ball reacts. Since I play a lot, I am always trying different shots out on the course. At times I don't score well, but in the long run it is more beneficail to learn as I go. Use your imagination, and try things you may have never thought of before.

Really, the only time I work the ball into a green is to either ride or fight the wind to hold the ball straight.