What strategy should be used for approach shots and putting in golf?
The best strategy for approach shots and putting in golf is to aim for a specific area rather than the flag, consistently choose the simplest possible shot based on the lie and distance, and then read the slope of the green before putting to avoid leaving a first putt too long. This risk management approach reduces lost strokes far more effectively than technique alone.
Expert advice: Before each approach, ask yourself what shot you would play if you absolutely had to avoid a bad result rather than aim for the best possible result.
On a course like that of the The Belvédère Annecy Golf Course, On hilly and technical courses, it's observed that the golfers who progress the fastest aren't necessarily those who hit the longest shots, but those who know how to choose the right shot at the right time between the approach and the putting green. This article details a simple method, applicable from your next round, to transform every situation around the green into an opportunity to save a stroke rather than lose it.
Why strategy for approaches matters more than technique around green
On a typical golf course, more than half of the shots played are within 50 meters of the flag. Therefore, the majority of the score is determined around the green – on the approach shots and the putting – well before the driving.
Two golfers with the same skill level can post very different scores simply because one makes better decisions: avoiding high-risk shots when unnecessary, and sometimes accepting a simple bogey rather than attempting a feat that turns into a double bogey. This is precisely the principle of "course management" applied to the short game: strategy doesn't replace technique, it maximizes its effectiveness.
Analyze the situation before playing your approach
Before even taking out a club, three things must be checked systematically. It's a quick checklist, which can be automated in seconds on the course.
- The bed Is the ball lying on short grass, in thick rough, downhill or uphill? A bad lie immediately limits the possible shot options.
- The distance to the flag and the available distance on the green : the deeper the green is in front of the ball, the more you can favor a rolling shot that lets the ball roll.
- The position of the flag : a flag close to the edge of the green or just behind an obstacle imposes a larger safety margin than usual.
This situation analysis, done before choosing the club, avoids the most frequent mistake among amateur golfers: taking out the same club for the same distance without taking the context into account.
Choosing the right approach based on the level of risk
Once the situation has been analyzed, the question becomes: what type of shot minimizes the risk while still giving a real chance of getting closer to the flag? Three families of shots cover almost all situations around the green.
| Type of blow | When to play it | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| Bump and run approach | Clean lie, no obstruction between the ball and the green | Weak |
| Chip (short lift) | A small obstacle to overcome, few greens available | AVERAGE |
| Pitch (higher lift) | Shallow green, flag nearby, obstacle to clear | Higher |
The most useful strategic rule here is simple: in equivalent situations, always favor the shot with the fewest technical challenges. A bump-and-run approach shot, played with a mid-iron like a putter, requires less precision than a pitch shot that needs to land in a specific area. This is why the best players choose the most "boring" shot possible whenever the situation allows.
The golden rule: aim for an area, not the flag
This is arguably the most beneficial change in mindset for a golfer looking to lower their score: stop aiming for the flag on every approach shot. On most greens, aiming for the center or a 4- to 5-meter area around the flag significantly reduces the risk of ending up in a bunker, thick rough, or off the green.
This approach shot strategy has a direct and often underestimated effect on the subsequent putting: a first putt of 4 meters, even if missed, generally leaves a short and easy second putt. Conversely, an overly ambitious approach shot that fails frequently leaves a tricky chip, much harder to convert into a two-shot putt. Aiming for a zone rather than a specific target means accepting a slightly longer putt to eliminate the risk of a much more costly missed shot.
Putting strategy: read the green before you play
Once on the green, the strategy doesn't stop: it simply changes scale. Before putting, three quick reads help avoid most speed and line errors.
First, observe the overall slope of the green from several angles, not just from the ball. Next, locate the highest point between the ball and the hole: the ball will always eventually "break" there. Finally, assess the green's speed that day—a fast green in the morning after fresh mowing won't roll like a denser green in the late afternoon.
Expert advice: The number one strategic priority in putting remains mastering distance rather than the exact line. A slightly off-center putt but at the right speed will stop close to the hole; a well-oriented putt but too hard or too short creates a needless second putt.
Prioritizing distance control on the practice range, before line reading, is the most reliable method for reducing your number of putts over 18 holes. Belvedere practice has a training green that is ideal for repeating this exercise.
Combining approach and putting: the logic of "up and down"«
The strategy around the green should never completely separate the approach and the putting: they are two shots linked by a single objective, the "up and down" — succeeding in putting the ball in the hole in only two shots from the edges of the green.
In practical terms, this means that the choice of approach shot must always anticipate the putt that will follow. A player who consistently favors a bump-and-run approach over a risky pitch shot, even if it results in a slightly longer putt, statistically achieves more "up and down" shots over a full season. It is this holistic view—approach and putting as a single, two-step process—that distinguishes a true green strategy from a mere succession of isolated shots.
Practice the strategy for approaches, not just the technique.
Most golfers spend the driving range repeating the same shot from the same spot, which only develops technique. To truly improve their strategy, they need to recreate decision-making situations, not just perform mechanical repetitions.
A simple exercise involves standing at ten different locations around a practice green, each with a different lie, distance, and pin position, and then forcing yourself to announce aloud your chosen shot and the reason for your choice before playing it. This verbalization forces you to apply the analytical method rather than playing automatically, and it quickly reveals personal biases: some golfers overuse the pitch shot out of reflex, while others systematically avoid the long putt due to a lack of confidence.
A second useful exercise focuses on putting alone: play ten putts of very different lengths (2, 5, 8, 12 meters) concentrating solely on the distance, without worrying about sinking the ball. The goal is for each ball to stop within a one-meter zone around the hole. It is this skill, more than line reading, that leads to a lasting reduction in the number of putts per round.
Adapt your strategy according to your skill level
The right strategy is not the same for a beginner and for an experienced player, and that is often where the mistake lies: copying the strategy of a low-handicap player without having the same level of contact control.
A beginner or a high-handicap player should limit the number of different shot types around the green as much as possible: mastering a single reliable chip shot yields more results over a season than trying to juggle chip, pitch, and explosive shots without sufficient practice. Conversely, a more experienced player can afford to expand their repertoire of shots, provided they continue to apply the same basic rule: choose the safest shot that fits the situation, never the most impressive one.
Common strategic errors around the green
Certain errors recur very regularly, regardless of the level of play, and they are almost all related to decision-making rather than execution.
- Aim systematically at the flag instead of a safe zone.
- Choosing a technically risky shot (high pitch) when a roll approach would have sufficed.
- Neglecting to read the green before putting, relying solely on instinct.
- Focusing on the putting line while forgetting to work on the distance.
- Changing strategy based on the pressure of the moment rather than the actual situation.
Becoming aware of these patterns is often enough to correct half of them on the very next outing. To progress faster, the’Belvedere Golf School offers personalized support for these game situations, directly on the course.
Table of Contents - What strategy for approaches and putting in golf?
Conclusion: The strategy for approaches is a decision before a move
The strategy for approach shots and putting in golf rests on a principle that is simple to remember but difficult to apply under pressure: analyze the situation before choosing the shot, consistently favor the safest option, aim for areas rather than specific targets, and think of the approach and putt as a single, two-step strategic movement. As the definition of A little golf game on Wikipedia, This phase of the game takes place in the immediate vicinity of the green and concentrates a disproportionate part of the final score — it therefore deserves at least equal attention to that given to the long game.
To make faster progress in these situations, nothing replaces personalized support: the’Belvedere Golf School offers courses adapted to all levels to work concretely on decision-making around the green, on the real course rather than in theory.
FAQ: What strategy should I use for approach shots and putting in golf?
Should you always aim for the flag when approaching?
No. Except in very favorable situations (perfect lie, accessible flag, little danger), it is almost always more profitable to aim for a wide area around the flag rather than the flag itself, to limit the risk of a costly missed shot.
What is the priority to work on first in putting, the line or the distance?
Distance. A putt with the right speed but slightly off-center ends up close to the hole; a putt that is well-oriented but poorly judged in distance often leaves a second, avoidable putt.
How do you know which approach shot to choose on the course?
By observing, in order, the lie of the ball, the available distance of the green between the ball and the flag, and the presence of any hazards to overcome, the simplest shot that meets these three criteria is almost always the right choice.
What is "up and down" in golf?
It's the ability to get the ball in the hole in just two shots from the edge of the green: an approach shot followed by a single putt. It's the benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of your short game strategy.
Does putting strategy change depending on the speed of the green?
Yes. A fast green requires a more restrained shot and a more careful reading of the slope, while a slower green requires a more decisive putt to avoid letting the ball fall short of the slope line.
