The Top Five Hardest Shots in Golf

[jamesonbourne]

Admittedly, this information is for a post I plan to do for my golf column over at thesirn.com.  Since joining The Sand Trap yesterday, I've already been inspired for several posts by the content on these forums.

I understand that this is going to be different for everyone and that it may not be easy to pick just one.  So, if you're feeling froggy then feel free to rank your top 5 hardest shots.

Mine:

1.  Tee shot to island green.

2.  Buried lie in thick rough.

3.  3-4 foot putt under pressure.

4.  Wedge over water or bunker.

5.  Fried egg lie in bunker.

[sacm3bill]

I voted Other:  Fairway bunker at an in-between distance (30-80 yards) from green.

I bet if that was in your poll it would win.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

I voted Other:  Fairway bunker at an in-between distance (30-80) yards from green.

I bet if that was in your poll it would win.

I agree.

That would be my number 1

2. Low punch under trees that has to roll to green

3. Fried Egg

4. 4-5 foot putt to save par

5. The first tee shot in front of a lot of people

[Inebriated]

I said 3-4 foot putt under pressure.

Although I would venture to say that the shorter 15 or 20 yard chip shots onto a downward sloping green.

[Elvisliveson]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

I voted Other:  Fairway bunker at an in-between distance (30-80) yards from green.

I bet if that was in your poll it would win.

DING, DING, DING, we have a winner! Long quasi greenside bunker shots are even difficult for the pros.

[mirv]

i went with buried bunker lie.  second would be the buried in deep rough shot.  i honestly don't have much trouble with any of the other options.

[rw21217]

I chose buried in deep rough.  The buried bunker is tough, but sand play has always been a strong point for me.  Second for me would be a low fade.  I just can't hit that shot...

[rsamsing]

besides getting to par 5 in 2 is a down hill lie when you have to flop over a a sand trap and a fast green or green sloping away from you.

[jamo]

I've always found the downhill long iron shot to be tough, in addition to some of the ones listed above.

[tmf9]

Id have to say those short putts under pressure, they seem to get the better of me too often.  When i was coming up in golf a couple years ago I was always told the 50 yard bunker shot was the hardest but i've always seemed to do well with those for some reason

[B of H]

this whole 'over water' and 'fried egg/buried lie' thing doesn't really bother me nearly as much as some of you.

low cut with a short iron

downhill long iron to tight pin in firm conditions

downhill 4 footer with a lot of break...like 6" or more

hard cut/slice with the ball above your feet significantly: any club

full wedge shot that doesn't back up

[tx_basser]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

I voted Other:  Fairway bunker at an in-between distance (30-80 yards) from green.

I bet if that was in your poll it would win.

Ditto.. I kept looking for that choice but could not find it.  LOL

[B of H]

Originally Posted by tx_basser

Ditto.. I kept looking for that choice but could not find it.  LOL

explosion style :

30-40 yards: pw or 9 iron

45-55 yards: 9 iron or 8 iron

and so on...

clean contact with slightly open face or a slightly closed face (mini hook)

60 - 80 yards: sw or pw

I've practiced these shots a bit and they are a lot easier to hit than I used to think.  The trick is just hitting a normal explosion shot like you would on a greenside bunker but with a longer club and trusting it.  the clean 'pick' shot is more difficult but i'm pretty good at making a short arms only type swing when needed.

[Zeph]

If we rule out the psychologial shots, I say a high and short pitch with a high lofted wedge on a tight lie over water. A bunker is not on the same level.

[B-Con]

Downhill 5-6 foot putts might be it for me. You can't just tap the ball like with a 2 footer, but you can't do much more than that or you'll have a 4+ ft return putt. My practice putting greens don't have much by way of slope, so I don't get to practice it much, which only makes it more nerve-wracking.

[jshots]

The hardest shot for me has always been the

hit the ball left handed with a right handed club ricocheting the ball off of a rock wall over a lake hitting a cart path on the other side bouncing it over a bunker onto a severely down hill and severely left to right breaking green with a stream on the other side and having it end up within 5 feet for par.

number 2 would be hitting a fairway.

[ghalfaire]

I voted other.  The most difficult shot for me is a steep downhill lie in a greenside bunker.  But admit none of the listed shots are easy.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I voted other.  The most difficult shot for me is a steep downhill lie in a greenside bunker.  But admit none of the listed shots are easy.

Those are tough as well. Especially if you have to get the ball up quickly.

David on Big Break had one last night. Did a lot better than I would