approach shot
- noun
- /əˈproʊtʃ ʃɑt/
- Specialized
- The golfer's approach shot rolled smoothly onto the green, setting him up for an easy putt.
- hit approach shots
- short approach shot
- long approach shot
Examples
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The two old friends have lost everything except a golf club, a pitching wedge they both use on approach shots. Everything else is gone: houses, wives, kids, possessions, golf shoes, golf bag—poof! Since they have only one ball left, they take turns shooting.
Fiction book (1996) -
I'll hit a beautiful tee shot and then shank the approach shot into the trees.
Blog text (34) -
A beautiful, beautiful approach shot.
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His approach shot sliced into the woods...
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Following your approach shot to the green, make sure you scan the area for a divot and take the time to fix it.
Blog text (8) -
But he'd been a little long with that approach shot, had to settle for a two-putt, and had finished with a five.
Fiction book (2001) -
On the 18th hole, her approach shot went left of the green and rolled up against a fence that marked the out-of-bounds.
Blog text (1) -
Traditional square tee boxes give the course a classic feel, and large landing areas and subtly elevated greens emphasize approach shot values.
Blog text (9) -
You've left your approach shot in that dreaded greenside bunker.
Blog text (32) -
There is also the alternative theory that with the greens expected to be fast, players will need to generate considerable spin to hold their approach shots, which will continue to put a premium on drives landing in the fairway.
Blog text (23)
Synonyms
An attempt to score in a sport, for example throwing a heavy ball in shot put
A movement that brings something closer to a target
A low short shot in golf that runs toward the hole
A swing of a golf club to hit the ball
A short low golf shot that makes the ball run along the ground toward the hole
A high, short golf shot that lands softly near the hole
How Close
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'approach shot' is compositionally built from 'approach' (closing distance) + 'shot' (an attempt in sport), so its meaning — a shot intended to approach the green — is directly derivable from the constituents. This noun+noun sports collocation follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words (or the basic golf context).
Etymology
Approach shot is a golf term that paints a simple picture: approach means to come near and shot is a hit of the ball, so a short approach shot is played to land the ball on the green close to the hole. That's why it means 'a short shot intended to land the ball on the putting green'.