The Golfer’s Toolkit: 7 Shots Every Golfer Needs

Do you want to play more consistent golf? Are you ready to become “automatic” on the course? 

If so, there are seven golf shots you need to learn to hit. After playing the game for several decades, I’ve found that all good golfers have seven shots in common.

If you can hit them, you can start playing to your potential faster than ever. 

7 Golf Shots Every Player Needs 

Key Takeaways

• To lower your handicap you need these seven basic golf shots throughout the round. 
• If you can master these seven shots, you can play more consistently than you thought possible.
• Plus, your golf game will travel well – meaning you can play well at nearly any course, in all types of weather conditions.
• Practice these seven shots on the driving range and short game area to develop a well-rounded golf game.

Keep reading to learn about each shot and the fundamentals to master each one. 

1. Stock Driver

The first shot that every golfer needs is a stock driver. If you’re leaving the driver in the bag in favor of a 3W you’re making golf a lot harder on yourself. Learn about 3W vs. driver here. 

The good news is that drivers have never been easier to hit. In fact, I’d argue that drivers are easier to hit than 3-woods since they’re much larger and have so much forgiving technology.

Plus, there is an overwhelming amount of data that shows better players hit it longer off the tee. 

Longer distances are associated with lower handicaps. So if you’re serious about playing your best golf, it’s time to overcome your fear of the big stick and make it a weapon. 

So, how do you hit a driver consistently? Here are three proven strategies.

Get the Right Driver

One of the reasons you might not have a ton of confidence in your driver is the club itself. While drivers have never been easier to hit, you still need to make sure you’re playing the right club for your swing. 

Finding the right driver is a 3-part process: the right head, loft, and shaft. 

Let’s start with the driver’s head. Better golfers should consider an LS (low spin) design to maximize distance with higher swing speeds.  

While everyday golfers should play the normal model and/or an anti-slice, draw biased design. Most drivers are adjustable and can help square the face at impact to straighten out your slice. Check out the list of best drivers for beginners here.

Next up is the driver loft; most golfers need more, not less loft to optimize distance. Shoot for at least 10 degrees of loft unless you have an above average swing speed. 

Lastly, don’t forget about the shaft in your driver as it plays a pivotal role for both distance and accuracy. Consider getting a custom club fitting to try out different shafts and club heads with a club fitter who can provide objective data via a launch monitor. 

Play One Shot Shape 

The second tip for a stock driver shaft is to play one stock shot – a fade or a draw. 

Do not fall into the trap of thinking you need to hit both types of shots to become a scratch golfer. Trust me, it’s not true!

I’m a plus handicap now and compete in tons of events and can say that 99% of golfers play one shot off the tee. While you can shape shots with irons sometimes, it’s as easy as changing ball position.

But you can’t change ball position when hitting a driver. Otherwise, you risk a pop-up shot and a lot of swing plane issues. Instead, play one shot shape regardless of the hole design or wind direction to hit it better than ever. 

Learn more about the fade vs. draw debate here. 

Practice More Often 

Finally, to hit the driver more consistently off the tee you need to spend more time hitting it on the driving range. Outwork your fears to make it one of the best clubs in your bag. 

2. Fairway Finder

The second shot that every golfer needs is a fairway finder – this is the shot you can rely on to find the short grass and stay out of trouble. 

The reason I spent so much time on the first point is that I’d love to see your driver be your fairway finder. As mentioned before, the longer you hit it off the tee, the easier it is to score lower as you have a much shorter distance into the hole.

But if you’re struggling to hit the driver well during the round, make it a fairway finder with two simple adjustments. First, tee the ball up lower than normal so it has less spin and a lower trajectory. This should improve your shot dispersion even if you lose a couple yards.

Second, choke up one inch on the club to shorten the shaft. Like teeing it lower, this should help improve your accuracy as well. 

Then, swing like normal and don’t try to guide it.

As Raymond Floyd said, “While accuracy of the tee is paramount, about the worst way to achieve it is to consciously steer the shot toward the target. The most accurate golf swings possess a freedom of movement that is the result of relaxed muscles and light grip pressure.”

If you’re a higher handicap golfer and/or still don’t have faith in your driver, find another fairway finder. This might include a 3-wood or a 2/3/4 hybrid that is relatively straight and one you feel confident hitting off the tee.

Or, you can also consider a mini-driver. These clubs are a combination of a driver and 3-wood in a unique design that can be used off the tee and to hit from the fairway too. The TaylorMade mini driver has become extremely popular and Titleist is rolling one out in 2024 too. 

3. Knockdown Iron Shot 

Once you’re off the tee with a driver or fairway finder, the next shot you need is a knockdown iron shot. A knockdown is a shot you’ll see a lot used on the PGA Tour, especially if they’re playing in windy conditions. 

Why is it such a popular shot?

A few reasons…

First, it’s flighted lower than a normal iron and has less spin. This tends to make it more consistent and straighter than a normal iron shot.

Second, it’s easier to hit solid as you’ll need to choke up on the grip. This leads to better contact and a more solid strike. Third, it’s a great shot if you’re playing in the wind and/or hitting from a divot from the fairway. 

Simply choke up on the club, take a slightly shorter backswing and try to follow through, so your hands don’t go past your rib cage. 

Knockdown vs. Punch Shot 

A similar shot to a knockdown is a punch shot aka recovery shot that you might need to escape trouble. No matter how good you get, missing fairways is part of golf and you need to recover when you’re in a tough situation. This is where the punch shot comes into play.

A punch shot is even lower than a knockdown and the shot doesn’t go very far compared to a normal stock iron shot. Here are my three rules when hitting a punch recovery shot.

• Check the lie. Make sure the lie will allow you to hit the shot. If the ball is sitting up too much in the rough it’s easy to catch a flier lie and launch it much higher. If the ball is sitting down too much, you’ll want to play even more conservatively as it’s hard to get the club on the ball.
• Play conservatively. Even pros struggle from the trees – don’t make it worse by trying to play an ultra aggressive shot. The last thing you want is your ball to ricochet off the trees and leave you with a similar second shot.
• Use less loft. You need less loft to hit a lower trajectory shot, which is why you want a mid to long iron. Avoid hitting high lofted woods or utility irons for this shot too as they’re meant to launch high and difficult to keep low. 

4. Fairway Bunker 

The fourth shot that every golfer needs in your arsenal is a fairway bunker shot. These are tricky shots because you can’t practice them easily and it’s hard to build a stable base.

Before getting into fairway bunker fundamentals, my biggest tip is to avoid hitting them at all costs (if possible). Data using Arccos Golf shows that most amateur golfers struggle a ton when hitting from fairway bunkers – even lower handicappers.

As part of your tee box strategy, make sure to pick the right targets so you can hopefully avoid the sand off the tee. It’s better to be in the rough than in the fairway bunker – in terms of strokes gained approach averages. 

For example, if you have a fairway bunker on the right side of the hole and no penalty areas on the left side, move your target. Adjust it so you favor the left side of the hole and minimize the chance of hitting in the sand. 

But as you know, even a good plan goes wrong and finding your shot in the fairway bunker is part of golf. Click here to learn more about hitting fairway bunker shots. 

5. Greenside Bunker Shot

The next type of stock shot to develop in practice is a greenside bunker. 

Because no matter how good you are with approach shots, greenside bunkers are a part of golf. It’s essential to learn a simple shot so you can walk in the sand with confidence.

Before getting into the step-by-step process, make sure you have the right mindset walking into the sand. So many golfers know what to do (in terms of technique) but walk in scared and fearful of what might happen. Don’t worry, I’ve been there myself too. 

Once you practice it enough, it’s crucial to walk in with confidence and stick to your pre-shot routine. Having the right mindset is key to executing the shot and hopefully escaping in one shot. 

Click here to learn more about hitting greenside bunkers. Plus, don’t forget to learn how to hit from a fried egg lie too. 

6. Bump and Run 

The sixth shot you need in your arsenal is a simple one but wildly effective for saving shots around the green. The good ol “bump and run” is easy to hit, very low risk, and extremely consistent. 

Why is it so consistent you might wonder?

Because it’s a very simple motion and a low speed compared to a full swing driver, fairway wood, or iron shot. It’s very similar to a putting stroke just with a wedge or short iron. 

The goal of a bump and run is simple – get the ball on the green as fast as possible and get it rolling like a putt. You’re not trying to create backspin or have much wrist action. Instead, it’s a simple stroke that can help you save a ton of shots around the green. 

Click here to learn more about the bump and run shot.

Also, don’t forget to learn how to putt from the fringe as it’s even more reliable than chipping. Or, learn how to putt with a hybrid too. 

7. Pitch Shot 

The final shot that every golfer needs is a stock pitch shot. 

It’s slightly more challenging than a bump and run but still a lot easier to hit than a flop shot. A pitch shot is required when you don’t have enough room to hit a lower, bump and run chip shot.

To hit a pitch shot you’ll want to use a sand or lob wedge and follow these steps.

• Pick a landing area about 3–5 feet on the green to avoid hitting the collar (fringe) and getting a nasty forward bounce.
• Play the shot with a straight face or slightly open if you’re short sided. Adjust the ball position so it’s in the middle of your stance. 
• Get most of your weight (60-70%) on your lead leg. 
• Hinge your wrist quickly and hold them in this position after you hit the golf ball (Phil Mickelson calls this the “hinge and hold”).

FAQs About Different Golf Shots 

Do you have more questions about different golf shots? If so, keep reading to learn more about hitting different shots in golf.

How do you hit a stinger?

A stinger is a fun shot if you’re a consistent ball striker but not one I’d recommend for the everyday golfer. For context, I’ve become a +2 and never once hit a “stinger” in my life. That being said, if you love long irons and have plenty of speed, it can help you under certain conditions.

Click here to learn more about hitting stingers. 

How do you hit a flop shot?

A flop shot is a more challenging shot than a pitch or bump and run and has a larger margin for error too. It goes higher and lands softer – making it a perfect option when you’re very short sided. As long as the lie allows you to hit the shot.

Click here to learn more about flop shots in golf. 

How do you hit from the water?

Hitting from the water is a very high risk shot and not one I suggest using 99% of the time. However, if you don’t mind getting wet (and potentially muddy) here is our guide to hitting from the water. 

My Experience

After playing golf for 25+ years I’m confident that these tips will help you play more consistent golf. These are the seven basic shots that all good players have in their bags at all times. 

It’s easy to get caught up in social media trying all kinds of crazy shots, but the truth is you want to keep golf as simple as possible. Don’t make it more difficult by trying low percentage shots or playing overly aggressive when you’re in trouble.

Final Thoughts 

Practice these seven shots a lot especially if you want to break 80 and become a single digit golfer. Mastering the basics is key to getting the most out of your game. 

If you’re interested in learning more shots, check out our guide to trick shots.