9 Types of Golf Shots Explained
In this video I explain the 9 types of golf shots you can practice at the driving range and once you feel confident in your ability to pull off each shot type, you can begin using them on the golf course in unique situations to hit the optimal shot.
It’s important to master all 9 of these golf shot types as they each have a purpose in your golf course strategy. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel to see more awesome golf swing tips.
Golf Shot Types
- High Draw
- High Fade
- High & Straight
- Mid Draw
- Mid Fade
- Mid Height & Straight
- Low Draw
- Low Fade
- Low Height & Straight
What is a Draw?
A draw is a golf shot type that starts off flying to the right (for right handed golfers) and then curves back to the left to end up in the middle of the fairway. It’s a beautiful looking golf shot when done successfully and can be used to gain extra yardage off the tee.
The draw results from the club face being slightly closed relative to the swing path. The swing path must be moving inside to outside, heading out to the right to start the ball right and then the shut club face puts draw spin on the ball, curving it back left so the two balance out and it ends up center.
To much draw spin can result in the ball flying left of the fairway (known as a hook) and if the swing path is too far right, the ball may end up right, not making it back center in time.
Draw Golf Shot
- Slightly stronger grip position on club handle
- Club face slightly closed at impact to path
- Club path moving right at impact
What is a Fade Golf Shot?
Most golfers start off with a slice golf swing which is when the ball flies to the right and severely misses the intended target, whether it be the fairway or green.
A fade is the same left to right ball flight, but it does so more moderately and not so severely like a slice.
To achieve a fade, the club path must be moving to the left at impact for right handed golfers to start the ball left of the target line you’re aiming at. Then the club face needs to be slightly open relative to the club path to create sidespin on the ball that will move it left to right as it flies through the air.
This fade spin that gets imparted on the ball works the ball back right so it can balance out the initial leftward direction the ball flies off the tee. It ends up center of the fairway, back on your target line when done correctly.
Too much fade spin is a slice with the ball ending up right of the target and swinging too far to the left is known as a pulled golf shot, leaving the ball left of the target.
A fade is a great golf shot to hit when you want the ball to stop on the green and need more control when hitting iron shots or drivers. It will sacrifice some distance but you can gain control.
Fade Golf Shot
- Slightly weaker grip position on club handle
- Club path moving slightly left
- Club face slightly open to path
What is a Straight Golf Shot?
The ideal golf shot every golfer would love to hit is a straight golf shot. This is simply like it sounds, the golf ball flies straight the entire time at the target you were aiming at.
But in reality, keeping the golf club swinging on a straight path and with a square face that hits the ball straight relative to the path is hard to achieve. Most golfers end up learning to play a slight draw or slight fade that naturally happens as a result of not being able to hit perfectly straight.
The longer the golf shot, the harder it is to remain straight the entire time. On chip shots and putting, you most certainly should hit straight. It wouldn’t make since to try and draw or fade a chip shot or putt.
The key to hitting straight is bringing the club down to the ball on a straight path so the club is moving straight at the target after impact, not coming into the ball moving left or right of the target/stance line.
And the club face must remain straight and square to the swing path to maintain that straight shot type. When the face is slightly open or slightly closed it creates sidespin on the ball which is what causes the golf ball to draw, fade, etc.
Straight Golf Shots
- Club path moving straight on target line
- Club face square to club path (not open or closed)
- Ball contact center of club face (no heel or toe shots)
High, Low, Mid Ball Flight Shots
In addition to learning how to move the ball left, right, and straight, you should also master how to move the ball up and down with trajectory.
You’ll find yourself in situations on the golf course where a normal golf shot won’t work do to an object being in your swing path.
This could be a tree branch for example that requires you to hit above it or go below it. Or it could be a 15 foot tall bush that requires you to hit above and over it.
In these cases, it’s crucial you’ve mastered manipulating your ball flight to hit high golf shots, low golf shots, and also mid-trajectory golf shots.
There’s some swing technique to hitting the golf ball high and low but to keep things simple remember these tips…
High Golf Shots
- Move ball more forward in stance
- Finish with high hands, keep hands high in follow through
- Shaft lean more vertical at impact
- Use a club with more loft (9 iron instead of 6 iron)
Low Golf Shots
- Move ball back in your stance
- Finish with low hands, keep hands low in follow through
- Shaft lean more forward at impact
- Use a club with less loft (7 iron instead of wedge)
Overall to create the 9 different golf shot types, you’ll mix and match the ability to move the ball left to right, right to left, and keeping it straight while also changing the ball flight height from high to low to middle.
Practice hitting high draws, middle draws and low draws.
Then come back another day and work on high fades, low fades, and middle fades,
Then come back and focus on straight shots that fly high, low, and middle height flight.
These 9 shot types will help you get creative on the golf course to hit shots that avoid obstacles, trees, bunkers, water, so you can score lower and feel more confident when you step up to hit a golf shot. Thanks for reading!
