What's your signature odd shot?

[dubbelbogey]

One of the cool things about golf is how so many different styles (in technique, athleticism, course management, etc...) can all get it done.

 

I've noticed over the years there are some pretty unconventional shots out there that still get it done.

 

Mine? My bunt drive. I hit full, conventional driver the vast majority of the time. However, I have in my back pocket a lower speed version that I can use when I need to hit a shorter, narrower target. Lots of players use a 3W for this, but I've never gotten along with a 3W. I've always been more reliable taking advantage of that huge driver face, but with a reduced energy swing. It's almost like hitting partial distance pitch shots, but with my driver.

 

Would I recommend this to others? Not a chance. It's pretty darn unconventional and I've been playing with this shot and practicing it for years. It's just too odd to have any confidence to tell others to give it a try without some significant practice themselves.

 

However, it is my odd shot.

 

What's yours?

[Gilbertc13]

My signature is missing the fairway left into the trees and hitting a 60 yard punch hook to the green or just short. It’s reliable. I don’t like to admit that I have a snap hook on command, but I have a snap hook on command

[oikos1]

Bunt drive isn't that odd. How far do you hit your bunt drive in relation to a standard drive?

[dicko999]

Backwards one handed chip. I screw around with it in the back yard once in awhile and it has saved me on the course on occasion.

[Mcgeeno]

I have tried for years to reduce my in to out path and have slowly gotten closer to neutral or a fade.

 

BUT when the pressure is on and the chips are down you can guarantee I'll be slinging a big hooded hook into the green.

 

As a funny example to how big and well known my hook is at the course I play, the guy I had to battle in the match play semi-final two years ago was a wily old veteran golfer who is also the head greenskeeper. Solid player.

 

Right before we tee off for our match he said he put as many flags front left as he possibly could for our match LOL! (I'm a lefty). There was not a single flag on the right side of the green that day! (Yes I know this is shady and probably against the integrity of the sport but it was mostly a funny a joke I was not upset in any way)

[skraly]

One of the cool things about golf is how so many different styles (in technique, athleticism, course management, etc...) can all get it done.

 

I've noticed over the years there are some pretty unconventional shots out there that still get it done.

 

Mine? My bunt drive. I hit full, conventional driver the vast majority of the time. However, I have in my back pocket a lower speed version that I can use when I need to hit a shorter, narrower target. Lots of players use a 3W for this, but I've never gotten along with a 3W. I've always been more reliable taking advantage of that huge driver face, but with a reduced energy swing. It's almost like hitting partial distance pitch shots, but with my driver.

 

Would I recommend this to others? Not a chance. It's pretty darn unconventional and I've been playing with this shot and practicing it for years. It's just too odd to have any confidence to tell others to give it a try without some significant practice themselves.

 

However, it is my odd shot.

 

What's yours?

My most reliable shot is a 175 yd. skulled wedge. Although I don't really recommend it.

[nowitski41]

Funny you should mention it. Yesterday we had a 195 par 3 against the wind. Elevated green so needed to carry it about 210-215 against the wind. My SS is around 95-97 and usually roll out to 230-250 depending on conditions. Choked up 1 inch and took a super smooth driver. 5 footer uphiller. The guys made fun of me for pulling driver but you should have seen their faces when the ball was in the air and never left the pin and landed nice and soft due to the wind just like I called it. All 3 of them were short and off the green. Wicked right to left......missed the damn putt but took the greenie though. I use the bunt drive on short par 4s and very long par 3s.

[Pigems]

You get some pretty odd looks when you flip your putter over and putt with the toe when stuck on the edge between the rough and the fringe. It works great though. :)

[dcfas]

A four iron punch shot is one of the best shots in my bag. I can get out of most any patch with it, and at this point can judge distance and run-out from under a hundred yards up to full distance. I can hook it or slice it dramatically as well. The skill comes with being in the trees too often (sigh).

[Moo]

"The Seve" escape from the edge of the devil grass, in two versions...standing and Kneeling. Basically it's an almost vertical drop on top of the ball and what seems to interest people is the velocity I can get moving the ball forward. It's a shot I've practiced for years and years, largely because I find myself on the edge of the forest or the hazard or whatever more often than I'd like.

 

I usually use an 8 or a 56. The trick is to stand and lean or kneel and lean far enough so the limited swing will not hit the weeds but still cleanly catch the back of the ball. And I swing down hard. 4 outta 5, and maybe more, that ball will shoot out like a rocket on the intended line.

 

It seems to amaze some people and I've gotten a lot of comments after doing it.

 

Of course when it doesn't work it's really bad, as I may have just driven the ball below the turf.

[NEhomer]

This year I joined a nice private course which means deep rough off the fringe of the greens. I've developed a reliable, consistent shot to deal with the short shot around the green out of deep rough.

 

I play the ball well back of my rear foot and reach back with my Reid Lockheart 60 degree wedge. The hit to the ball is very steep and it seems that the ball comes out very predictably with a nice firm swing that doesn't get caught up in the grass.

 

It's saved me many times.

[GolfTurkey]

Many years ago I had a putter that must have had a lot of loft. There was hardpan under the trees on my old course and I used to love taking a full rip at it with the putter.

 

With a balata it was perfect for starting low under the trees and then rising up.

[GMR]

Thin sliced 8/9i approach. Comes in super low with a ton of check, about 15yds short of my normal distance. But somehow if the swing isn't clicking that day this is a shot that is repeatable under pressure and I've played for the shot on a good number of occasions (one more club, aim left) with surprisingly good results.

[Warrick]

the 7i punch shot, also have been playing bunkers really well lately, which is odd, short game is suspect.....

[rich_s2]

I play a 9i from 30 yards with a hard putting stroke that I hit dead on line and its a one hop stop. How it does that with a putting stroke is beyond me and most of the guys I play with. 30 is my max with it though.

[mcs4]

I have an odd-looking shot I use for getting out of hard/firm/wet/ill-maintained bunkers that do not allow for traditional sand shots, which I developed out of necessity for playing at my local muni growing up. I take a lower lofted wedge (PW or GW), choke down to the steel, lock the my right arm to my ribs with the elbow more or less resting at the hip, and make a swing where my right arm stays locked to my side and hip as they turn. I'm sure it looks funny, but this shot seems to produce very repeatable depth and allows me to pick the ball cleanly out with a bit of sand much more often than not.

[b.mattay]

I have two:

 

1.) The 40 yard sliced 3 wood from 100 yards out of the trees.

2.) Driver off the deck on tight holes

[CaddiesFault]

I have a buddy who is a +3 with 6 club championships over a few different golf clubs who hits a great bunt driver. Nice shot that i wish i had. Im no more accurate with it than my normal driver, it just goes 20yds shorter...

 

Mine is the stinger/punch shot. Preferably a cut stinger a la tiger but i can hit the draw too, which is easier to keep low but harder to control the amount of sidespin. Its a shot that i can repeat easily for whatever reason. I'll use it on 2nd shot of a par 5 i cant reach, after errant tee shots, and most notably the shot below:

 

I have a 16* hybrid on a 2 iron shaft that is my version of the bunt driver. My cut stinger with that club travels 220-225 off a tee at a 5* launch angle, and roll depends on fairway dryness.

 

 

Also, the flop shot, although it isnt that uncommon anymore. Short game has always been my strength, and im never afraid to open up the face and let one fly!

[gatorpedsMD]

bunt driver here too! can get it out there 240-270....

 

also I like to hit bunker style shots around the green when the lie looks really crappy..... def. is more reliable than trying to hit it clean...

[PowderedToastMan]

Quick background: I’m a plus handicap and hit mostly straight shots or fades...

 

Except when I need to hit a fairway, I aim about 50 yards left of the fairway (I’m a lefty), and sling hook it with a 3 wood or hybrid. The guys I’m playing with always get confused by the shot, because I’ve probably hit a fade on every tee box up until that point, sometimes quite prominent fades of 20+ yards. It works, but it’s 100% mental and I’d be happy if I never hit the shot again, but I always do. I should put a shottracer up here showing the shape. It puts Bubba to shame.

[ThinkingPlus]

I hit a stinger with the driver on tight driving holes especially when wind is involved. Developed the shot this summer to deal with the 18th at my local course. Overhanging trees down the right side, lake down the left side, fairway slopes right to left, tee boxes slope right to left, and wind is into from the right (10 - 20 or worse). Fairway is 25 yards wide in the prime landing zone. I tee the ball very low, stay on top of the ball, and drive it low and hard hopefully down the middle. Still not easy or perfected, but I am working on it.

[DavePelz4]

Definitely the cut shank.

[sdandrea]

The 200 yard bladed sand wedge that travels on a rope about 5" off the turf is one of my accidental go-to shots. My on-purpose one has to be my bump and run from inside 50 yards that rolls onto the green and sometimes within one-putt range.

[deadsolid...shank]

Definitely the cut shank.

 

Chili Peppers up VNutz’s...................??

[MtlJeff]

I don't take divots with any club, even wedges. It's a fairly odd thing i think, i do get comments on it every now and then

 

The upside of this is i am the greatest fairway bunker player you will ever meet.

 

Another upside is if needed i don't hesitate to play shots off of cart paths. I did this in our club championship this year. Hit the green from 163 with an 8 iron without leaving a mark.

[deadsolid...shank]

I don't take divots with any club, even wedges. It's a fairly odd thing i think, i do get comments on it every now and then

 

The upside of this is i am the greatest fairway bunker player you will ever meet.

 

Another upside is if needed i don't hesitate to play shots off of cart paths. I did this in our club championship this year. Hit the green from 163 with an 8 iron without leaving a mark.

 

And your clubs should stay very clean too!