Types of Golf Shots: Master the Basics and Common Techniques

When you step onto the green, you’re not just swinging a club—you’re using a set of types of golf shots, distinct techniques used to move the ball from point A to point B under different conditions. These aren’t just fancy terms—they’re the building blocks of every good round, whether you’re a beginner or a senior player who’s been at it for decades. Each shot has a purpose, a club, and a situation where it shines. Skip the theory and focus on what you’ll actually use: the putter, the club you use almost every hole to roll the ball into the hole, the wedge shot, a short, high-trajectory swing used to get the ball over hazards or onto tight greens, and the driver, the longest club in your bag, meant for distance off the tee. These three alone cover 80% of what you’ll do on a standard 18-hole course.

There’s more to it than just swinging hard. A golf shot isn’t just about power—it’s about control, spin, and terrain. A pitch shot lets you land softly near the pin. A chip shot rolls more than it flies, perfect for tight lies just off the green. A bunker shot? That’s a specialty move, using a sand wedge to blast the ball out of sand with a open face. Even the fairway wood, a long club used when you need distance but not as much as a driver has its place—especially when your drive leaves you 180 yards out. You don’t need to master them all at once. But knowing which shot to pick when you’re 10 yards from the green, or 200 yards from the tee, makes the difference between frustration and confidence.

Senior golfers often rely on precision over power, which is why understanding these shots matters even more. You’re not trying to hit the ball the farthest—you’re trying to hit it the right way. That’s why so many posts here focus on practical, real-world use: why golf holes are so small, how to pick the right club, and how to read the green. These aren’t just trivia—they’re tools. The posts below give you the straight talk on how to use each shot, when to use it, and how to fix the mistakes most people make. You’ll find tips from players who’ve been doing this for years, not just coaches with fancy terms. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just what works on the course, in Nottinghamshire and beyond.