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What Are Smokies? (Golf Term Explained)

ByMichael Reeves

← Golf Lifestyle & Culture | Golf Media & Entertainment


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Quick Answer

  • A “smokie” in golf is a low, running shot designed to hug the turf.
  • It’s your go-to when the wind is up or you’ve got a tricky lie.
  • Think of it as a controlled ground-and-pound for your golf ball.

Who This Is For

  • Golfers who want to add a versatile, low-risk shot to their arsenal.
  • Players who frequently deal with windy conditions or tight lies off the fairway.

What to Check First

  • Your Lie: Is the ball sitting up nicely, or is it nestled down in thick rough or a tight fairway? A smokie is best from a clean, tight lie where you can hit down on it. If it’s buried, you might need a different approach, maybe a lob wedge to get it up and out.
  • Wind Conditions: Is the wind howling like a banshee? A strong headwind is the perfect invitation for a smokie. A crosswind requires more careful aim, and a tailwind means you’ll get a lot more roll. Understanding the wind is key.
  • Club Selection: You absolutely need a club with less loft. We’re talking your 7-iron, 8-iron, maybe even a 9-iron or pitching wedge. For some situations, a hybrid or even a fairway wood can work if you’re feeling bold.
  • Your Target Area: Where do you want the ball to end up? A smokie is all about control and minimizing airtime. Know your landing zone and how much roll you can expect.

Step-by-Step Plan for Executing What Are Smokies

Alright, let’s get this low runner dialed in. It’s not rocket science, just a few tweaks to your usual swing.

1. Select a lower-lofted club.

  • Action: Reach for a club with less loft, typically a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron. For a really low shot, a pitching wedge can do the trick. If you’re in a tight spot and want maximum control, a hybrid with a lower loft setting can be your friend.
  • What to look for: A club that you know doesn’t launch the ball very high. You want something that encourages a penetrating ball flight, not a ballooning one. I usually grab my 7-iron for this; it feels right.
  • Mistake to avoid: Picking a club with too much loft, like a sand wedge or lob wedge. This is the quickest way to send your ball sailing into the stratosphere, making it a kite for the wind to play with. You’ll end up losing distance and control.

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2. Position the ball further back in your stance.

  • Action: Place the ball slightly behind the center of your stance, closer to your back foot. For a right-handed golfer, this might mean the ball is aligned with your right heel or just inside it.
  • What to look for: A setup that naturally encourages you to hit down on the ball, making contact with the descending part of your swing arc. This is crucial for keeping the ball low.
  • Mistake to avoid: Playing the ball too far forward in your stance. This often leads to a “scooping” motion, where you try to lift the ball up. Scooping adds loft and kills the low, running trajectory you’re after. It feels unnatural at first, but trust the process.

3. Slightly close your stance.

  • Action: Aim your feet slightly to the left of your intended target for a right-handed golfer (or slightly right for a left-handed golfer). This is a subtle adjustment, not a dramatic aim.
  • What to look for: A stance that promotes a more neutral or slightly in-to-out swing path. This helps prevent the ball from going too far left and encourages it to draw slightly or go straight.
  • Mistake to avoid: Leaving your stance open, meaning your feet are aimed at or right of the target. This can lead to the ball drifting too far right or even slicing, which is the opposite of what you want with a smokie.

4. Shorten your backswing and follow-through.

  • Action: Take your backswing back only about two-thirds to three-quarters of your normal length. Similarly, keep your follow-through shorter, finishing around waist height.
  • What to look for: A feeling of control and compactness. You’re not trying to blast it; you’re trying to punch it. The idea is to reduce the leverage and speed, which naturally lowers the ball’s trajectory.
  • Mistake to avoid: Making a full, aggressive swing. A big swing adds loft and spin, causing the ball to climb. It’s like trying to slam a door shut versus gently closing it. You want gentle.

5. Focus on a descending blow.

  • Action: Concentrate on hitting down on the ball with a firm wrist and a smooth transition from backswing to downswing. Imagine brushing the grass after you make contact with the ball.
  • What to look for: Solid, crisp contact. You should feel the clubhead striking the ball first, followed by a small divot or a brush of the turf. This downward strike is what keeps the ball low.
  • Mistake to avoid: Trying to “help” the ball up into the air. Resist the urge to lift. The loft of the club, combined with the downward strike, will get the ball airborne enough without adding extra effort.

6. Maintain a firm grip and steady tempo.

  • Action: Keep a firm, but not tight, grip on the club throughout the swing. Maintain a smooth, unhurried tempo from start to finish.
  • What to look for: A feeling of connection and control. A tense grip leads to a jerky swing, which is the enemy of a controlled shot. A steady tempo ensures you hit the ball solidly and predictably.
  • Mistake to avoid: Gripping the club too tightly or swinging with a jerky, fast tempo. This will disrupt your rhythm, lead to poor contact, and likely result in an unpredictable shot shape or trajectory.

Mastering the Smokie: Understanding What Are Smokies in Various Conditions

The “smokie” is more than just a trick shot; it’s a strategic weapon in your golf arsenal, especially when the elements conspire against you. Understanding what are smokies and when to deploy them can save you strokes and boost your confidence on the course. Let’s dive deeper into how this shot plays out in different scenarios.

The beauty of the smokie lies in its versatility. It’s not just for windy days. Think about those times you’re just off the green, but the ball is sitting down in a patch of slightly thicker rough, and there’s a bunker or a water hazard between you and the pin. A standard chip might get stuck, or a lofted shot could get caught by the rough. A smokie, with its low trajectory and tendency to run, can zip through the rough, bounce once or twice, and get you close to the hole. It’s about using the ground as your friend, letting it do some of the work.

What to Check First: Deeper Dive

Let’s expand on those initial checks. They are the bedrock of successfully executing a smokie.

  • Your Lie – The Unseen Factor: We touched on this, but it’s worth reiterating. A smokie requires a lie where you can strike the ball cleanly and descend. If the ball is sitting up, you have more freedom, but you still want to avoid adding unnecessary loft. If it’s tight, you need to be confident you can make solid contact without digging too much. If it’s in the deep stuff, a smokie is probably not the play unless you’re just trying to get out of trouble and don’t care about accuracy. I once tried a smokie from way too deep in the rough and ended up with the ball about ten yards further, still in the rough. Lesson learned.
  • Wind Conditions – Your Natural Ally or Enemy: A strong headwind is the smokie’s best friend. It acts as a natural deterrent to the ball getting airborne. You can hit it with more confidence knowing the wind will keep it down. A crosswind, however, demands precision. You’ll need to aim further into the wind than you normally would, anticipating the ball being pushed sideways. A tailwind can be tricky because the ball will roll much further than you might expect, so you need to be conservative with your distance control.
  • Club Selection – The Foundation of Loft Control: Don’t be tempted by that shiny new 60-degree wedge. For a smokie, lower is better. A 7-iron is a safe bet for most golfers. If you’re a stronger player or the conditions are extreme, you might even consider a 6-iron or a hybrid with a lower loft setting. The goal is to minimize the initial launch angle.
  • Your Target and the Ground Conditions: Where do you want the ball to end up, and how will the ground help or hinder you? A smokie is designed to run. If the green is firm and fast, you’ll need to account for a lot of roll. If it’s soft and receptive, the ball might stop a bit quicker. Consider the slope of the green and any undulations. You want the ball to land in a spot where it can roll towards the hole without bouncing wildly off line.

Common Mistakes When Hitting a Smokey

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into a few traps when trying to execute this shot.

  • Mistake: Using too high a lofted club.
  • Why it matters: This is the cardinal sin of smokie-hitting. A high-lofted club is designed to get the ball up in the air, which is precisely what you don’t want. The ball will be a sitting duck for any wind, likely ballooning and losing distance and accuracy.
  • Fix: Stick to your lower-lofted clubs. If you’re unsure, err on the side of less loft. A 7-iron is almost always a safer bet than a pitching wedge if you’re just starting out with this shot.
  • Mistake: Playing the ball too far forward in the stance.
  • Why it matters: This encourages a scooping or lifting motion with your hands and wrists. Instead of hitting down on the ball, you’ll try to lift it, adding unnecessary loft and spin. This leads to a weak, uncontrolled shot.
  • Fix: Move the ball back in your stance. Experiment with it being off your back heel or slightly forward of that. The goal is to get your club striking the ball on the downswing.
  • Mistake: Making a full, sweeping swing.
  • Why it matters: A big, powerful swing is designed for maximum height and distance. It adds loft and speed, counteracting the purpose of the smokie. You’ll end up launching the ball too high.
  • Fix: Shorten your backswing and follow-through significantly. Think of it as a controlled punch shot. A shorter swing means less leverage and less chance of adding unwanted loft.
  • Mistake: Overthinking the shot and getting tense.
  • Why it matters: Golf is a mental game, and trying too hard often leads to tension. Tension kills tempo and good mechanics, resulting in a poor strike and an unpredictable outcome.
  • Fix: Take a deep breath, commit to your setup, and make a smooth, unhurried swing. Remind yourself it’s just a golf shot. Trust the process and your practice.
  • Mistake: Ignoring the ground conditions and roll.
  • Why it matters: A smokie is a running shot. If you don’t consider how the ball will react on the ground, you can easily over- or under-club. You might hit it too far past the hole or have it stop well short.
  • Fix: Assess the green. Is it firm, soft, uphill, or downhill? Adjust your club selection and the length of your swing accordingly. For firm greens, you might need one less club and a slightly shorter swing.
  • Mistake: Trying to lift the ball with your wrists.
  • Why it matters: This is a natural tendency for many golfers when they perceive a need for height, but it’s the exact opposite of what a smokie requires. It leads to a loss of control and an inconsistent trajectory.
  • Fix: Focus on hitting down and through the ball with a firm wrist. Let the loft of the club do the work. Your hands should remain relatively quiet and stable through impact.
  • Mistake: Not practicing this shot enough.
  • Why it matters: Like any shot in golf, the smokie requires practice to master. Without reps, you won’t build the feel or confidence needed to pull it off under pressure.
  • Fix: Dedicate some time at the driving range or practice green to hitting smokies. Work on different clubs and different distances. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel.

FAQ: Your Smokie Questions Answered

  • What is the primary purpose of a smokie in golf?

The primary purpose of a smokie is to keep the golf ball low to the ground, minimizing its exposure to wind and allowing it to run considerably after landing. It’s a strategic shot for navigating windy conditions, escaping tight lies, or getting under low obstacles like tree branches.

  • Which clubs are best suited for hitting a smokie?

Lower-lofted clubs are ideal for a smokie. This typically includes clubs from a 7-iron down to a pitching wedge. For more advanced players or specific situations, hybrids and fairway woods with adjustable loft settings can also be used to achieve a very low trajectory.

  • How does wind affect the execution of a smokie?

A strong headwind is the perfect scenario for a smokie, as it helps keep the ball down and prevents it from ballooning. A crosswind requires you to aim further into the wind to compensate for its effect. A tailwind will cause the ball to roll much further than expected, so you need to be conservative with your club selection and swing length.

  • When should I consider hitting a smokie?

You should consider hitting a smokie when facing a strong headwind, when the ball is in a tight lie (like on the fairway or closely mown rough), when you need to get out from under low-hanging branches, or when playing a very conservative shot on a particularly blustery day. It’s also useful for getting out of trouble when a standard chip or pitch might be too risky.

  • Is a smokie the same as a punch shot?

They are very similar and often used interchangeably, but there’s a slight nuance. A “punch shot” generally refers to a controlled, abbreviated swing designed to hit the ball low and accurately. A “smokie” is specifically a type of punch shot that emphasizes a low, running trajectory, often used more defensively against the wind or to get out of difficult spots.

  • How much roll can I expect from a smokie?

The amount of roll can vary significantly based on several factors: the firmness of the ground, the type of grass, the slope of the fairway or green, and the club used. On a firm fairway, a smokie can easily roll 20-30 yards or more after landing. On a softer green, the roll will be considerably less. It’s important to practice and get a feel for how much your smokie runs out in different conditions.

  • Can I hit a smokie from the rough?

Yes, but with caution. It’s best from shorter, tidier rough where you can still make clean contact. If the ball is deeply embedded, a smokie might get snagged, or you’ll struggle to make solid contact. In such cases, a lofted club might be a better choice just to get the ball back into play.

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