Topics

Expert level · index below approximately 15

Advanced Golf: Video Lessons from the Best Pros

Q: How do you put backspin on your approach shots?

Backspin is primarily generated by a clean strike—hitting the ball before it touches the ground—with a wedge suited to the shot. Justin Thomas demonstrates his chip shot that slows down, and Collin Morikawa explains his half-approach shot that bites. The principle is explained in detail in our definition of backspin.

Q: Is it important to know how to hit a draw and a fade?

It's not mandatory, but knowing how to curve the ball in both directions helps you aim based on the flag and the wind. Many pros have a go-to shot and a safety shot: check out Jordan Spieth's safety fade or Tiger Woods' "nine windows." Definitions: draw and fade.

Q: What strategy should you use on the course?

Starting from the green and working your way back to the tee, like Tiger Woods, helps you choose the right club right from the start. Céline Boutier also explains her strategy, from the tee to the green. The “Playing with Your Head” program breaks these ideas down step by step.

Has your handicap dropped below about 15? Now, the key to success lies in the details: controlling your shot path, mastering spin, and choosing the right target. Here’s a summary of free video lessons in which tour players—from Tiger Woods to Justin Rose—demonstrate their techniques.

77 Selected Lessons9 in FrenchAll summarizedFree, no registration required

▶ View the 77 selected lessons

The High Level in 30 Seconds

With a handicap below 15, the swing is in place. What makes the difference is ball control: its height, its trajectory, its flight distance.

The short game is taking a new turn: we're looking for chips that slow down, precisely calibrated wedges and a more accurate read of the green.

On the course, the strategy is just as important as technique: knowing when to go for the flag and when to aim for the center of the green.

Where to Start

Five lessons and a program to help you work like the pros.

Useful guides for this level:Wedges and sand wedges The Pitch Match Play The Index Distances by Club

Expert-Level Lessons, by Topic

Trajectory, spin, and long irons

Draw, fade, downwind shots, long irons: shaping the ball toward the flag.

7 min

Intermediate / ExpertJordan Spieth's safe fade with his ironsTo ensure the ball doesn't curve to the left, Spieth turns the back of his left hand toward the ground and keeps it there: a stable face, a slight fade.

Jordan Spieth · 189K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

ExpertBryson DeChambeau's Drive: Unweight, Load, PushTo drive the ball far, DeChambeau doesn't try to swing faster; instead, he puts more power into the club: he shifts his weight, plants his feet firmly on the ground, and then pushes through the swing.

Bryson DeChambeau · 1.3 million views 🇬🇧★★★★★

15 min

ExpertTiger Woods Long Irons Workshop: Rory and SchefflerTiger asks Rory and Scheffler about three pin positions with a right-to-left wind: hitting the cut against the wind, a high or low shot, and then shots from the rough.

Tiger Woods · 2.3 million views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

ExpertTiger Woods' Nine Windows: The Iron Shot DrillTiger Woods strings together his nine iron shots (high, medium, low × fade, straight, draw) and adjusts the height based on the length of his finish.

Tiger Woods · 684K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

11 min

Intermediate / ExpertHands Forward with Hybrids and Long IronsKeeping your hands and weight forward creates a slight angle in your back arm, which keeps the club on its path: more loft, more height, and a draw.

Danny Maude · 714K views 🇬🇧★★★★

6 min

Intermediate / ExpertFairway Finder with the Driver: Min Woo Lee's Three DrivesMin Woo Lee's three drives: the basic fade, the draw for wide fairways, and the “fairway finder”—low tee, shortened grip, fade punch.

Min Woo Lee · 173K views 🇬🇧★★★★

4 min

ExpertSergio Garcia's tee-less driver shot from the fairwayWhen and how to hit the driver from the fairway: good lie, ball positioned slightly forward, a low swing, and be prepared for a low shot that curves slightly.

Sergio Garcia · 22K views 🇬🇧★★★★

5 min

ExpertShane Lowry's irons trajectory: high or lowWith the same 3-iron, Lowry hits either a very high cut (ball positioned far forward, he swings upward) or a low draw (ball positioned far back, narrow stance, 80–90% swing).

Shane Lowry · 11K views 🇬🇧★★★★

20 min

ExpertBryson DeChambeau's Speed Training with Martin BorgmeierA high-intensity session with former long-drive champion Martin Borgmeier: building up speed, micro-breaks, and transition instructions.

Bryson DeChambeau · 637K views 🇬🇧★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Driving 29 Hybrids 1 Irons: Compress the Ball 28 Draw or Fade 34 Spin 16 Speed, Power, and Distance 17

Wedges, spin, and short game accuracy

Chips that stop short, well-measured pitches, and assessing the lie before each shot.

8 min

ExpertJustin Rose's Approach to Short Game PlayRose breaks down the short game into a few key principles: a low point under the left armpit, a long or short arc depending on the flag, and compares Seve and Mickelson.

Justin Rose · 195K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

4 min

Intermediate / ExpertJordan Spieth's wedges near the flagFrom 130 down to 30 yards, Spieth keeps the same 70% of his weight forward and only varies how he releases the face to control spin and roll.

Jordan Spieth · 204K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

11 min

Intermediate / ExpertOpen-faced chip with hands forward: Jon Rahm's lessonJon Rahm chips with an open face and hands well forward, without releasing: a held angle that comes in steep but exits shallow, and a lie read before every shot.

Jon Rahm · 360,000 views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

Intermediate / ExpertShane Lowry's short game: reading the lie above all elseFor Lowry, no two pitches are alike: read the lie, choose the safest shot, weight left, without helping the ball up.

Shane Lowry · 41K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

10 min

ExpertJustin Thomas's backspin pitch: grip and handsHigh pitch that stops: light left-hand grip in the palm, hands low to set up the bounce, long-putt tempo, and a “thrown” head for more spin.

Justin Thomas · 56K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

13 min

ExpertJustin Thomas's chip shot: the “nippy”The “nippy,” a low chip that stops on the second bounce: the ball is played back, the face is shielded by the body, and the three-ball drill (high, medium, low).

Justin Thomas · 395K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

15 min

Intermediate / ExpertBall Climbing Up the Wedge Face: 3 Shots by MorikawaToo much loft at impact causes the ball to rise off the clubface: Morikawa demonstrates how to avoid this with a 40-yard wedge shot, a lob, and an uphill pitch.

Collin Morikawa · 1.2 million views 🇬🇧★★★★★

5 min

Intermediate / ExpertHigh-Hands Chip off the Toe: Tiger and SchefflerTiger and Scheffler first assess the lie: if the ball is sitting well, a high chip off the bounce; if the ball is buried, a low chip with hands high, the toe down, and a hook.

Tiger Woods · 737K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

2 min

Intermediate / ExpertViktor Hovland's Buried Lie in the BunkerInstead of closing his clubface on a “fried egg” shot, Hovland opens it up a lot, positions himself close to the ball, and almost hits right on top of it.

Viktor Hovland · 4K views 🇬🇧★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Bunker shot 10 Chipping 15 Pitching Wedges 26 Bump and Run 1 Wedge play = Pitching and Chipping 43 Pitch Shots 16

Putting: The Pros' Pre-Shot Routine and How They Read the Green

How the best players read the greens, adjust their pace, and stay focused.

10 min

ExpertJustin Rose's putting session with Phil KenyonBefore a tournament, Rose and his coach check his setup, the ball's line matched to the top of the putter, a start-line gate and the slope in percent.

Justin Rose · 63K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

4 min

Intermediate / ExpertJustin Rose's Focus on PuttingHis attention and eyes move from the target to the ball, then Rose strikes as his attention goes back to the target: nothing stays frozen over the ball.

Justin Rose · 49K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

22 min

Intermediate / ExpertCéline Boutier's Course Management, from Tee to GreenOn the course, Boutier explains her choices: a target off the tee, minimal carry on the approach, a low or high chip depending on the lie, and reading from three angles.

Céline Boutier · 4K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

11 min

Intermediate / ExpertBryson DeChambeau's Putting: Roll, Launch, ClockDeChambeau checks his roll along a chalk line, reviews launch angle in slow motion and finds the straight putts by walking around the hole.

Bryson DeChambeau · 756K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

21 min

Intermediate / ExpertXander Schauffele's Putting Drills: Aim and PaceWith his putting coach Derek Uyeda, Schauffele calibrates his eyes and aim (using a board, string, and plates) and then works on controlling his stroke based on the ball's roll time.

Xander Schauffele · 20,000 views 🇬🇧★★★★

17 min

Intermediate / ExpertMatthieu Pavon's Putting Exercises: Proper StanceSetup calibrated with marks on the ground, a ball-bearing plate for the roll off the face, then each ball hitting the previous one: Pavon's routine.

Matthieu Pavon · 30,000 views 🇫🇷★★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Putting 7

Course Management and Mental Game

Choose your target and your club like a pro, from the tee to the green.

7 min

Beginner / Intermediate / ExpertPre-shot routine under pressure: HarringtonAll decisions are made behind the ball. Once you cross that imaginary line, there’s only one familiar thought: the target, two waggles, and you’re ready to play.

Padraig Harrington · 32K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

Intermediate / ExpertAim Based on Your Missed Shots: Golf DigestYour shots form a cone of dispersion: aim so that your missed shots stay in play—often far from the flag—just like Hogan and today's pros.

Golf Digest · 992K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

ExpertTiger Woods' Iron Play: The Wind and the HandsTiger keeps two shots in mind until his final look at the wind, adds speed for a fade compared to a draw, and controls everything with his hands.

Tiger Woods · 583K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

7 min

Intermediate / ExpertAttack Pins with Your Irons Like Scheffler: 3 ShotsDepending on the flag's position, Scheffler chooses the club and the shot that will bring the ball from the center of the green toward the hole: the safest shot.

Scottie Scheffler · 438K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

4 min

Intermediate / ExpertSergio Garcia's short game: committing to a shotCommitting to a single shot, playing the same high or rolling approach, attacking the bunker with spin: Sergio Garcia around the green.

Sergio Garcia · 45,000 views 🇬🇧★★★★

4 min

Intermediate / ExpertPlaying into the Wind Like Shane Lowry: Ball BackWhen facing the wind, Lowry moves the ball back, narrows his stance, and takes a soft swing; with a crosswind, he prefers to play with the wind rather than against it.

Shane Lowry · 10,000 views 🇬🇧★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Psychology & Mental Health 6 Course Management 14 Pre-shot routine 2 Target Focus 3

Swing: Refining the Mechanics

The pros' fine-tuning techniques: stable clubface, pause at the top of the backswing, trigger.

7 min

Intermediate / ExpertA Stretch Feeling at the Start of the DownswingTurn toward your left heel while holding onto a fixed point: stretching your left shoulder, arm, and wrist is enough to make the club “shallower” without forcing it.

Padraig Harrington · 387K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

8 min

Intermediate / ExpertShaft Lean at Impact: Brake to ReleaseThe “lean” of the clubhead is not a position to imitate: you "pull the handbrake" at impact so that the clubhead accelerates, rather than pushing with your hands.

Padraig Harrington · 191K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

13 min

ExpertViktor Hovland's Ball Striking: Height and TriggerOn the driving range, Hovland explains how he gained speed, how he gets the ball higher or lower with his 7-iron, and what trigger sets off his swing.

Viktor Hovland · 23K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

9 min

ExpertViktor Hovland's Driver Swing: A Stable ClubfaceHovland owes his consistency to a clubface that stays square, with his left wrist bent, and to a steep lateral tilt that raises his left shoulder.

Viktor Hovland · 245K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

10 min

Intermediate / ExpertBrooks Koepka's Fairway Finder: The Safe FadeKoepka breaks down the drive into alignment and ball position, then demonstrates his “fairway finder”: ball set back, open stance, and a downward swing.

Brooks Koepka · 41K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

16 min

Intermediate / ExpertJon Rahm's Short Driver Backswing ExplainedJon Rahm explains his drive: a short backswing, a bent left wrist, aiming to the left for a fade, loading from the right side, followed by a low ball and a high draw.

Jon Rahm · 462K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Grip 4 Address Posture / Stance at Address 5 Alignment 3 Ball Position by Club 5 Club Position Relative to the Ball 3 Backswing 7 Downswing and Transition 10 Impact Position 7 Body Rotation 6 Swing and Swing Plane 18 Rhythm and Tempo 1 Finish 3 Waggle 2

Warm-ups and Training Sessions by the Pros

The pre-shot routines and driving range sessions of the players on the tour.

9 min

Intermediate / ExpertJordan Spieth's Pitch with Three TrajectoriesSpieth plays the same pitch—low, standard, then high: the clubface and swing arc change, 60–70% of his weight remains on the front foot, and the lie determines the shot.

Jordan Spieth · 207K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

15 min

Intermediate / ExpertTommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTo find the fairway, Fleetwood maintains his tee height, holds the club in the air, widens his stance, and hits over a tee placed behind the ball.

Tommy Fleetwood · 275K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

17 min

Intermediate / ExpertNelly Korda's Driver Tips: The Low, Controlled DriveOn the driving range with Tiger Woods, Nelly Korda demonstrates her low, controlled drive and shows Rory McIlroy the benefits of a shorter shaft and a closed clubface.

Nelly Korda · 3.5 million views 🇬🇧★★★★★

11 min

Intermediate / ExpertDeChambeau's Short Game Practice: Chips, Rough, BunkerHis typical practice session around the green: three basic chip shots, three shots from the rough handled differently, and in the bunker, controlling the point of impact on the clubface.

Bryson DeChambeau · 731K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

10 min

Intermediate / ExpertGolf Ball Fitting: The Steps, from Wedge to DriverThe steps involved in a ball fitting—from the questionnaire to the blind test around the green—and what it reveals: feel comes mainly from the sound and the strike.

Golf Monthly · 12K views 🇬🇧★★★★

32 min

Intermediate / ExpertBrooks Koepka's Warm-Up: His Pre-Shot RoutineFrom the 56° wedge to one-meter putts, Koepka goes through his warm-up club by club: odd-numbered irons, back and forth to the driver—no technical thoughts.

Brooks Koepka · 314K views 🇬🇧★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Warm-up and Mobility 3 Range Practice 17 Equipment and Fitting 3 Women Golf Influencers 1 Golf Culture 1

Tough shots and final mistakes

Balls on a slope, tricky lies, and the flaws that resurface under pressure.

9 min

Intermediate / ExpertReading the Lie in the Rough: Padraig HarringtonAim for the ball first, then read the grass: if it’s in the direction of play, the ball comes out fast; if it’s against the grain, it dies. Pale grass = fast; dark grass = slow. The loft helps.

Padraig Harrington · 79K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

7 min

Intermediate / ExpertWall exercise for the hook shot with irons: grip firstA concept for after impact: imagine a wall behind you and bring the grip to it before the clubhead, with your face turned toward the sky.

Chris Ryan · 259K views 🇬🇧★★★★★

16 min

Intermediate / ExpertUneven Lies in Golf: Tiger Woods’ KeysUp, down, ball over his feet: Tiger aligns his shoulders with the slope, adjusts his stance and aim, and shapes the curve with his hands.

Tiger Woods · 430K views 🇬🇧★★★★

2 min

Intermediate / ExpertWedge from Pine Straw: Scottie SchefflerPlant your feet as if you were in a fairway bunker, swing down on the ball to compress it—without trying to lift it—and you'll gain 5 yards: the ball will come out softer.

Scottie Scheffler · 49K views 🇬🇧★★★★

3 min

Intermediate / ExpertStrong Grip Without a Hook: The Thumb-Off DrillMaintain a strong grip without hooking the club: keep the swing path straighter and let the club run through, with your thumb off the grip to free up your wrist.

Malaska Golf · 90K views 🇬🇧★★★★

7 min

Intermediate / ExpertRotation that stops upon impact: the cause of a hookFrom the simplest to the most technical: feel the right side, keep the belt buckle rotating, then stabilize your wrist and extend your left arm.

Cameron McCormick · 47K views 🇬🇧★★★★

All videos on this topic at this level:Hook 5 Shank 1 Obstacles & Hardships 3 Uneven Lies 4

Your Questions

What handicap do you need to be considered a good player?

There is no official threshold. On Best Golf Tips, we consider a handicap of around 15 or lower to be expert level—when your swing is consistent and you’re focused on controlling the ball. A handicap of 0 corresponds to the level of a very good player: this is the SSS benchmark, as explained in our guide Handicap Index and course handicap.

How do you put backspin on your approach shots?

Spin comes primarily from a clean strike—hitting the ball before it touches the ground—with a wedge suited to the shot. Justin Thomas watch its chip that slows it down, and Collin Morikawa explains his "half-approach" that works. The principle is detailed in our definition of the backspin.

Is it important to know how to hit a draw and a fade?

It's not required, but knowing how to curve the ball in both directions helps you aim based on the flag and the wind. Many pros have a go-to shot and a safety shot: take a look Jordan Spieth's safety fade or Tiger Woods' Nine Windows. Definitions: draw and fade.

How Can You Practice Like a Pro at the Driving Range?

In their videos, the pros always work with a specific target and objective: a trajectory, a distance, or an imaginary fairway. The sessions Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau or Viktor Hovland The examples on this page illustrate this well.

What strategy should you use on the course?

Starting from the green and heading back toward the tee, like Tiger Woods, helps you choose the right club from the start. Céline Boutier also details his strategy, from the tee to the green. The program Playing with his mind goes over these ideas step by step.

Does match play change the strategy?

Yes: In match play, each hole is a one-on-one contest, and a missed hole costs only one hole. This means you can play more aggressively, depending on your opponent’s situation. The format and rules are in our guide to match play.