The Top Five Hardest Shots in Golf

[cody west]

Originally Posted by Elvisliveson

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

agreed... theres no where to really practice them either like how many places do you know have a practice bunker with a 60 yard long green 40 yards away

[B of H]

Originally Posted by cody west

agreed... theres no where to really practice them either like how many places do you know have a practice bunker with a 60 yard long green 40 yards away

I practice them in either the bunker on the range or I aim at something that is 40 to 60 yards away from the greenside practice bunker.  There is no rule that says you have to hit your practice shots at a green or a pin.

[teeboxghost19]

I love these questions.  They make me think back and consider/relive some anxious moments and the ecstasy or frustration that followed those decisions on the course.

My toughest shot is tied between two.  I know it is a poll, and ya have to pick one, but here goes.

First thing that came to mind was the long lag putt on the undulating green.  Multibreaks, hey, no problem.  I have been playing long enough to read multibreaks.  The problem is that large hump that always comes into play somewhere along your putting line on these type of greens.  Get that part of the read wrong, and you have no chance of hitting all your other reads/points on the line.

That putt is a tough shot.  But, as I thought about that, thought about my favorite course, Torrey Pines South.  Like many other coastal/links courses, you have onshore flow (wind from the sea) for most of the day.  Hitting to a green that is on the edge of a cliff with onshore flow makes for an interesting shot selection.  Hit a fade into the wind.  Normally, a smart play.  Or, you could start a fade way right (over the side of the cliff) and hope for the wind to hold up.

I will go with the lag putt.  The coastal cliff shot is a tougher decision, but the lag putt is a tougher shot.

[cody west]

Originally Posted by B of H

When you have a tight pin on the extreme right of a green with a right to left wind and you cant risk starting it right of the green.

Tree trouble

Pin cut over a ridge and you dont want to spin it back in the direction of the ridge

Etc...

just hit it strait... honestly most people would probably screw up a low cut.

p.s. doesnt your handicap have a decimal?

[xxsoultonesxx]

Originally Posted by jamesonbourne

Punch fade or the "low cut" as most people call it.

This is probably just a personal thing, but I can't hit a controlled fade to save my life.  My dad brought me up to hit a draw from day one and now I don't put in the time to practice hitting a fade.  I would say one out of every five times I have to hit a punch shot it requires a fade to get close to the target and I just don't have that shot.

All you need is a set of Ping Eye 2's.

[B of H]

just hit it strait... honestly most people would probably screw up a low cut.

p.s. doesnt your handicap have a decimal?

In order to hit the ball straight in a right to left wind you have to cut it, if you ride the wind you fly the green or bounce over. If you hit it straight then the chances of getting it close on the courses i play are slim and you bring bogey or worse into play. The point of this thread is the hardest shot, not managing your game. My handicap is probably around scratch again now, i need to update it.

[Nickynoodles]

Im very good at the low burner from under trees so that wouldnt be in my top 5.

1. Severe downhill lie in the roung.

2. Plugged bunker shot from fairway bunker.

3. 20-40 yard flop over trees.

4. Plugged greenside bunker in the lip

5. Over hazard to close side pin.

[Bryan SD2]

Other, definitely.

medium length bunker shot - 50 yards or so.

long iron that must come in high to a tight pin

300 yard drive (what % of golfers can actually do this - 10%?)

Full Flop Shot (lay it wide open) when you are short sided and the green slopes away

downhill putts that break a foot or more but are less than 10 feet.

Honorable mention to any shot that comes after the one you just hit in the water.....

[sean_miller]

Kris Blanks and Andres Romero might vote for the long greenside bunker shot.

[FLOG 4]

downhill lie in bunker with water over green on other side...