The Approach to Golf

What is a golf approach shot?

The'approach is the shot that should bring the ball onto the green and leave it close to the hole, so that the next putt is as easy as possible.

The word has two meanings:

• In a broad sense, an “approach shot” is a shot that attacks the green from the fairway or the rough, often with an iron or a wedge.
• In the common sense, especially in France, people talk about approaches for short shots played around the green, a few meters or tens of meters away: that's what's known as the short game.

What are the different types of approaches?

Between a bump and run approach and a pitch shot, there are all kinds of variations: all you have to do is change clubs or open or close the clubface slightly to adjust the ratio of flight to roll.

How do you choose the right approach?

A simple rule taught by most professionals: Choose the lowest possible bid.. Rolling the ball like a putt is much more forgiving of imperfect contact than hitting the ball high.

1. Check out the link: A well-placed ball allows for any shot; a ball buried in the grass limits your options.
2. Identify what you need to get through: rough, bunker, bump, penalty area.
3. Choose a place to stay on the green, usually shortly after it lands.
4. Take the club that will roll the ball from this spot to the hole: an 8- or 9-iron for plenty of roll, a pitching wedge for a balance of flight and roll, or a sand wedge or lob wedge for a ball that stops quickly.

What factors influence an approach?

• Distance all the way to the landing point, then to the hole.
• The slope of the green, which speeds up or slows down the ball after it lands.
• The firmness and speed of the green: A hard, fast green makes the ball roll farther.
• The Wind, especially on pitch shots.
• The Grain of Grass around the green, which can slow down or snag the club.

How Can You Make a Successful Approach?

• Weight on the front foot, from the beginning to the end of the action.
• The ball comes first, then the ground. Trying to “lift” the ball causes fat and thin shots.
• A steady acceleration: The length of the motion determines the distance, not braking at impact.
• View the shot Before taking the shot: the trajectory, the landing spot, and the roll.

Why do approaches cause the score to drop so much?

Because amateurs often miss the green with their long approach shot. Each hole is then played with a short approach shot and a putt. An approach shot that leaves the ball one meter from the hole saves par; a missed approach shot can easily cost one or two strokes. It’s also the part of the game that requires the least physical strength: you’ll improve quickly with regular practice.