5 Shots Every Golfer Needs

As much as we’d all like to be able to execute everything in the coaching manual, certain shots are a little out of reach for most club golfers.

- By Katie Dawkins. Photographs by Tom Miles

However, even tour pros have the odd gap in their armoury, be it a Phil Mickelson-style flop shot or a towering draw. Nice to have, sure, but essential?

There are, however, certain shots every golfer needs to be able to hit in order to make putting a score together easier. Over the following pages, Top 50 Coach Katie Dawkins demonstrates five key shots that will boost your tee-to-green performance and help you plot your way round the course with greater confidence.

1 Power fade

This is a fantastic shot to be able to call upon, especially if you’re inconsistent with the big stick. Start by opening your stance, and tee it down a touch more than normal. This way you won’t get underneath the ball too much; it keeps the height off the shot by encouraging the club to stay more level with the ground through impact, forcing you to hold off your release and welcome that fade. I like to feel the club moving away from the body, slightly outside the line. Really feel that you’re creating width with the first move away from the ball.

Note how I really unwind and rotate my body, and I hold off my finish at the end of the swing. Aiming to finish in this position will keep the face open a touch longer, helping with that desired shot shape. In fact, this is a great swing thought once you’ve taken your set-up. I find it helps to let the shot just happen.

Trust your swing

It’s called a power fade, but that doesn’t mean throwing yourself at the ball. Allow the subtle tweaks you’ve made to do the job.

2 Taking distance off