approach shot
Americannoun
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Tennis. a hard, forcing shot usually made deep into the opponent's court, allowing the player to move in toward the net for an offensive volley.
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Golf. approach.
noun
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Also called: approach. golf a shot made to or towards the green after a tee shot
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tennis a deep drive, usually hit with slice to keep the ball low, designed to enable the player to make an approach to the net
Etymology
Origin of approach shot
First recorded in 1875–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was a disappointing day though for McIlroy, who hit his approach shot on the par-five 18th hole into the water en route to a closing double-bogey.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
And just after that, Henley put his approach shot on 18 to about 10 feet of the pin.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 28, 2025
His approach shot on the par-five seventh landed in a greenside bunker, but he chipped to 14 feet and made the birdie putt to move to one under.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2024
Homa got through No. 11 just fine, playing his approach shot well right of the pond.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 14, 2024
Trevanion played a good approach shot, and then Bob laid his approach putt dead.
From All for a Scrap of Paper A Romance of the Present War by Hocking, Joseph
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.