Your Go-To shot?

professor

On the heels of the negativity of "the nemesis shot" thread, I'm curious to know about your "go to" shot. What's that one shot you do have in your bag (of tricks)?
For me it used to be getting to that 90 to 110 yard distance. I used to have such great confidence in a full wedge to the green. Unfortunately, with age and less practice, I ain't what I used to be with that one shot. In the better days, on a par 5 (because I can rarely get home in two), no matter the quality or result of my tee shot, I'd lay-up to 100 yards. Before I got to manage my game a bit better, it used to irk my soul to hit an 8 iron on my second just to get to that 100 yard marker. (But, and I tend to also hit that 8 iron better than most because there's just so little pressure in laying-up like that. Wish I could swing that 'free' with every club!)

letthebigdogshunt

I hate to say it, but I no longer have a go to shot. When I was playing well some years ago any shot with an iron 7 or less. The only club I really have faith in is my 6 hybrid. Even when every club in my bag fails me that is the club I have some faith in right now.

johnnydoom

With a 92 average, I’m not skilled enough to repeatedly execute a go to shot. I am very good at hitting punch shots under tree limbs with a hooded club. I also generally hit very good long iron shots (4 iron these days) off the tee on short par 4 holes.

garyt1957

The Mickelson flop. Not from any skill, but because I was a flipper, adding loft. I could just about hit it high and short enough to hit myself in the head.Because I had no short game I used to flop every short shot, even on flat ground with nothing in front of me. I've hit some crazy shots over a bush or tree right at the green or to a raised green, looked like I knew what I was doing. Haven't tried it in ages. Have no idea if I can still pull it off.

sdandrea1

70 to 50 yard bump and run with the 7 iron. Snuggles up close enough to one putt about 50%. In Florida, I live or die with this shot since the fairways are so tight, pitching/ chipping is a tough challenge.

RobertThomas

sdandrea1

Mine also, but I use an 8.

azgreg

Tap in.

MidwayJ

azgreg
Excellent!

PA-PLAYA

The 3/4 "feathered" driver on a long par3, measuring between 195-210 yards typically. Have come to realize that a slower, smoother swing delivers more accuracy, especially with such a big club face. Even my worst mis-hits tend to find the green on those longer par3's much more often than a 3wood or hybrid swung at 100% effort.

Beyond that, the occasional 8-10 foot putt. I tend to make more of those than most people, as I'm in that range where it's not expected to make them, yet the absence of pressure and expectation that you should make them just somehow allows a smoother, relaxed stroke.

Not that I'm horrible from inside of 4 feet on the greens, but there's just something to be said about not having to focus on the expectations of "you should make this" from beyond that range.

Spuzz

Crown Royal after a double bogey or worse.
Otherwise, I can hit all the shots or screw up the easiest of shots at random.

I will say I have gotten pretty good at getting "out of jail" but that's mainly due to lots of practice.
:/

kelco9

I will often lay up to my perfect SW distance, which is 95 yards (96, to be exact 🙂).

Overall, though, my go to shot is a fade. On most shots above an 8-iron I'm a natural fade player and most the time I'm either hitting a fade or holding off that tendency when a fade is a problem. I find that I can control the amount of fade by controlling the degree to which I let my natural swing/tendency take over. (I'm pretty much hooped when I have to hit a draw and if trouble is in play, I look for a safer alternative shot.)

FWIW, knowing what your natural shot shape is can be really valuable. It was either Sam Sneed or Arnold Palmer who said that it boggles his mind the number of people he sees play who consistently hit a slice, but continue to aim down the centre of the fairway. In his book Fearless Golf, Gio Valiante says that you should always hit your natural ball shape, but perhaps nowhere is this more important than off the first tee, regardless of the shape of the hole. He says that first tee jitters give you enough to worry about without compounding them by trying to hit a shot that you are not comfortable with. I have done that ever since reading it and it really does help your confidence of the first tee.

DonM

A greenside chip shot, using the method I just posted about to Tinker's nemesis in the Nemesis thread. I've gone from being a typical bogey golf chipper, to a guy who can hit it close and even hole some. One round this winter I holed three chips.

Supp

DonM
Likewise. Greenside chipping is one of the most consistent pars of my game. I usually give myself a good opportunity for a one-putt.

rsvman

125 yards out. Very confident at this distance.

The other one is the 12-18-foot putt. I make more of these than almost anybody I've ever played with.

Tinker

Faded drive. Just open stance a hair and take my normal drive swing. Dytry to kill the ball.

LBlack14

175 yd bladed sand wedge.....from greenside bunker. 😒

Sarnella

Jack Daniels

ode

Nevermind on the challenge, thx to rsv for taking a crack at it,

No. 18 at the bull, from the tee...this is the image from the up tee-

On my GPS today = 428, that's the direct line tee box to center of green. Pretty cold, breeze in the face. I hit driver off the tee, pretty good shot-

That's what I have in.

From my shot....rough, just before the bunker.....I left it on the right side of the rough, just past fwy and just short of the bunker (which is sure death), the hardest side to come in from-

View from 140 or so-

From about 110-

Just short of the green-

Total distance (bottom # as gps from point in fwy to where ball ended up)

Where it pitched-

View from back of green/putt-

View from front/center of green looking back-

Tough hole, no let up!

The stick is a Pinhawk 5i, which has become money for me, super easy to hit, so much so that I have put the 4 in the bag too for some testing! Fun to hit a baby cut with this set up.

rsvman

Callaway 4-iron hybrid?

By the way, great shot and a gorgeous hole. Thanks for sharing the pics.

ode

rsvman thx for taking a crack at it, edit post to reveal the stick.

GLFTPS

When you have to get a good drive on the fairway on a tight hole, steering the ball never seems to work. This is a method that I use that really works well for me. This is from my GOLF TIP A DAY CALENDAR;

If you come to a hole where there is trouble on both sides but you need to hit the drive a good distance, try these setup changes. Tee the ball up higher than normal and choke down on the handle about two inches. Hover the driver head up off of the ground and make a smooth takeaway. You will strike the ball solidly with little sidespin so that it will fly lower and straighter. Make your normal swing but the shorter shaft will allow you to have better control and still produce good distance. Make this your “go to” shot when you must hit it on the fairway.