| One of the most important shots out on the golf | | | | choke down on the grip to get better control, or |
| course is the approach shot to the green. If you | | | | to lower the distance the golf ball will travel. Never |
| hit a good approach shot to the green, you set | | | | try to guide the ball, let the golf club do the |
| yourself up for a birdie opportunity. If you hit a | | | | work.Chip Shot The chip shot can be a great shot |
| poor approach shot, you could be looking at trying | | | | to master for your golf game. The idea of the |
| to save par, or even worse. This is why you | | | | chip shot is to hit it a short distance and let the |
| should spend some quality practice time hitting | | | | golf ball roll toward the hole. Ideally, you want the |
| approach shots to the green.Hitting an approach | | | | ball to travel 1/3 of the way to the hole and let it |
| shot can be difficult for most high handicap | | | | roll the other 2/3 of the way. So, use the chip |
| golfers. It requires a little skill. It's not like hitting a | | | | shot when you have a lot of green in front of |
| tee shot into a big open fairway. With an | | | | you to work with.When hitting the chip shot you |
| approach shot you're looking to hit it as close to | | | | will want to use a less lofted club, like a 7 or 8 |
| the pin as possible. Let's take a closer look at the | | | | iron. Line yourself up with right foot across from |
| different kinds of approach shots and what you | | | | the ball. Keep more of your weight on your left |
| can do to make some improvements to your golf | | | | side. You will use a half swing for this shot and |
| game.There are several different approach shots | | | | finish with a half follow through. Again, don't try to |
| used in golf such as the pitch shot, chip shot and | | | | guide the ball, let the club do the work.Flop Shot |
| the flop shot.Pitch Shot This golf shot is used | | | | This shot will take a lot of practice to master. |
| from between 50-110 yards out away from the | | | | You want to use the flop shot when you have to |
| green. You will be using your pitching wedge for | | | | fly the golf ball over a sand trap, or perhaps a |
| this shot, hence the name pitch shot. Your pitching | | | | small tree that is in front of you and the pin. You |
| wedge will allow you to have more control over | | | | will use the highest lofted golf club in your bag, |
| the distance of your shot and keep you from | | | | usually a 60-degree wedge. The object is to get |
| flying your golf ball way over the green.Be sure | | | | the ball up as high as possible and have it drop |
| to open your golf stance a little more than usual. | | | | down and stick where it lands. Use a wide-open |
| Your right foot (if you're right-handed) should be | | | | stance with this shot and try to pop the ball up. It |
| directly in line with the golf ball. Use a full swing | | | | will take a lot of practice to hit this shot |
| with this shot. Don't try to use a half or | | | | effectively.By practicing these different types of |
| three-quarter swing, because you run a high risk | | | | approach shots, you'll be hitting the golf ball a lot |
| of hitting the ball "fat". Follow through on your | | | | closer to the pin and begin lowering your scores! |
| back swing as you normally do. You may want to | | | | |