Approach Shot
Shot Types
Explained Simply
Any full shot you hit toward the green — usually your second shot on a par 4 or your third on a par 5. Its one job is to get the ball on the green.
Example
“Your drive finds the fairway on a par 4. The next shot, aimed at the green, is your approach shot.”
Why it matters
Your approach decides whether you're putting or chipping next. Aiming for the middle of the green gives you the biggest target and keeps more of your misses on the putting surface.
Common beginner mistake
Aiming straight at the flag every time. When the pin sits near a bunker or water, a small miss costs you strokes — the middle of the green is almost always the smarter target.
Related
beginner
Shot Types
Related
- Green (Putting Green)The closely mowed area of grass surrounding the hole where you putt. The hole (cup) is always on the green.
- Pin HighWhen your approach shot lands on the correct line but at the same distance from the tee as the flagstick — neither short nor long, just at the right depth.
- Greens in Regulation (GIR)Reaching the green in the expected number of shots: par minus 2. That's 1 shot on a par-3, 2 on a par-4, and 3 on a par-5, leaving 2 putts to make par.
- Club UpTo use one club more than you'd normally reach for — going from a 9-iron to an 8-iron, for example — when the conditions (wind, elevation, firm greens) suggest you need extra distance.
- Carry DistanceHow far the ball travels through the air before it first hits the ground. Does not include rollout after landing.