Making the right club choice can make or break your golf game. Every shot presents a new challenge, and picking the perfect club is key to meeting that challenge. Think of your golf clubs as tools in a toolbox – each one has its own special job.
In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about club selection. You’ll learn how to pick the right club for any situation on the course. Whether you’re teeing off, stuck in a bunker, or approaching the green, we’ll help you make smarter choices.
Good club selection builds confidence. When you know you’ve picked the right tool for the job, you can focus on making your best swing. Let’s start your journey to better golf through smarter club choices.
Tee Shots: Drivers, Fairway Woods, and Hybrids
When you step up to the tee, your main goal is to get the ball in play. Let’s look at your best options for those important first shots.
Most of the time we’re gonna hit a driver, a fairway wood, or a hybrid to get the ball in play the longest distance we possibly can without losing a golf ball.
Understanding Your Tee Shot Options
Each club offers different benefits when you’re teeing off:
Driver (9 degrees)
- Biggest club head
- Gives maximum distance
- Has the widest shot spread
- More likely to go offline
Fairway Woods
- Smaller head than driver
- More loft than driver
- Easier to control
- Better accuracy
Hybrids
- Smallest head size
- Highest loft
- Most control
- Best for staying in play
The Mini Driver Option
If you’re having trouble with the driver, I highly recommend a two wood, otherwise known as a mini driver that they make these days.
For golfers who find the regular driver hard to handle, a two wood (mini driver) is a great choice. It offers:
- About 14 degrees of loft
- Slightly smaller head
- Better control
- More confidence at address
Making Your Choice
The key to picking your tee club is understanding loft. More loft means better control. Think of it this way – the higher the loft, the less your ball will curve off target. Choose the club that gives you the best mix of distance and accuracy for your game.
Fairway Play: Distance, Trajectory, and Club Choice
When you’re in the fairway, you’ve got the perfect setup for your next shot. Let’s look at how to make the most of this great position.
The big thing you want to know about your shot in the fairway is that once it lands where you intended to land what’s it going to do.
Know Your Distances
Every club in your bag hits the ball a specific distance. For example, if you hit a club 150 yards consistently, that becomes your go-to club for 150-yard shots from the fairway. It’s that simple!
Understanding Ball Flight and Roll
The height of your shot matters a lot:
- High-lofted clubs: Ball stops quickly on landing
- Low-lofted clubs: Ball tends to roll more
This knowledge helps you plan your shots better. You can choose a club that gives you the right mix of carry and roll.
Choosing the Right Club
Long irons, if you’re a new player, like a three, four, or five iron may be tough. That’s where the hybrids come into play, making it much easier to hit the ball off the fairway.
For newer players:
- Avoid very low-lofted clubs (like 15-degree 3-woods)
- Try easier options like 5-woods or 7-woods
- Consider hybrids instead of long irons
- Hybrids are more forgiving and easier to hit
Making the Most of Perfect Lies
When you’re in the fairway, you have lots of options because the ball sits perfectly. This is your chance to:
- Take advantage of the clean lie
- Choose from your full range of clubs
- Focus on making solid contact
- Play with confidence
Remember, the key is picking a club you can hit well, not necessarily the one that looks impressive in your bag.
Lay-Up Shots and Course Management
Sometimes you’ll face shots that are just too long to reach the green. That’s when you need to plan a lay-up shot. Let’s learn how to make smart choices when laying up.
Pick a shot you can hit nine times out of ten. If you can remember that around the whole golf course, picking a shot that you can hit nine times out of ten, you’re gonna have a lot more success.
When to Lay Up
A lay-up shot is your best friend when:
- The green is too far away
- There are hazards in your path
- You want to play it safe
Making Smart Choices
Think about these key points when laying up:
- Look for hazards like water or bunkers
- Check your skill level against the shot
- Pick a safe landing area
- Choose a club you trust
Playing Within Your Limits
When facing a lay-up:
- Be honest about your abilities
- Stay away from risky shots
- Aim for wide, safe areas
- Think about your next shot
Example Strategy
Let’s say you’re 300 yards from the green:
- Water hazard on the left
- Safe area on the right
- Choose a 100-yard shot to the right
- Stay short of trouble
- Set up an easy next shot
Remember, golf is about playing smart, not just hitting far. Pick shots you can make most of the time, and your scores will get better.
Keeping It Low: The Power of Low Lofted Shots
When you keep the ball lower to the ground on almost every shot in golf, you just give it much more chance of having success instead of giving it more time to take shape and completely destroy your game.
Want to play better golf? Keep your shots low! This simple tip can make a big difference in your game. Let’s look at why low shots work so well and how to use them.
Why Low Shots Work Better
When you hit the ball low, you:
- Give it less time in the air
- Keep more control
- Lower the risk of mistakes
- Make your shots more predictable
Smart Alternatives for Better Control
You don’t always need to reach for your wedge. Try these options instead:
- Use a hybrid club
- Pick a mid-iron
- Try the bump-and-run shot
Tips for Nervous Players
If wedge shots make you nervous:
- Switch to a hybrid or mid-iron
- Keep the ball close to the ground
- Use a simple chip shot
- Focus on rolling the ball instead of flying it
Remember, golf is about getting the ball in the hole, not how pretty your shots look. Low shots are often the smartest choice for more consistent play.
Approach Shots: Mastering the 150-175 Yard Range
You’re going to have a lot of shots from around a hundred and fifty to a hundred and seventy five yards on the golf course. These shots really depend on good technique and good ball striking to get the ball close to the green, to allow a chip, or to hit the green.
The Challenge of Mid-Range Shots
Mid-range shots from 150-175 yards are common on the golf course. These shots can make or break your round. Getting them right means you’ll have more chances to score well.
Keys to Success
To hit these shots well, you need:
- Good technique
- Solid ball striking
- Consistent practice
- Proper coaching
Why These Shots Matter
These approach shots are crucial because they can:
- Get you close to the green
- Set up an easy chip
- Give you a chance at hitting the green
Getting Better Results
To improve your mid-range shots:
- Work with a coach
- Focus on your technique
- Practice your ball striking
- Keep it simple
Remember, these shots need both skill and practice. Getting help from a coach can make a big difference in how well you hit them.
Coaching and Feedback: The Value of Professional Guidance
Want to get better at golf? Regular coaching might be just what you need. Let’s look at how ongoing lessons can help your game.
SwingTweaks has launched a subscription service where you get one lesson per month with your PGA Pro who still send you the same analysis, the same drills, and the same awesome lesson that you always get.
Monthly Lessons with a Pro
With SwingTweaks’ new service, you get:
- One lesson each month
- Personal analysis of your swing
- Custom drills to help you improve
- Regular feedback on your progress
Video Calls for Better Learning
The service includes face-to-face video calls with your PGA Pro. During these calls, you can:
- Ask questions about your swing
- Get clear answers about your lessons
- Plan your next steps
- Talk about equipment choices
- Discuss course management
Complete Golf Support
This is the best way to get lessons and improve, is to have constant feedback from your pro always involved every step of the way.
Think of SwingTweaks as your:
- Golf coach
- Personal caddy
- Equipment expert
At just $49.99 per month, you get ongoing support to help you play better golf. Having a pro guide you through every step makes learning easier and more fun.
Why Regular Feedback Matters
Getting better at golf takes time and practice. With constant feedback from a pro, you can:
- Fix problems quickly
- Learn the right way to practice
- Make steady progress
- Build confidence in your game
Remember, good coaching helps you improve faster and enjoy the game more. It’s an investment in your golf future.
Fairway Bunkers: Techniques and Club Selection
Now fairway bunkers are very tricky shots but there’s a little rule of thumb you can use when you get into one.
Getting stuck in a fairway bunker can be scary, but don’t worry! With a few simple tips, you can handle these tricky shots like a pro. Let’s look at how to get your ball out of the sand and back in play.
Club Up for Success
The first rule for fairway bunker shots is to “club up.” This means:
- If you’d normally use a 9-iron, pick an 8-iron instead
- If you’d normally use a 7-iron, grab your 6-iron
- Always take one club stronger than usual
The Chin-Up Trick
Just lifting that chin up gives you the feeling that your swing is now hovering over the ground more than normal.
Here’s a simple trick that works like magic:
- Lift your chin up slightly
- This helps you hover over the sand
- You’ll clip the ball clean instead of digging
Key Tips for Better Bunker Shots
When you’re in a fairway bunker:
- Don’t dig your feet too deep in the sand
- Stay level with the ball
- Focus on clean contact
- Keep your swing smooth
- Avoid hitting behind the ball
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Watch out for these errors:
- Digging too deep with your feet
- Hitting behind the ball
- Getting too low at setup
- Using your regular club choice
Remember, the goal is to clip the ball off the sand, not dig into it. With these simple tips and a bit of practice, you can turn tricky bunker shots into successful ones.
Recovery from the Trees: The Punch Shot
Even the best golfers sometimes find their ball in the trees. When this happens, you need a safe way to get back in play. Let’s learn about the punch shot – a key skill for these tricky situations.
The shot to hit is a punch shot. Now punch shot is the most valuable golf shot you can have in your bag.
Why the Punch Shot Works
The punch shot is like a long chip shot. It keeps the ball low and helps you:
- Get back to safety
- Avoid tree branches
- Keep control of your shot
- Play smart golf
How to Hit a Punch Shot
To hit a good punch shot:
- Use a 5, 6, or 7 iron
- Set up like you’re hitting a chip shot
- Keep the ball flight low
- Check your path is clear
- Focus on smooth contact
Playing it Smart
Not to be a hero but just chip it back in play to a place you can play a very comfortable shot from.
Remember these key points:
- Don’t try risky shots through small gaps
- Aim for a safe spot in the fairway
- Think about your next shot
- Take your medicine and move on
Practice Makes Perfect
To master the punch shot:
- Start with small shots
- Learn to control your power
- Practice different clubs
- Watch your ball flight
- Build your confidence
The punch shot might not look fancy, but it’s one of the most useful shots you can learn. It helps you turn bad situations into good scoring chances.
Scoring Opportunities Inside 100 Yards
The shots from within 100 yards can make or break your round. Let’s learn how to make the most of these scoring chances.
Inside a hundred yards, we want to be really good.
Finding Your 100-Yard Club
Everyone needs a go-to club for 100-yard shots. This could be:
- A pitching wedge
- A 9-iron
- A 52-degree wedge
- A 56-degree wedge
The type of club doesn’t matter – what matters is that it works for you.
Using Technology to Improve
Knowing that club is gonna be brilliant.
Modern tools can help you dial in your distances:
- Use a rangefinder to measure exact yardages
- Practice hitting to specific targets
- Learn how far each wedge goes
- Build confidence with your chosen club
Making the Most of Short Shots
When you’re close to the green:
- Take your time
- Pick your spots carefully
- Use the club you trust most
- Focus on accuracy over power
Remember, these shorter shots give you great chances to save strokes. The more time you spend practicing shots within 100 yards, the better your scores will be.
Dialing In Your Wedges: Measuring and Practicing Distances
Want to get better at short shots? You need to know exactly how far you hit each wedge. Let’s learn a simple way to measure your wedge distances.
The 50% Swing Method
The way you find out your club ranges is to take your pitching wedge, your gap wedge, and your sand wedge and go take a fifty percent swing on a hundred yard or hundred and fifty yard long piece of open turf.
Here’s how to do it:
- Find an open practice area
- Bring your three wedges:
- Pitching wedge
- Gap wedge
- Sand wedge
- Make a 50% swing with each club
- Keep the swing the same for all shots
Measuring Your Distances
You take out your Red Tiger rangefinder and you shoot back to the thing you’ve left where you hit the balls.
To track your distances:
- Put down a marker where you hit from
- Hit several balls with each club
- Walk to your balls
- Measure back to your marker
- Write down the distance ranges
Understanding Your Ranges
Here’s what you might find:
- Pitching Wedge (50% swing): 65-70 yards
- Gap Wedge (50% swing): 45-55 yards
- Sand Wedge (50% swing): 32-38 yards
Using Your New Knowledge
Once you know your ranges, you can:
- Pick the right club quickly
- Feel more confident
- Hit more accurate shots
- Score better from close range
Remember, it’s okay to have a range rather than an exact number. For example, if your gap wedge goes 45-55 yards, you can use it for any shot between 40-60 yards.
Practice this method often to stay sharp with your distances. The more you know about your wedge game, the better you’ll score.
Pitching Over Hazards: Loft, Technique, and Confidence
When you face a shot over a bunker to the green, it can be scary. But with the right club and technique, you can handle these shots with confidence.
When you have to pitch it over a bunker to the green, your number one objective is to just not leave it in the bunker and give yourself a chance of holding the green.
Choosing the Right Loft
For shots over bunkers, you need plenty of loft:
- A 56-degree wedge works well
- Some players use a 60-degree wedge
- 56-degree is easier to control
- Avoid using lower-lofted clubs
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players make these errors:
- Leaning back to add loft
- Being too tentative
- Trying to help the ball up
- Getting nervous over the shot
Using Your Club’s Design
These clubs have got loft on them to be able to get the ball in the air and a big fat bounce here to get under the club, bounce off the ground and help that ball in the air without you needing to do anything.
Your wedge is designed to help you:
- Get the ball up quickly
- Clear the bunker easily
- Land softly on the green
- Use the bounce for clean contact
Keys to Success
To hit good shots over bunkers:
- Trust your club’s loft
- Stay confident and committed
- Make a normal swing
- Focus on clearing the bunker
- Let the club do the work
Remember, being aggressive with the right club is better than being tentative. Your wedge has all the loft you need – trust it and swing with confidence.
Greenside Bunker Play: Mastering the Sand Wedge
In the bunker next to the green we use a fifty six degree, also known as a sand wedge. As the name implies it was designed to get out of the sand.
Getting out of a greenside bunker doesn’t have to be scary. Let’s learn how to use your sand wedge the right way and make those bunker shots easier.
Understanding Your Sand Wedge
The sand wedge (56 degrees) was made just for bunker shots. Here’s what makes it special:
- Wide, fat sole on the bottom
- Designed to slide through sand
- Helps get the ball out easily
- Usually has 12 degrees of bounce
The Basic Bunker Technique
To hit good bunker shots:
- Hit about one inch behind the ball
- Let the club’s sole skim through the sand
- Don’t try to hit the ball directly
- Trust the club to do the work
Choosing the Right Bounce
The softer the conditions, fluffy sand wet ground, the higher the bounce to be able to skim through the turf.
Your sand conditions matter:
- Soft, fluffy sand: Use more bounce
- Hard, packed sand: Use less bounce
- Wet sand: Higher bounce helps
- Firm sand: Lower bounce works better
Club Options for Bunker Play
While the 56-degree sand wedge is most common, you have other choices:
- 54-degree wedge
- 58-degree wedge
- 60-degree lob wedge
- Smart Sole sand wedge
Remember, the sand wedge was designed specifically for bunker shots. That’s why it works so well. With practice and the right technique, you can turn those scary bunker shots into easy ones.
Long Bunker Shots: Adjusting Loft and Technique
The forty yard bunker shot, fifty yard bunker shot, one of the most difficult shots in golf and what do we hit from there? Here’s the easy solution.
The best way to hit the shot is to never have it. Avoid getting in bunkers fifty, sixty, forty yards away from the hole.
Long bunker shots can be tricky, but there’s a simple way to handle them. Let’s learn how to tackle these challenging shots with confidence.
The Simple Solution
To hit long bunker shots well:
- Use less lofted clubs than normal
- Try a 52-degree wedge
- Consider a 48-degree wedge
- Even a pitching wedge can work
Using the Same Technique
The good news is you can use the same splash shot technique as greenside bunkers:
- Keep the same basic motion
- Finish a bit higher
- Get more height on the shot
- Let the club do the work
Smart Course Management
The best tip for long bunker shots is to avoid them! Here’s how:
- Play away from bunkers 40-60 yards out
- Choose safer landing areas
- Think ahead about your shots
- Save strokes through smart choices
Club Selection Tips
For longer bunker shots, you have several options:
- 52-degree wedge: Good all-around choice
- 48-degree wedge: More distance
- Pitching wedge: Maximum distance
- Choose based on your comfort level
Remember, while it’s good to know how to hit these shots, the smartest play is to avoid putting yourself in long bunker situations whenever possible.
Chipping Simplified: Low Lofted Toe Down Technique
What I always recommend is low lofted toe down chipping.
The biggest advantage is it works from every lie, whether it’s a dodgy lie, a fluffy lie, any lie.
Want an easy way to chip? Let’s learn about the toe down technique. This simple method works from any lie and helps you get the ball close to the hole every time.
Why Use Low Lofted Clubs
For chipping, you can use:
- 6-iron
- 7-iron
- 8-iron
- 9-iron
These clubs work great when you have room for the ball to roll to the hole. The lower loft helps you control the shot better.
The Toe Down Technique
Here’s how to do it:
- Lift the heel of the club off the ground
- This removes some bounce from the club
- Makes it easier to hit the ball clean
- Works well from any kind of lie
How to Practice
To master this shot:
- Pick a landing spot on the green
- Practice with different irons
- Learn how far the ball rolls out
- Test it from different lies
Tips for Success
When using this technique:
- Stand square to your target
- Land the ball just on the green
- Let it roll toward the hole
- Keep your motion simple
- Trust the club to do the work
This method is great because:
- It works from good or bad lies
- You don’t need to guess
- The ball rolls out consistently
- It’s easier than using wedges
Remember, practice is key. Work on your distance control with each club. Soon you’ll be chipping with confidence from any lie around the green.
Advanced Chipping: High Loft and Specialty Shots
Sometimes you need to hit your chip shots higher to clear obstacles. Let’s learn when and how to use high-lofted clubs for these special shots.
Sometimes you have to chip over things like this mound in front of us here. It’s about two feet high. That’s when you bring out the high loft like a sixty degree, very specialty club, or if you don’t have one you can use a fifty six degree.
Choosing Your Club
For high chip shots, you have two main options:
- 60-degree wedge (best choice)
- 56-degree wedge (good alternative)
Opening the Club Face
Here’s a simple technique for better control:
- Open the club face slightly
- Rotate and grip while the face is open
- Don’t twist after gripping
- Let the club skim through the turf
Playing the Shot
When hitting over obstacles:
- Be aggressive with your stroke
- Aim to go past the hole
- Avoid landing short
- Consider the slope after landing
Tips for Success
To hit better high chips:
- Keep the face slightly open
- Let the sole bounce through the turf
- Avoid digging with the leading edge
- Use a smooth, confident stroke
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Watch out for these errors:
- Being too tentative
- Landing short of your target
- Using a square club face
- Trying to help the ball up
Remember, when you need to clear obstacles near the green, trust your high-lofted wedge and make a confident stroke. It’s better to be a little long than to come up short and face a tough downhill chip or putt.
Putting: Blade vs. Mallet and Alignment Aids
On the greens we use a putter exclusively. You get two kind of putters. You get a blade putter and you get a mallet putter.
When it comes to putting, you have two main types of putters to choose from. Let’s look at what makes each one special and how to pick the right one for your game.
Understanding Putter Types
Blade Putters
- Traditional look
- Toe-down design
- Can be very toe-down or slightly toe-down
- Works well with arcing strokes
- Shorter alignment aids
Mallet Putters
- Modern, engineered look
- Face-balanced or semi-face-balanced
- Points up to the sky when balanced
- More weight in the back
- Longer alignment aids
The mallet putter feels more mechanical, feels more like an engineer’s club, but the one thing it does much better than a blade is alignment aids.
The Power of Alignment Aids
Mallet putters shine when it comes to helping you line up your putts:
- Multiple alignment lines
- Center sight holes
- Helps set up your eyes
- Great for visual guidance
- Perfect when eyes are tired
How They Feel and Roll
Each putter type offers different benefits:
Mallet Putters:
- Transfer more energy to the ball
- Need less hit force
- Give smooth rolls
- Work well on slower greens
- Require shorter strokes
Blade Putters:
- More traditional feel
- May need firmer strikes
- Great once you get used to them
- Preferred by many pros
- More artistic feel
Choosing Your Putter
Pick your putter based on:
- Your stroke style
- Visual preferences
- Green speeds you play on
- Comfort at address
- Personal feel preference
Remember, there’s no “right” choice – it’s about finding what works best for you. Try both styles and see which one gives you more confidence on the greens.
Approach Shots Over Water: Playing It Safe
When you have an approach shot over water, it’s very, very scary. And in that situation, you wanna hit enough club to reach the back of the green.
Water hazards can make any golfer nervous. Let’s learn how to handle these tricky shots with confidence and keep your ball dry.
Smart Club Selection
The key to water shots is simple:
- Pick a club that reaches the back of the green
- Don’t get greedy with shorter clubs
- Stay safe and dry
- Think about the smart play
Pick the club that’s gonna stay dry.
Example Strategy
Let’s look at a real situation:
- Distance to pin: 80 yards
- Back of green: 90 yards
- Smart play: Club for 90 yards
- Goal: Get past the water safely
Avoiding Costly Mistakes
If you hit it short:
- Ball goes in the water
- You take a drop
- Add penalty strokes
- Hurt your score
Tips for Success
To play water shots well:
- Take extra club
- Aim for the back of the green
- Stay confident
- Make a smooth swing
- Don’t try risky shots
Remember, it’s better to be long than short when water is in play. Pick the club that gives you the best chance to stay dry, and trust your swing.
Par 3 Strategy: Matching Club to Distance and Safety
The club we hit on a par three is going to depend on the distance you hit the golf ball.
So you have to match your club that you hit, the distance that you hit, to the place that you feel you can hit stress free with a shot you can hit nine times out of ten.
Playing par 3s well means making smart choices about which club to use. Let’s learn how to pick the right club and play these holes safely.
Know Your Distances
The first step is knowing how far you hit each club. This helps you:
- Pick clubs that match your skill
- Avoid trying shots you can’t make
- Stay away from trouble
- Play with confidence
Playing Smart vs. Pin Hunting
When you face a par 3:
- Look for safe landing spots
- Check for hazards like bunkers
- Find the widest part of the green
- Avoid risky shots
Example: A 160-Yard Par 3
Here’s how to play it smart:
- Total distance: 160 yards
- Safe play: Aim for 140 yards
- Target: Left side of green
- Stay away from deep bunkers
Focus on What You Can Do
To play better par 3s:
- Pick shots you can make most times
- Aim for safe areas
- Forget about tough pin positions
- Take hazards out of play
Remember, it’s better to be on the green safely than to chase a tough pin position. Choose clubs and targets that give you the best chance of success. Golf is about playing smart, not just being brave.
Conclusion: Consistency, Simplicity, and Smart Choices
That’s how you do it on difficult, treacherous, scary approach shots and par threes.
Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the art of club selection and smart golf strategy. Let’s wrap up with the key ideas that will help you play better golf.
Keep It Simple
The best golf is often the simplest golf:
- Pick clubs you trust
- Make shots you can repeat
- Stay away from risky plays
- Focus on getting the ball in play
Play Smart
Good golf means making smart choices:
- Choose safer targets
- Avoid trouble spots
- Take enough club over hazards
- Think about your next shot
Build Confidence
Success in golf comes from:
- Knowing your distances
- Practicing your shots
- Using clubs you trust
- Making repeatable swings
Remember, golf is about playing within your abilities and making smart decisions. When you keep things simple and stick to shots you can make most of the time, you’ll have more fun and score better. Focus on consistency over heroics, and let your clubs do the work they were designed to do.