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