Golf shot tips are different than golf swing tips. Shot tips are all about the ability to adapt to lies, control ball flight and get the golf ball to do what you want it to do. It doesn’t matter if you are a scratch golfer or a 25 handicap. These shot tips could be what make or break your next round of golf. These are simple, practical adjustments to help you play better and smarter golf.

How to hit off a downslope

Downslope lies around the green can turn even simple chips into disasters. The key is learning how to match your body to the slope so you don’t chunk or blade it.

Ball Position: Move it back in your stance. Weight: Stay forward, don’t fall back or try to help it in the air. Shoulders/Hips: Tilt to match the slope so you can swing with it. Club choice: Use more loft than usual, a 60-degree wedge instead of a 56 offsets the lower launch. Swing thought: Low finish, clip the ball and let it run.

This shot comes out lower but more consistently once you know how to set up for it.

Learn to set the clubface square at setup

Before adjusting your swing path or ball position, ensure the face is aligned correctly. An open or misaligned clubface at address ruins your shot before you even take the club back. Don’t just align your feet; make sure the clubface is pointing where you want the ball to start.

Set the face square and then place your hands on the club. Some golfers twist the face shut or open it as they grip it.

A square face gives you the freedom to rotate through the ball and compress it without needing compensations. A lot of fat shots, slices and pulls start with a bad clubface angle, not a bad swing.

Know how to add or reduce spin on wedge shots

Not every wedge shot needs to zip back. Sometimes you want it to release and roll towards the hole after it lands. Controlling spin can help you play to the situation you are in. Here are the adjustments you can make to your golf shot to add or take away spin:

To add spin:

Place the ball back in stance Use a high-loft, high-spin wedge (e.g., 58°) Swing with a steeper angle for cleaner contact and more friction

To take spin off:

Ball slightly forward in the stance Use a lower-lofted wedge (e.g., 52°) Shallower swing, more sweep, less friction, more rollout

Master your trajectory window

Can you hit each of your clubs different heights? Great players can take the same club and hit a high, medium and low shot. The good news is that this is not all that difficult to do if you know the basic adjustments to make. Try testing this and learning it with something like a 7-iron and then you can expand from there.

Trajectory	Ball Position	Follow Through	Shaft Lean
High	Front foot	Full/high	Minimal
Mid	Center	Standard	Slight lean
Low	Back foot	Short/low	Strong forward lean

Make adjustments to your bunker swing based on the lie

If you use the same bunker swing for every lie, you’re in trouble. Adjusting to the slope changes everything. Analyze the lie that you have in the bunker and make the following adjustments to your swing:

Uphill lie: Use less loft (like a 52-degree wedge) because the slope already helps launch the ball. Set your weight slightly forward but let your upper body tilt with the slope. Release the club naturally and follow the incline. Downhill lie: Use your highest loft (like a 60-degree wedge). Keep weight forward, ball centered and swing with a steep angle of attack. Limit your follow-through and focus on a controlled, low-energy release. Wet sand lie: Use a slightly open face and extra speed through the ball. Keep the club moving, don’t decelerate. Focus on hitting behind the ball and letting the bounce do the work through the heavy, damp sand. Fried-egg lie: Square the face or even close it slightly. Dig in steeply with a firm, committed swing. You’re trying to pop the ball out, not float it so don’t be afraid of a short, aggressive chop.

Final thoughts

Give these golf shot tips a try and see if they help you become a better ball striker. You don’t always have to make swing changes to get better at golf.

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