Golf might look simple from the outside, but once you start playing, you quickly realize there’s more than one way to get from the tee box to the green. In fact, there are dozens of different types of golf shots, each designed for a specific situation, distance, or challenge on the course.
Understanding the most common golf shots will help you make better decisions, manage the course more effectively, and improve your consistency over time. Below, we’ll walk through the key types of golf shots every golfer should know, organized from tee to green.
Gut Check Before Learning Golf Shots
To achieve a solid foundation in golf, you first need to master grip, stance, and alignment. These fundamentals significantly impact your game, and it's crucial to get them right before exploring the various golf shots.
Proper Grip, Stance, and Alignment
-
Grip: Hold the club lightly, ensuring your hands work together as a single unit.
-
Stance: Position your feet shoulder-width apart, with a slight bend in your knees.
-
Alignment: Align your body with the target, using your feet, hips, and shoulders as reference points.
Learn more: How to Improve Your Alignment and Aiming
Swing Mechanics
Swing mechanics are also vital for executing various types of golf shots accurately. A consistent swing is necessary, and you should focus on tempo and balance to maintain a steady rhythm throughout your swing.
Some quick ways to improve your swing mechanics:
-
Keep your head steady and maintain a stable spine angle.
-
Shift your weight smoothly from the backswing to the follow-through.
-
Stay relaxed and let the club do the work.
Learn more: Golf Lessons: Are They Worth it for Beginners?
Types of Golf Shots Every Golfer Should Know
Golf becomes far less overwhelming when you understand what each shot is designed to do. From the tee box to the green, every situation calls for a specific type of shot based on distance, layout, and risk. The goal isn’t to master every shot at once—it’s to understand what the shot does, when to use it, and how to attempt it.
Below are the essential shots every golfer should know, organized from tee to green.
Tee Shots
Tee shots set the tone. Whether you’re prioritizing distance, accuracy, or keeping the ball in play, these are the most common shots golfers use off the tee.
Though most of these shots are made with drivers, a hybrid or fairway wood can also be used off the tee for greater accuracy over maximum distance.
Straight Drive
A straight drive is a tee shot that flies with minimal curve and predictable rollout. It’s the most neutral and versatile shot off the tee.
When to use it:
On wide or moderately forgiving fairways where keeping the ball in play is the top priority. For most golfers, this is the default tee shot.
How to hit it:
Use a neutral grip, square clubface, and balanced stance. Focus on smooth tempo and solid contact rather than maximum swing speed. A repeatable swing produces better results than chasing distance.
Draw Off the Tee
A draw is a controlled shot that curves gently from right to left (for right-handed golfers). Many players like a draw because it can produce slightly more distance due to lower spin and added roll.
When to use it:
Dogleg-left holes or situations where added distance from roll is helpful. Some golfers also prefer draws when they naturally fight a slice.
How to hit it:
Create an inside-to-out swing path with a slightly closed clubface relative to that path. Set up with the ball just inside your lead heel and focus on releasing the club smoothly through impact.
Fade Off the Tee
A fade shot drifts from the left to right. Many golfers find fades easier to control than draws, especially under pressure. Many golfers rely on a fade as their most predictable shot.
When to use it:
Dogleg-right holes, tight fairways, or pressure situations where accuracy matters more than distance.
How to hit it:
Use a slightly open stance and allow the club to travel on an outside-to-in path with a controlled, slightly open clubface. Keep the curve gentle to avoid turning the fade into a slice.
Power Drive
A power drive is a high-speed tee shot designed to maximize distance, often with lower spin and a more aggressive swing.
When to use it:
Wide-open holes where missing the fairway won’t severely punish you and extra distance creates a clear advantage.
How to hit it:
Commit fully to the swing while maintaining balance. Proper tee height, confident setup, and strong rotation are essential. This shot should be used selectively—not forced.
Reliable, forgiving golf clubs can make a world of difference when you’re learning different types of tee shots. Stix clubs are designed to help you find consistent contact and predictable ball flight so you can focus on keeping the ball in play instead of fighting your equipment.
Fairway Shots
Once the ball is in play, fairway shots are all about advancing toward the green while avoiding trouble.
Layup Shot
A layup shot is a deliberate decision to stop short of the green in order to avoid hazards or set up a preferred approach distance. While it may feel conservative, good course management often leads to lower scores.
When to use it:
When attacking the green brings unnecessary risk, such as water, bunkers, or awkward distances.
How to hit it:
Choose a club that leaves you with a comfortable next shot—we recommend a mid iron or short iron. Swing within yourself and aim for a safe landing zone rather than maximum distance.
Punch Shot
A punch is a low-trajectory shot designed to keep the ball under obstacles or minimize wind influence.
When to use it:
Under trees, into strong winds, or during recovery situations.
How to hit it:
Play the ball back in your stance, keep your hands ahead, and shorten your follow-through. The goal is controlled flight, not height.
Approach Shots
Approach shots are played into the green and require a balance of distance control, trajectory, and accuracy.
Full Iron Shot
A full iron shot uses a stock swing with a mid- or short iron aimed at carrying the ball for maximum yardage.
When to use it:
Clean lies and standard approach yardages where you can make a confident swing.
How to hit it:
Trust your yardages and swing at a comfortable pace. Focus on ball-first contact and balanced follow-through.
Knockdown Shot
A knockdown shot is a lower-trajectory approach designed to limit spin and flight height. This shot trades height for predictability.
When to use it:
Windy conditions or when you want a more predictable, penetrating trajectory.
How to hit it:
Grip down slightly, play the ball back, and shorten your finish. Keep your tempo smooth to maintain control.
High Approach Shot
High approach shots launch steeply and land softly, helping the ball stop quickly on the green.
When to use it:
Firm greens, tucked pin positions, or hazards guarding the front of the green.
How to hit it:
High approach shots are usually played with short irons or wedges. Use more loft, maintain speed through impact, and allow a full follow-through. Clean contact is critical.
Golf Shots Around the Green
Shots around the green are some of the most important you can take. Precision and accuracy matter most here.
Chip Shot
A chip shot is a low-flying shot that rolls most of the way to the hole. For most golfers, chipping should be the go-to short-game shot.
When to use it:
When there’s plenty of green to work with and minimizing risk is important.
How to hit it:
Grab your pitching or sand wedge. Use a putting-style motion with minimal wrist hinge and let the ball roll naturally.
Pitch Shot
Pitch shots fly higher and stop more quickly than chips. They’re useful when you need to carry rough, bunkers, or uneven lies before reaching the green.
When to use it:
From 30–50 yards or when you need to carry rough or hazards.
How to hit it:
Use a lofted wedge with controlled wrist hinge and smooth acceleration through impact.
Learn more: When and How to Use Your 52 Degree Wedge
Flop Shot
A flop shot launches very high and lands very softly. While impressive, it’s also risky and difficult to execute consistently. Most golfers don’t need to rely on flop shots often, but understanding when not to use one is just as important.
When to use it:
Short-sided situations with very little green to work with.
How to hit it:
To hit a flop shot, use a high-lofted wedge, like a 60-degree lob wedge. Open your stance and clubface to increase the loft. Make a full, aggressive swing, allowing the club to slide under the ball.
Bunker Shot
Greenside bunker shots use an “explosion” technique to lift the ball out of the sand. The goal isn’t to hit the ball directly, but to use the sand to carry it onto the green.
With the right fundamentals, bunker shots are more predictable than they look.
When to use it:
Greenside bunkers with enough sand to support the shot.
How to hit it:
Use your sand wedge or lob wedge for this shot. Open the clubface, aim slightly left, and strike the sand just behind the ball to let it ride out on the cushion of sand.
Bump and Run
The bump and run is a low-trajectory shot that rolls out after landing, a variant on a chip shot.
When to use it:
Firm greens or when keeping the ball low is the safest play.
How to hit it:
Choose a less-lofted club, like a 7-iron or 8-iron. Play the ball back in your stance, with your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Make a simple putt, ensuring crisp contact.
Putting Shots
Putting makes up a large portion of every round, and different types of putting shots serve different purposes.
Lag Putt
A lag putt focuses on distance control rather than making the putt outright. Strong lag putting saves strokes quickly.
When to use it:
When you want to set up a second, easier putt.
How to hit it:
Focus on speed, maintain a smooth stroke, and aim to leave the ball within a comfortable tap-in range.
Breaking Putt
A breaking putt curves due to slope on the green. Reading both the line and speed correctly is key to success. Understanding break is essential for consistent putting.
When to use it:
Any time you’re working with a green that isn’t flat.
How to hit it:
Read the green, visualize the curve, and match speed to line.
Learn more: How to Read Greens: A Golfer’s Guide to Sinking More Putts
Common Misses You’ll See Along the Way
Even with the right intentions, golfers hit plenty of unplanned shots. These mistakes happen at every skill level and on every part of the course. The key is understanding why they happen and knowing what to check when they show up.
Slice
A slice curves sharply from left to right (for right-handed golfers) and is one of the most common misses in golf. It typically happens when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact, often paired with an outside-to-in swing.
Why it happens:
Slices are commonly caused by grip issues, poor alignment, or swinging across the ball rather than through it. Many golfers subconsciously swing left to avoid hitting the ground, which only exaggerates the problem.
Tips to avoid it:
-
Check that your grip isn’t too weak and that the clubface can return square
-
Make sure your alignment isn’t aimed too far left
-
Focus on swinging through the ball rather than cutting across it
A small grip or setup adjustment can often reduce a slice more effectively than a full swing overhaul.
Hook
A hook curves aggressively from right to left and can feel just as frustrating as a slice—especially when it comes out of nowhere. Hooks usually result from a clubface that’s too closed at impact or an excessively inside-to-out swing path.
Why it happens:
Hooks often appear when golfers try to “fix” a slice and overcorrect. Overactive hands, poor sequencing, or gripping the club too tightly can also cause the face to close too quickly.
Tips to avoid it:
-
Lighten your grip pressure to reduce hand action
-
Make sure your body rotation matches your arm swing
-
Focus on balanced tempo rather than speed
Thin Shot
Thin shots strike the ball too high on the clubface, producing low, fast shots that skim along the ground. While they can still go far, they’re difficult to control and rarely stop near the target.
Why it happens:
Thins usually occur when golfers lift their upper body during the swing or rush the downswing. Trying to help the ball into the air is a common culprit.
Tips to avoid it:
-
Maintain posture through impact
-
Focus on hitting down on the ball with irons
-
Let the loft of the club do the work
Solid contact comes from staying centered and letting the swing bottom out in the right place.
Fat Shot
A fat shot happens when the club hits the ground before the ball, resulting in heavy contact and significant distance loss. These shots are common with irons and wedges.
Why it happens:
Fat shots are often caused by poor weight transfer, swaying, or letting the low point of the swing drift too far behind the ball.
Tips to avoid it:
-
Keep your weight slightly favoring your lead side
-
Focus on a stable base during the swing
-
Think about striking the ball first, then the turf
Even small improvements in balance can dramatically reduce fat shots.
Shank
A shank sends the ball sharply sideways, usually off the hosel of the club. While shocking when it happens, shanks are more common than most golfers admit—especially during periods of swing change.
Why it happens:
Shanks often occur when the golfer stands too close to the ball, loses posture, or lets the club move too far away from the body during the swing.
Tips to avoid it:
-
Check your distance from the ball at address
-
Maintain posture and balance throughout the swing
-
Focus on center contact rather than speed
Which Golf Shots Should Beginners Focus On?
Beginners don’t need every shot in the book. Trying to learn fades, knockdowns, and flop shots too early often leads to frustration instead of progress. Instead, focusing on a small set of foundational shots helps build confidence, consistency, and lower scores faster.
If you’re new to the game, these are the golf shots worth prioritizing first.
A Controlled Tee Shot (Driver or Iron)
Keeping the ball in play off the tee sets up everything that follows. Distance is helpful, but accuracy and consistency matter far more for beginners.
What to work on:
-
Choose a club you can hit reliably—even if that means using an iron or hybrid instead of a driver
-
Aim for a repeatable ball flight rather than maximum distance
-
Focus on solid contact and balance at the finish
Practice tip:
On the range, pick a fairway-width target and practice hitting shots that would stay “in play,” even if they’re shorter than your longest drives.
A Reliable Layup Shot
Not every hole requires aggression. A dependable layup shot helps you avoid hazards, recover from trouble, and set up easier approach shots.
What to work on:
-
Learning your comfortable distances with mid and short irons
-
Choosing clubs that leave you a manageable next shot
-
Swinging within yourself instead of trying to force distance
Practice tip:
Practice hitting specific yardages (for example, 80, 100, or 120 yards) rather than always swinging full. Distance control is more valuable than raw power.
A Basic Chip Shot
Chipping is one of the fastest ways for beginners to save strokes. A simple, reliable chip shot keeps you from turning small misses into big numbers.
What to work on:
-
Using a low, rolling chip whenever possible
-
Minimizing wrist movement and keeping the stroke simple
-
Choosing clubs that promote roll rather than height
Practice tip:
Use one club (like a pitching wedge or 8-iron) and practice chipping to different spots on the green. Consistency beats variety early on.
Solid Lag Putting
Most beginners lose strokes on the green by three-putting, not by missing long putts. Lag putting helps you control distance and avoid costly mistakes.
What to work on:
-
Developing a feel for pace rather than aiming to make every long putt
-
Reading general slope instead of overthinking break
-
Committing to speed and letting the line take care of itself
Practice tip:
On the practice green, focus on rolling putts that finish within a three-foot circle of the hole from long distances. That’s a win.
Learn the Shots, Not Perfection
Every golfer, regardless of skill level, hits a wide range of golf shots in a single round. The goal isn’t to master every shot overnight, but to understand what you’re trying to hit and why.
When you know your options from tee to green, golf becomes less about guessing and more about playing smart.
If you’re learning the fundamentals, your equipment should support that process. Stix clubs are designed to be forgiving, consistent, and easy to trust, helping new golfers focus on learning the game—not fighting their gear.
You might also like:
