Throughout the course of a round, golfers face a variety of shots from different lies and lengths. Each situation is different as well, with varying difficulty and pressure. Beginning and intermediate golfers especially struggle with choosing the correct club, iron or wood. Selecting the right shot, and pulling the correct club, can make all the difference in your score.
Woods Off the Tee
On par-4 and par-5 holes, unless there is severe trouble on the hole in the form of water hazards or out of bounds --- or you are struggling mightily with your swing --- the driver wood is going to be your best option. Tee shots are meant to launch the ball as far as possible to give you the shortest approach shot to the green. A majority of the time, shots with a 9-iron or pitching wedge from the rough will land closer to the hole than 6-irons from the fairway. So don't be afraid to pound the ball off the tee with your wood.
Second Shot Option
Sometimes your second shots will require the choice of a wood or an iron. If you have 225 yards or farther remaining to the hole, odds are that a wood is the correct play. If that hole is a par-5, don't hesitate to pull the wood and try to reach the green. Green side chip shots are a lot easier to pitch close to the hole than 60-yard wedge shots as the result of a lay-up. Irons provide useful from 200 yards and in. An average amateur will use long irons to attack shots of this length.
Approaching the Green
Most golfers with average swing speeds will use iron shots for anything inside 200 yards. A good rule of thumb for non-professionals is to practice with your 7-iron and determine how far you hit that club. Then, estimate the yardages you hit other clubs by adding or subtracting 10 yards. This is a standard distance gap between irons. For instance, if your 7-iron travels 150 yards in the air, it is safe to assume your 8-iron will be in the 140-yard range and your 9-iron will fly 130. If you have the time, practice each club individually to obtain specific yardages.
Trouble Shots
Woods and irons can be used for trouble shots in the trees. Woods have less loft and are used for shots needing extreme curvature. If you are faced with a tree or other obstacle blocking your path to the hole, and have practiced with hooks and slices, pull that wood and attempt to move the ball around the obstacle. Irons are good for punching out and keeping the ball low under trees. The iron face is much easier to keep closed than a wood face. Swing slowly, de-loft the club face and get your ball back into the fairway.
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