The Shots
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There are many different types of shot the golfer must play during a round of golf. We must play shots from the
teeing ground with woods, hybrids, and irons. We must advance the ball with all those clubs as well. While
approaching the green we tend to use the variety of irons we carry in our bags. In the short game, say inside 100
yards we must learn to play a variety of partial wedge shots. When the ball comes to rest around the green, yet still
off the green, we must learn a variety of shots that allows us to get the ball up close to the hole where the ball can
be one-putted. Finally, once the ball comes to rest on the green we must learn to putt.
What this means is we must learn to use all 14 clubs we are allowed to carry in our bags, and we must learn to play
a minimum of 10 different types of shots if we are going to be even avidly accomplished as a golfer. We must learn
to play a driving wood off the tee and a fairway wood or hybrid off the ground. We must learn to play a full stroke
with the irons, as well as a control shot with the irons. We must learn to play a couple of partial wedge shots so we
can play the ball onto the green once the ball is inside 100 yards to the green. Once the ball is inside 30 yards we
have lofted shots that fly all the way to the hole, and some that fly 75% in the air and roll out about 25% of the way.
We have 50-50 shots that fly 50% of the way and roll out 50% of the way. We have 25-75 shots that fly 25% of the
way and roll out 75% of the way. Beyond that we need to play sand shots and we need to putt the ball once the ball
is on the green. As you can see, the task of playing golf is an involved process.
As you learn to play golf through the New Horizons Golf Approach you will discover that it is recommended you
develop a progressive training routine. What this means is you develop a short game and range routine that starts
with the smallest strokes and progresses up to the more full swings. As each stroke progresses, it simply becomes a
larger version of the smaller strokes. You may have also read that the New Horizons Golf Approach advocates using
swing-sayings instead of swing-thoughts. With this in mind a short game routine may start with putting while using a
swing-saying such as "Roll-Hole."
When the golfer has played enough "Roll-Hole" strokes with a putting it is time to move on to putting with an iron
from just off the green. To putt with an iron, you choose a 9 iron, 8 iron, or 7 iron (for example - longer irons and
hybrids can also be used) and you toe the club down until the club shaft is at the same angle your putter shaft aligns
at address. Since the club has loft, once the club is toe down the clubface will be aimed open, therefore you need to
close the clubface down until it is actual square. It may look closed from the address view, however it is actually
square because the lofted club is toed down and then closed up to a square position. Once the club is aligned
properly you take hold of the club and make a putting stroke with it. Once again the golfer uses the "Roll-Hole"
swing saying. In this case the shot is lofted into the air slightly and then lands on the ground some 25% of the way
to the hole, then rolls the rest of the 75% of the way to the hole.
When the golfer has played enough "Roll-Hole" strokes with an iron he transitions to a Gap Wedge or Pitching
Wedge and plays some 50-50 shots. The 50-50 shot is what we call a tossing shot in the New Horizons Golf
Approach. This is because the golfer uses the image of tossing the ball to the hole with the golf club much like he
would do so with his hand. For this shot he may use "Toss-Hole" as his swing saying. Without going into detail, the
golfer must find the ball position and the proper lofted wedge so that when he executes a tossing type stroke the ball
lands on a spot 50% of the way to the hole and rolls the rest of the way to the hole.
When the golfer has played enough "Toss-Hole" shots he transitions to a Sandwedge or Lob Wedge to play the
75-25 shot. The 75-25 shot is called the clipping shot in the New Horizons Golf Approach. This is because the
golfer uses the leading edge of the clubface to clip the bottom of the ball and the grass at the same time. By
aligning the leading edge, clubface, and shaft angle so that the clubface can precisely clip the bottom of the ball
cleaning, a lot of spin is created and the shot can be lofted into the air and flown 75% of the way to the hole. Upon
landing it checks, skips, and the rolls the rest of the way to the hole. This shot is used widely by touring
professionals and top amateurs. It scares the average golfer at first, however those New Horizons Golfers and
amateurs that have tried it find it is a very valuable and accessible shot to play. For this shot the golfer may use
"Clip-Hole" as his swing-saying.
When the golfer has played enough "Clip-Hole" shots he transitions to a more lofted Sandwedge or Lob Wedge to
play what the New Horizons Golf Approach calls a Cut-Under shot. It is called the cut-under shot because the golfer
adds a significant amount of loft to the address alignment of the wedge and proceeds to make a stroke that cuts a
little divot right out from under the ball. This action lofts the ball more vertically into the air in such a manner that it
lands softly and stops very quickly. Upon landing the ball either hoops and stops, or simply stops with very little roll
out. This shot is commonly called the Flop Shot, or Lob Shot. The New Horizons Golfer playing the shot may simply
as "Cut-Hole" as his swing saying. Many New Horizons Golfer's say "Cut-Under" because it precisely describes what
the stroke is intended to accomplish.
With these short game shots in mind the progression of shots in the short game proceeds from "Roll-Hole" putting
to "Roll-Hole" putting with an iron, to "Toss-Hole" shots with a wedge, to "Clip-Hole" a lofted wedge, to "Cut-Hole"
shots with the most lofted wedge. Once the golfer transitions beyond the short game into the partial wedge shots
the golf can build on either the "tossing" action, the "clipping" action, or the "cutting" action.
For example, if the golfer is going to stick with "tossing" she may start with "toss-hole" shots and move up to
"small-toss" shots. For most golfers a "small-toss" will travel further than a "toss-hole" action. For example,
"toss-hole" shots will generally be played within 10 feet of the edge of the green while "small-toss" action will be
played out to about 30 feet from the edge of the green. When the golfer has played enough "small-toss" shots she
can move up to "mid-toss" shots. These "mid-toss" shots will be played when the ball is in a position 30-60 feet from
the edge of the green. When a golfer has played enough "mid-toss" shots she can move up to "large-toss" shots.
These "large-toss" shots will be played when the ball is in a position 60-90 feet from the edge of the green. Here we
can imagine a basic progression of tossing shots from "toss-hole" to "small-toss" to "mid-toss" to "large-toss." Keep
in mind that all of these shots are played with roll-out in mind. If you want the shots to stop quicker you would need
to play clipping versions or cutting versions.
Beyond large tosses, the New Horizons Golfer develops a swing-toss, swing-swing, and swing-finish action to
complete the process of playing progressive wedge shots. "Swing-toss" shots are played with a little swing in the
backstroke with a tossing action in the forward stroke. These shots are generally used in the 30-60 yard range.
"Swing-swing" shots are played with a little swing in the backstroke and a little swing in the forward stroke. They are
generally played in the 60-90 yard range. "Swing-Finish" is the first stroke that reaches the basic finish position and
it is what New Horizons Golfers call the control shot. In the scenario discuss above it would be played 100 yards.
Notice how each saying in the progressive process sounds larger than the preceding saying. Since it sounds
larger, it will produce a shot that flies further. This is the beauty of the progressive process, the swing-sayings
encourage the action and the actions produce a series of shots that are predictable and progressive in nature. The
key for each golfer is finding the swing-saying that encourage the proper actions. Though we may all speak the
same language, we perceive the meaning of the language differently and therefore we need to find our own
applications in order to find a workable process. Using a swing-saying is an application and therefore we need to
customize the swing-sayings to our own particular needs.
Once the golfer is ready to progress beyond the partial shots the process continues by choosing words that
encourage more powerful actions. The golfer may simply say "Turn-Finish" to play a shot further than the
"Swing-Finish" action does. "Turn-Finish" strokes would be very appropriate for the standard shot played with 9, 8,
& 7 irons. If this is the case he might say "Coil-Finish" with the 6, 5, & 4 irons. Golfers intuitively believe they need
to do more with the longer clubs in order to produce a more powerful shot. Therefore saying "Coil-Finish" will match
this intuitive perception. When it comes to Hybrids and Woods they require a more sweeping action, therefore the
golfer might say "Sweep-Finish." The word sweep encourages a sweeping action, however it also is a longer word
and takes longer to say, so it encourages a longer stroke; something that is appropriate intuitively for the longest
clubs.
Now, some people do better with 3 words with the more full shots and some people do better with 4 words. A 3
word progression might be "Swing-Turn-Finish" for the 9, 8, & 7 irons, "Turn-Turn-Finish" for the 6, 5, & 4 irons, and
"Turn-Sweep-Finish" for the sweeping clubs. A 4 word progression might be "Swing-Back Swing-Finish" for the 9, 8,
& 7 irons, "Swing-Back Turn-Finish" for the 6, 5, & 4 irons, and "Turn-Back Sweep-Finish" for the sweeping clubs.
Whatever the case, notice the progressive nature of using swing-sayings in this manner.
Once again, each of you can find your own progressive pattern with your own progressive set of swing-sayings.
The value in it, as all New Horizons Golfers find out, is that you are simply building on a single shot pattern. Instead
of learning a whole array of different shots, you are learning a pattern of shots that are built upon the same
foundation and simply get larger at the occasion is needed. We encourage all of you to take the time to find your
own progressive pattern of shots, a pattern you can depend upon under the gun when playing on the golf course
either in competition or for fun.
All these shots, and the progressive nature of the shot patterns are discussed throughout the New Horizons Golf
Approach books. However, 5 of the Pocket Coach books are dedicated specifically to playing these shots. Pocket
Coaches volumes 9, 10, 11, and 12 are specifically organized to discuss the progressive nature of the shot patterns
from putting to playing the woods. Pocket Coach volume 5 shows a specific application for stacking power and
playing a pattern of shots that vary in trajectory and power output. You can view these books on the publications
page of this website. They are also located to the right side of this page. If you want a brief overview of what is in
each book, simply click on the icon below each book that matches the name of the book.
Good luck, and go out there and find your shots!!
teeing ground with woods, hybrids, and irons. We must advance the ball with all those clubs as well. While
approaching the green we tend to use the variety of irons we carry in our bags. In the short game, say inside 100
yards we must learn to play a variety of partial wedge shots. When the ball comes to rest around the green, yet still
off the green, we must learn a variety of shots that allows us to get the ball up close to the hole where the ball can
be one-putted. Finally, once the ball comes to rest on the green we must learn to putt.
What this means is we must learn to use all 14 clubs we are allowed to carry in our bags, and we must learn to play
a minimum of 10 different types of shots if we are going to be even avidly accomplished as a golfer. We must learn
to play a driving wood off the tee and a fairway wood or hybrid off the ground. We must learn to play a full stroke
with the irons, as well as a control shot with the irons. We must learn to play a couple of partial wedge shots so we
can play the ball onto the green once the ball is inside 100 yards to the green. Once the ball is inside 30 yards we
have lofted shots that fly all the way to the hole, and some that fly 75% in the air and roll out about 25% of the way.
We have 50-50 shots that fly 50% of the way and roll out 50% of the way. We have 25-75 shots that fly 25% of the
way and roll out 75% of the way. Beyond that we need to play sand shots and we need to putt the ball once the ball
is on the green. As you can see, the task of playing golf is an involved process.
As you learn to play golf through the New Horizons Golf Approach you will discover that it is recommended you
develop a progressive training routine. What this means is you develop a short game and range routine that starts
with the smallest strokes and progresses up to the more full swings. As each stroke progresses, it simply becomes a
larger version of the smaller strokes. You may have also read that the New Horizons Golf Approach advocates using
swing-sayings instead of swing-thoughts. With this in mind a short game routine may start with putting while using a
swing-saying such as "Roll-Hole."
When the golfer has played enough "Roll-Hole" strokes with a putting it is time to move on to putting with an iron
from just off the green. To putt with an iron, you choose a 9 iron, 8 iron, or 7 iron (for example - longer irons and
hybrids can also be used) and you toe the club down until the club shaft is at the same angle your putter shaft aligns
at address. Since the club has loft, once the club is toe down the clubface will be aimed open, therefore you need to
close the clubface down until it is actual square. It may look closed from the address view, however it is actually
square because the lofted club is toed down and then closed up to a square position. Once the club is aligned
properly you take hold of the club and make a putting stroke with it. Once again the golfer uses the "Roll-Hole"
swing saying. In this case the shot is lofted into the air slightly and then lands on the ground some 25% of the way
to the hole, then rolls the rest of the 75% of the way to the hole.
When the golfer has played enough "Roll-Hole" strokes with an iron he transitions to a Gap Wedge or Pitching
Wedge and plays some 50-50 shots. The 50-50 shot is what we call a tossing shot in the New Horizons Golf
Approach. This is because the golfer uses the image of tossing the ball to the hole with the golf club much like he
would do so with his hand. For this shot he may use "Toss-Hole" as his swing saying. Without going into detail, the
golfer must find the ball position and the proper lofted wedge so that when he executes a tossing type stroke the ball
lands on a spot 50% of the way to the hole and rolls the rest of the way to the hole.
When the golfer has played enough "Toss-Hole" shots he transitions to a Sandwedge or Lob Wedge to play the
75-25 shot. The 75-25 shot is called the clipping shot in the New Horizons Golf Approach. This is because the
golfer uses the leading edge of the clubface to clip the bottom of the ball and the grass at the same time. By
aligning the leading edge, clubface, and shaft angle so that the clubface can precisely clip the bottom of the ball
cleaning, a lot of spin is created and the shot can be lofted into the air and flown 75% of the way to the hole. Upon
landing it checks, skips, and the rolls the rest of the way to the hole. This shot is used widely by touring
professionals and top amateurs. It scares the average golfer at first, however those New Horizons Golfers and
amateurs that have tried it find it is a very valuable and accessible shot to play. For this shot the golfer may use
"Clip-Hole" as his swing-saying.
When the golfer has played enough "Clip-Hole" shots he transitions to a more lofted Sandwedge or Lob Wedge to
play what the New Horizons Golf Approach calls a Cut-Under shot. It is called the cut-under shot because the golfer
adds a significant amount of loft to the address alignment of the wedge and proceeds to make a stroke that cuts a
little divot right out from under the ball. This action lofts the ball more vertically into the air in such a manner that it
lands softly and stops very quickly. Upon landing the ball either hoops and stops, or simply stops with very little roll
out. This shot is commonly called the Flop Shot, or Lob Shot. The New Horizons Golfer playing the shot may simply
as "Cut-Hole" as his swing saying. Many New Horizons Golfer's say "Cut-Under" because it precisely describes what
the stroke is intended to accomplish.
With these short game shots in mind the progression of shots in the short game proceeds from "Roll-Hole" putting
to "Roll-Hole" putting with an iron, to "Toss-Hole" shots with a wedge, to "Clip-Hole" a lofted wedge, to "Cut-Hole"
shots with the most lofted wedge. Once the golfer transitions beyond the short game into the partial wedge shots
the golf can build on either the "tossing" action, the "clipping" action, or the "cutting" action.
For example, if the golfer is going to stick with "tossing" she may start with "toss-hole" shots and move up to
"small-toss" shots. For most golfers a "small-toss" will travel further than a "toss-hole" action. For example,
"toss-hole" shots will generally be played within 10 feet of the edge of the green while "small-toss" action will be
played out to about 30 feet from the edge of the green. When the golfer has played enough "small-toss" shots she
can move up to "mid-toss" shots. These "mid-toss" shots will be played when the ball is in a position 30-60 feet from
the edge of the green. When a golfer has played enough "mid-toss" shots she can move up to "large-toss" shots.
These "large-toss" shots will be played when the ball is in a position 60-90 feet from the edge of the green. Here we
can imagine a basic progression of tossing shots from "toss-hole" to "small-toss" to "mid-toss" to "large-toss." Keep
in mind that all of these shots are played with roll-out in mind. If you want the shots to stop quicker you would need
to play clipping versions or cutting versions.
Beyond large tosses, the New Horizons Golfer develops a swing-toss, swing-swing, and swing-finish action to
complete the process of playing progressive wedge shots. "Swing-toss" shots are played with a little swing in the
backstroke with a tossing action in the forward stroke. These shots are generally used in the 30-60 yard range.
"Swing-swing" shots are played with a little swing in the backstroke and a little swing in the forward stroke. They are
generally played in the 60-90 yard range. "Swing-Finish" is the first stroke that reaches the basic finish position and
it is what New Horizons Golfers call the control shot. In the scenario discuss above it would be played 100 yards.
Notice how each saying in the progressive process sounds larger than the preceding saying. Since it sounds
larger, it will produce a shot that flies further. This is the beauty of the progressive process, the swing-sayings
encourage the action and the actions produce a series of shots that are predictable and progressive in nature. The
key for each golfer is finding the swing-saying that encourage the proper actions. Though we may all speak the
same language, we perceive the meaning of the language differently and therefore we need to find our own
applications in order to find a workable process. Using a swing-saying is an application and therefore we need to
customize the swing-sayings to our own particular needs.
Once the golfer is ready to progress beyond the partial shots the process continues by choosing words that
encourage more powerful actions. The golfer may simply say "Turn-Finish" to play a shot further than the
"Swing-Finish" action does. "Turn-Finish" strokes would be very appropriate for the standard shot played with 9, 8,
& 7 irons. If this is the case he might say "Coil-Finish" with the 6, 5, & 4 irons. Golfers intuitively believe they need
to do more with the longer clubs in order to produce a more powerful shot. Therefore saying "Coil-Finish" will match
this intuitive perception. When it comes to Hybrids and Woods they require a more sweeping action, therefore the
golfer might say "Sweep-Finish." The word sweep encourages a sweeping action, however it also is a longer word
and takes longer to say, so it encourages a longer stroke; something that is appropriate intuitively for the longest
clubs.
Now, some people do better with 3 words with the more full shots and some people do better with 4 words. A 3
word progression might be "Swing-Turn-Finish" for the 9, 8, & 7 irons, "Turn-Turn-Finish" for the 6, 5, & 4 irons, and
"Turn-Sweep-Finish" for the sweeping clubs. A 4 word progression might be "Swing-Back Swing-Finish" for the 9, 8,
& 7 irons, "Swing-Back Turn-Finish" for the 6, 5, & 4 irons, and "Turn-Back Sweep-Finish" for the sweeping clubs.
Whatever the case, notice the progressive nature of using swing-sayings in this manner.
Once again, each of you can find your own progressive pattern with your own progressive set of swing-sayings.
The value in it, as all New Horizons Golfers find out, is that you are simply building on a single shot pattern. Instead
of learning a whole array of different shots, you are learning a pattern of shots that are built upon the same
foundation and simply get larger at the occasion is needed. We encourage all of you to take the time to find your
own progressive pattern of shots, a pattern you can depend upon under the gun when playing on the golf course
either in competition or for fun.
All these shots, and the progressive nature of the shot patterns are discussed throughout the New Horizons Golf
Approach books. However, 5 of the Pocket Coach books are dedicated specifically to playing these shots. Pocket
Coaches volumes 9, 10, 11, and 12 are specifically organized to discuss the progressive nature of the shot patterns
from putting to playing the woods. Pocket Coach volume 5 shows a specific application for stacking power and
playing a pattern of shots that vary in trajectory and power output. You can view these books on the publications
page of this website. They are also located to the right side of this page. If you want a brief overview of what is in
each book, simply click on the icon below each book that matches the name of the book.
Good luck, and go out there and find your shots!!
Copyright 2006 Ed Tischler / New Horizons Golf Approach. All rights reserved.
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If you have any questions regarding New Horizons Golf Approach please contact Ed Tischler at (408)203-7599, or email your questions to Ed Tischler newhorizonsgolfer@yahoo.com. |
| New Horizons Golf Approach I n n o v a t i v e C o a c h i n g F o r G o l f e r s |
Listed Below are a Series of Books that discuss the topics of playing the shots needed in the game of golf: |
The 4 Pocket Coaches listed below specifically cover the shots need to play golf: |
Pocket Coaches 2 & 5 listed below discuss progressive shots of the long game: |
If you are either a beginner, a recreational golfer, or an avid golfer who is still searching
to discover the game's true fundamentals you can find these fundamentals along with
establishing a progressive shot pattern in the two full length books listed below:
to discover the game's true fundamentals you can find these fundamentals along with
establishing a progressive shot pattern in the two full length books listed below:
All the New Horizons Golf Approach publications are self-published by Edward A.
Tischler II. If you are interested in purchasing any of them please e-mail your
request to E.A. Tischler at newhorizonsgolfer@yahoo.com.. Pricing & additional
information can be found on the publications page of this website.
Tischler II. If you are interested in purchasing any of them please e-mail your
request to E.A. Tischler at newhorizonsgolfer@yahoo.com.. Pricing & additional
information can be found on the publications page of this website.