Types of Golf Shots

The September 1911 edition of Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as - '"bird" straight down the course, ... a 'birdie' is a hole done in a stroke under par."

Although the first noted use of the word "par" in golf was in Britain and predates the bogey, today's rating system does not and the par standard was not further developed until later. It was the Ladies Golf Association, who, from 1893, began to develop a national handicapping system for women.

Although the first noted use of the word "par" in golf was in Britain and predates the bogey, today's rating system does not and the par standard was not further developed until later. It was the Ladies Golf Association, who, from 1893, began to develop a national handicapping system for women.

An eagle is a score of 2-under on a hole; a double eagle is a score of 3-under on a hole. In theory, a triple eagle—4-under on a hole—is possible: It would be a hole-in-one on a par-5 (also called a "condor") or a score of two on a par-6.

For many years, eagle was always introduced as American terms, as in 1922 when Cecil (Cecilia) Leitch described a putt for a 3 on a par-5 hole as 'securing what is known in American golfing parlance as an "eagle"' (Golf XII 1922 p 202).

An approach shot in golf is any stroke that a golfer plays into the green on a par-4 or par-5 hole or any shot played with the intention of hitting the putting green, but this nomenclature isn't typically used on par-3 holes because the golfer expects to hit the green — or is at least trying to — with the tee shot.

A "chip shot" in golf is a shot played from close to the green, usually within a few yards of the putting surface, that results in the ball popping briefly into the air, then hitting the ground and rolling forward toward the hole.

"Draw" or "draw shot" are terms that describe a flight path of the golf ball in which the ball curves to the left for a right-handed golfer. (For a left-hander, a draw curves to the right, but we'll be using righties in our examples.)

In golf, drivers and irons are used for what's called the "long game," which consists of hitting the ball as far as the golfer can to drive it closer to the hole. This skill, also known as full swing, is essential to completing regulation holes under par, but oftentimes beginners struggle to perfect their long game.

The flop shot is a specialty shot in golf, typically played in order to get the ball over a hazard (such as a bunker) between the golfer and the flagstick; or from just off the green when the golfer is short-sided and needs the ball to stop very quickly once on the green.

A "lay up" is a golf shot that is played conservatively in order to avoid trouble ahead on the hole. For example, you might be able to clear that water hazard up ahead ... then again, you're not certain.

Relative newcomers to golf shops are sets called "blended sets," or "hybrid iron sets." These sets replace the traditional long irons with hybrid clubs, and fill out the set with cavityback mid- and short irons.

Of course, "woods" are now also made of metal, but that's a relatively recent development. Irons have featured metal clubheads (steel, these days) for centuries. The clubheads of irons are thin from front to back, and the clubfaces are grooved to impart spin on the golf ball.

Wedges are the highest-lofted clubs in a set of golf clubs, designed for short approach shots (for most golfers, 120 yards and in), strokes played out of sand, chip shots and pitch shots, and generally any shot for which the golfer wants the ball to ascend and descend sharply.

Meet the Woods The category of golf clubs called "woods" includes the driver and the fairway woods. (They are called woods even though their clubheads are no longer made of wood.) The woods are the clubs with the largest heads (typically hollow, extending a few inches from side-to-side and a few inches from front to back, with rounded lines) and with the longest shafts. Golfers can swing them the fastest, and they are used for the longest shots, including strokes played from the teeing ground.

A punch shot is one that is played with the intent of lowering the golf ball's trajectory in flight through a couple changes to a golfer's normal stance and swing. Why would you want to hit the ball lower? The most common reasons are: To lessen the effects of a strong wind on the golf ball in flight.

Golf stroke mechanics is the means by which golfers make decisions (selecting clubs, selecting shots) and execute them (making shots) in the sport of golf. For all golfers, it consists of a pre-stroke, in which golfers choose which club they want and their stance, and the actual stroke.