Your shot selection is important. Choose from the following:
Approach: This shot sets up 1/2 to 3/4 pitch/chip swing with various wedges for a maximum distance of 60 yards. This shot selection is useful for short to medium range shots that need precision to place the ball onto the green with minimal roll.
Punch: This shot type gives the ball a low, boring flight trajectory. Because it travels less distance in the air, it minimizes the effects of wind and thereby leaves more room for roll after the ball hits the ground. This is a good shot for hitting under a tree or into a strong headwind.
Flop: This shot type gives the ball a higher trajectory and less roll. It is only available with your wedges. The maximum distance is 50 yards. This shot is used mostly to fly over obstacles like bunkers, bushes, or trees or shots that need loft to sit on the green and stick.
Hint: Bag editing:
Editing your bag can help you in tougher situations. Some players like to carry all four wedges to get more precision around the green, while others like to carry a plethora of woods or long irons to ensure they have the correct club when going for the green. Find out which clubs work best for you -- these may be different depending on the course you play.
Hint: All eighteen clubs in your bag:
This trick requires two steps. First, go to a scenario and edit your golfer. Go to "Edit Clubs" and replace your 3I, 9I, PW, and LW with your 5W, 7W, 1I, and AW. Back out and continue with the scenario. Once the scenario starts, quit. Second, after quitting the scenario, restart the scenario and re-edit your golfer. Go to the "Edit Clubs" screen, but do not change anything. The screen will indicate that you are missing your 5W, 7W, 1I, and AW, but you are not. Back out of editing your golfer and start the scenario. All eighteen clubs are now in your bag. If you quit the scenario, all clubs will remain in your bag for whatever game mode you choose to go to next.
Hint: Stats to 105:
Defeat Super Tiger Woods on his "Dream 18" in the Tiger Challenge. He will reward you with his clubs, which allow for maxing out all stats to 105.
Hint: Control backswing height:
When in between distances, slowly press the Analog-stick Down, but keep it from hitting the top (or full down position). Notice that you will be able to control the height of your backswing (which ultimately sets your power). Learn where your 50% and 75% marks are.
Hint: Aiming marker:
The Aiming marker is the most important HUD component in the game. This tells you the distance out your aiming marker is. When using the D-pad to zoom in or out, note that your clubs change as you move through the respective distances. For more precision on half-shots, use the R1 or R2 buttons to change in club intervals. Pay close attention to the percentage indicator as well. This is the percentage out you are of the club you have that you have selected.
Hint: Tap-ins:
Hit the ball close to the hole where you can get a tap-in. When your player is tapping it in, push the "Replay" button until it replays your shot before that. If done correctly, it will take a stoke off of what you got. For example, if you tap it in on 5 it will only count 4 strokes.
Hint: Lower putts:
Use the following trick to lower the number of putts you take per round. The game allows you to use your wedges to do approach shots, even while you are on the green. Get close to the hole, take out your lob wedge, and do an approach shot. This is also an easy way to get $6,000 for each hole. Do that for every hole and you can earn $108,000., which is more than most of the tournaments will give you for first place.
Hint: Putting:
When you have a long putt, move the pointer to where it says you will hit a little back. You will make it within a foot or sink it. If you keep the old pointer, you will not make it or come even close.
Hint: Black Grove Cave: Getting to the green in one on a par 5:
Go to stroke play and choose the Black Grove Cave course. Go to custom holes. Choose only hole 13. Bomb it over the "cliff" directly in front of you. It should bounce on the rock on the bottom and roll right to the green. Note: This is easier if you put Mulligans on and have a golfer that can hit at least 310 yards.
