The Golf Shots You Need To Practice to Score Low

To score well, there are some golf shots that are just more essential to learn than others - ones you need to practice to lower your handicap and make you want to come back to the course time and again.

Legendary golfer Ben Hogan believed that your shot off of the tee was the most important shot in golf,

"You've got to hit the fairway before you have a good chance of putting the ball close to the pin. You can be the greatest iron player in the world, but if you're in the boondocks it won't do you any good."

Players like Dustin Johnson rely on their long drives to move them down the fairway and into position for an easier approach shot. At the 2018 WGC-Dell Match Play event, DJ smashed a drive a quarter of a mile (although it included hitting a cart path, this was still a "wow" moment).

Some golfers would argue that the most important golf shot in your bag is the approach shot because, if executed properly, you can get on the green in regulation and make possible birdie or par.

Other golf gurus, such as Dave Pelz, state that it isn't your putting which should consume your focus but, rather, you should work on your wedges, "Putting is not the most important part of the game – it’s your wedge game. Putting is the second most important because you do it half the time."

PGAprofessional.com states, on the flip side, that the "importance of putting cannot be overemphasized",

"If there are 18 holes on a golf course and each green is worth two putts that means that par for putting is 36. The majority of 18-hole golf courses are par 72. That means that half of par is putting."

Read: Three Smart Ways to Lower Your Golf Score

One question to consider is..."What is more important for your game... to start each hole well or to finish strong?"

As for my own personal game, I add strokes to my round on my approach shots and through lack of feel on the greens - hybrid clubs, mid-irons and putting are where I need to strengthen my game.

Titleist believes that hitting greens in regulation is a basic statistic which players should track, "golfers play more shots to the green than from the tee. The higher the score, the more shots that have been hit to the green."

Everyone's golf game is different and we all have our "pain points", so, it is necessary to practice all shots in your bag, identify weaknesses in your game, decide where you need work and focus on those shots.

What are the shots you need to practice? Comment at the bottom of our Golf for Beginners golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Which #Golf Clubs Can I Use as a Putter?

If you watched the Tour Championship this past week, did you happen to notice Matt Kuchar, during the second round, using a hybrid golf club to make a putt?

Ryan Moore, during the sudden death showdown with Rory McIlroy, pulled out an iron on the very fringe of the green to make a shot which ultimately lost him the tournament...and several million dollars. (A higher lofted lob wedge might have offered Moore the height he needed to land safely and, IMO, the putter would have been his best choice...)

Pros will often utilize golf clubs other than the standard putter when making shots just off of the green. For a beginner golfer (or any amateur that has not learned how to use clubs other than the putter just off of the green), I suggest sticking with the flat stick as it offers four degrees of loft and is the safest option (as Ryan Moore probably remanded himself over and over again after his loss).

“Putting is like wisdom – partly a natural gift and partly the accumulation of experience, " 
...The King, Arnold Palmer.

That being said, Golf for Beginners takes a look at a few different clubs which should be learned by amateurs to increase the number of shots in your bag.

The Rules of Golf state that a player can use any club for any golf shot, so why not use...

1. Hybrid Golf Clubs: PGA Instructor Blake Cathey says, "If you miss the green and your ball ends up in a closely mowed area don't forget about the hybrid putt.  Approach the shot just as you would a putt.  Use your putting grip, stance, pre-shot routine and stroke.  You will find that with a little practice you will start getting up and down."

2. Three-Wood: Dave Marsh from iGolfTV.com shows us in the YouTube video below that the fifteen degrees of loft in a three-wood allows the player to use the top-spin to pop the ball over an obstruction (like gnarly grass) and get safely on the green.




3. The Chiputt: In a previous Golf for Beginners article entitled, "To Chip or To Putt? A Golf Dilemma Answered," Master Instructor Dave Pelz's suggested method for very long putts is called the "Chiputt"; basically, chipping with your putter. Click the link above to learn more about his method of saving strokes.

Practice these techniques several times before a round (you don't want to attempt these shots without knowing how to perform them) so, the next time you are near the green, you will be able to better plan your method of attack, get the ball close to the hole or in!

Which golf clubs do you favor around the green? Follow @Golf4Beginners on Twitter and the comments section of this golf blog to share your thoughts.

Why Replace Your Long Irons with Hybrid Golf Clubs?

Having trouble hitting your long golf irons? Perhaps it is time to consider buying a hybrid or two to replace clubs that no longer serve you well on the course. One of the most negative mental images is to believe, in advance, that you will mis-hit a club in your bag.

Why consider a hybrid? This combination club is a unique blend of iron and wood and has a bigger head which makes off-shots less of a regular occurence. I have already replaced my 4-iron with a similar-distance hybrid and my confidence level soars when I pick it out of the bag.

That being said, Golf for Beginners has put together a short list of the top hybrids on the market and a few golf tips to get you comfortable with your new clubs.

TOP GOLF Game Improvement HYBRID CLUBS

Instead of listing the top golf hybrid clubs for more advanced players, I thought it would be better to opt for a few choice golf clubs that should improve an average players' game.

1. Adams Idea Tech V4 Hybrids: Considered the easiest-to-hit hybrids that Adams Golf has engineered, Adams Golf website says, "same CT of a driver, which delivers higher ball speeds, more forgiveness and more distance."

2. Although Ping Golf considers all of their hybrids as "game improvement" clubs, the Ping i20's were given a "thumbs-up" on Golf Digest's 2012 Hot List for their forgiveness compact head and low CG.

Golf Tips for Hitting Your New Hybrids

1. GolfOutletUSA.com states, "When choosing a hybrid you should always stick to one where the shaft is similar in length to your current irons. Also stick to a hybrid where the shaft is made from the same material as your other clubs, this will ensure you’re not having to change your swing every time you use a new club.  Also choose a club that is aesthetically pleasing to you, this will build up your confidence."

2. Paula Creamer carries no golf club longer than a 5-iron, having replaced her longer irons with hybrids so she is an expert on how to hit a hybrid! Creamer says that, since the shaft of the hybrid is only slightly longer than the corresponding iron, it is important to hit the hybrid like an iron, not a wood.

"Play the ball in the middle of your stance, and keep your weight centered. Your hands should be in line with the ball, and your shoulders, hips and feet should be square to your target. As you take the club back and swing through, make sure to hit the ball with a descending blow--do not use a sweeping motion, as you would with a fairway wood." ...Paula Creamer

3. Finally, after you have tried them out on the driving range and believe that your new hybrid golf clubs are truly easier-to-hit than your long irons (which is probably the reason you tucked them into your old clubs bag in the first place), your confidence will soar. A hybrid golf club will help you achieve a higher ball trajectory with a nice, slow --- smooth --- swing which will help ensure solid contact more often.

Voice your opinions on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook.

photo credits: AdamsGolf.com, Ping.com, GolfDigest.com