Golfing great Jack Nicklaus once said that Golf is about damage control. If anyone should know about damage control, it’s Nicklaus. He was among the best at it, if not the best to ever play. It’s why he won so many golf tournaments in his career.
But golf is also about repetition. That’s why you practice shots repeatedly. Then when you find yourself facing tough situations, like hitting from a hardpan lie or a fairway bunker, you’re capable of beating the challenge.
Golf instruction is also built on repetition. If you’ve ever had golf lessons, you know what we mean. In golf lessons, you’re often being told to do the same thing more than once, maybe even repeatedly.
Repetition in golf instruction isn’t the best directive for improving, but it is necessary. That means golf instruction can be a bit tedious. So, we thought we’d have some fun in this article.
Six Lesser-Known Shots Golfers Face
- Driver from the bunker — Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But you can hit driver from a bunker if the conditions are right: The ball needs to be sitting up. The sand needs to be on the firmer side. The lie needs to be slightly uphill. And the lip of the bunker needs to be low. Also, position the ball forward in your stance, hit the ball with the lower portion of the club face, and hang back a bit on this shot instead of shifting your weight forward as you normally do when hitting driver.
- Draw with a wedge — Learning to hook a wedge cuts strokes from your score. It’s a great way to build consistency. This shot isn’t a high spinning shot. It’s a medium height draw that, upon landing, rolls about 10 feet toward the hole after hitting. To hook a wedge, take your normal stance but close the clubface (relative to the target) about 20 degrees. Then swing from inside the target line to outside the target line. Practice this shot when you can. It’s easy to learn, highly controllable, and easy to repeat. It can also be a life-savior.
- High-lofted hybrid — Hitting a high lofted hybrid (or fairway wood) is a challenge. No doubt about it. The key is using a descending blow, not a sweeping or ascending one. In other words, hit the shot just like you would a 6- or 7-iron. The Two-ball Golf Drill teaches you to hit down on the ball: Drop two balls on the ground. Position one about a foot behind the other. Then hit the forward ball without hitting the one behind it. Work on this drill. It will save you strokes.
- Power fade from the tee — What do Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples have in common besides being great golfers. They both hit power fades off the tee. This shot is highly controllable. One foolproof way to do it is to adopt a strong left-handed grip. That’s one where you can only see one knuckle on your left hand when you grip the club. The trick is to delay the club’s release until just after impact. Eventually, you’ll have to release the club. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself or you’ll turn your power fade into a slice.
- Knockdown lob shot — Need a shot that hits the green then trickles a few feet forward? This shot is it. And it’s easier to hit than you think. The easy part is getting the ball in the air. Just use a 58- or 60-degree wedge. So, you don’t need to lift the ball in the air. The hard part is putting enough spin on the ball to stop it when it hits. The key is cocking your wrists just after you start your backswing. Also, keep your hands ahead of the ball as you transition to the downswing and stay low at impact through to the finish.
- Putt from above the hole — Chipping from above the hole is among the hard shots in golf. So why do it? Try putting instead. You’ll need to practice to get this shot down pat, but it’s easier than hitting a chip. Keep in mind that the longer rough will be a factor in your putting. It will slow down the ball’s roll a bit. The key here is having a decent lie and some green to work with. Having plenty of break doesn’t hurt, either. You’ll need to practice this shot to get a feel for how the putt reacts out of the fringe or the rough. But it’s worth it. Once you learn the shot, you’ll wonder why you ever chipped from above the hole in the first place.
There you have it—six shots that can help you better control the damage when on the course. Mastering these shots can make a difference to your golf scores and your golf handicap. So, work on the shots that work for you whenever you can and incorporate them in your game.
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