How to Hit A High Golf Shot: Step-by-Step Guide

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Swing Mechanics & Fundamentals

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Quick Answer

• Focus on swinging up through the ball with a later clubface release.
• Utilize a higher tee and a club with more loft.
• Adjust your stance and ball position to encourage an upward strike.

Who This is For

• Golfers who struggle to get sufficient height on their shots, especially off the tee, and want to carry hazards or stop the ball quickly on the green.
• Beginner and intermediate players aiming to understand the fundamental mechanics behind achieving a higher ball flight.

What to Check First for a High Golf Shot

• Club Selection: Grab a club with ample loft. This usually means your driver, a hybrid, or a higher-numbered iron (like a 7-iron or higher). These clubs are designed to get the ball up.
• Tee Height: For tee shots, don’t be shy with the tee. You want a good portion of the ball sitting above the crown of your driver. This sets you up for an upward strike.
• Ball Position: Generally, move the ball a little further forward in your stance. For a driver, this often means aligning it with your lead heel. This helps you meet the ball on the upswing.
• Stance Width: A slightly wider stance than you might normally use can provide a stable base, allowing for a better rotation and encouraging that upward swing path.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Hit a High Golf Shot

1. Adjust Tee Height: Pop that ball up on the tee. For a driver, aim for about half the ball to be visible above the top of the club. This setup is crucial because it encourages you to strike the ball on the upswing. Mistake to avoid: Teeing it too low will naturally promote a downward strike, leading to a lower, driving shot that lacks carry.

2. Widen Your Stance: Spread your feet a little wider than your standard setup, maybe an inch or two. This wider base provides enhanced stability and balance, which is essential for allowing your body to rotate and facilitate a more upward swing arc through the hitting zone. Mistake to avoid: A stance that is too narrow can restrict your body’s rotation and lead to a more level or even downward strike, killing your chances of a high shot.

3. Move Ball Forward: Position the ball slightly further forward in your stance. For a driver, this typically means aligning it with the inside of your lead heel. This forward placement is designed to ensure you make contact with the ball as your club is traveling upward. Mistake to avoid: Placing the ball too far back in your stance will almost certainly cause you to hit down on it, resulting in a lower trajectory and less distance.

4. Focus on Upward Swing Path: This is the core of hitting it high. After impact, imagine your club continuing to swing up towards the sky. You’re not trying to lift the ball with your hands; you’re letting the upward momentum of your swing do the work. Mistake to avoid: Trying to “scoop” the ball with your hands or wrists is a common error. This often leads to topping the ball, hitting it fat, or simply producing a low, weak shot.

5. Delay Your Release: This means holding onto the clubface’s angle a bit longer through the impact zone. Let the natural momentum of the swing unhinge your wrists and release the clubhead after you’ve made contact with the ball. Mistake to avoid: Releasing the clubface too early, often referred to as “casting” or “flipping,” will rob your shot of power and significantly reduce its height and distance.

6. Maintain a Smooth Tempo: Don’t try to muscle the ball into the air. A smooth, rhythmic swing allows your body to rotate properly and lets the club do its job. A jerky or rushed swing often leads to timing issues and incorrect impact. Mistake to avoid: Swinging with excessive force without proper technique can lead to a loss of control, a steeper angle of attack, and a lower ball flight.

Troubleshooting Your High Golf Shot

If you’re still finding your shots aren’t reaching the desired altitude, let’s dig a little deeper. Sometimes, it’s about fine-tuning what you’re already doing.

• Angle of Attack is Key: This is the most significant factor. You must be hitting up on the ball. If your launch monitor data or even just the feel of your swing suggests you’re hitting down, revisit your setup. Check your ball position and stance width again. Are you setting up to hit down?
• Clubface Control Through Impact: Pay attention to what the clubface is doing right at and immediately after impact. If it’s closing too rapidly, you’ll get a lower, potentially hook spin. You want the face to be square or even slightly open as it passes through the ball to maximize loft and launch.
• Tempo and Rhythm: Sometimes, the issue isn’t setup, but swing execution. If your swing feels rushed or jerky, you might be releasing the club too early or coming over the top. Try to feel a more fluid, connected swing. Imagine a gentle acceleration through the hitting zone rather than a sudden burst of speed.
• Wrist Hinge and Release: Are you holding the hinge in your wrists for too long, or are you releasing it too soon? A good drill is to practice feeling the club release naturally after impact. Some golfers find it helpful to visualize the club head “leading” their hands slightly through the ball.
• Backswing and Downswing Transition: A common cause of hitting down is a quick “throw” of the club from the top of the backswing. Focus on a smooth transition, allowing your lower body to initiate the downswing before your arms and the club. This helps you shallow out the club’s path and get into that upward strike position.

Common Mistakes When Trying to Hit a High Golf Shot

• Hitting Down on the Ball — This is the cardinal sin if you want height. It drastically reduces your launch angle and kills carry distance, essentially fighting gravity. — Focus on swinging up through the ball, ensuring your club is moving upwards at impact.
• Releasing the Club Too Early (Casting/Flipping) — This happens when you break your wrist hinge too soon in the downswing. You lose all the stored energy and the clubface snaps shut, resulting in a loss of power and a lower trajectory. — Practice delaying that release until after impact, allowing the club’s momentum to do the work.
• Clubface Too Closed at Impact — If the clubface is significantly closed when it meets the ball, it will promote a lower, often hook spin. This works against a high, penetrating ball flight. — Work on keeping the clubface square or even slightly open through the hitting zone. This is often a result of proper body rotation and a delayed release.
• Trying to “Lift” the Ball with Your Hands — This is a classic beginner’s trap. Golfers think they need to actively lift the ball, but this leads to scooping, topping, or hitting fat shots. — Trust your setup and swing mechanics to create the height. Let the loft of the club and your upward swing path do the heavy lifting.
• Using the Wrong Club — Trying to hit a high shot with a club that has very little loft (like a pitching wedge for a full shot) is an uphill battle. While you can manipulate trajectory, it’s much harder. — Always start with a club that has sufficient loft for the desired height, like a driver, hybrid, or higher-lofted iron.
• Over-Swinging or Rushing the Swing — Trying to generate speed by swinging harder without proper technique often leads to poor timing and a steeper, more downward angle of attack. — Focus on a smooth, controlled tempo. The speed will come from proper body rotation and a clean release, not brute force.

FAQ

• What is the most important factor for hitting a high golf shot?

The most critical factor is your angle of attack. You need to be swinging up on the ball through impact to achieve a high launch. This is influenced by your setup (tee height, ball position) and your swing path.

• How does tee height affect the ball’s trajectory?

For tee shots, a higher tee allows you to position the ball more in front of your swing arc, facilitating contact on the upswing. This upward strike is fundamental for a higher launch angle and greater carry distance.

• Can I hit a high shot with any club?

While you can certainly influence the trajectory of any club, it’s significantly easier and more effective to hit a high shot with clubs that have more loft. Drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids are designed for higher launch. You can achieve more height with irons, but it requires a more precise understanding of your swing mechanics.

• Should I swing harder for a high shot?

Not necessarily. While speed is a component of distance, focusing on how you swing is more important for height. A smooth, controlled swing that emphasizes an upward strike and a proper release will generate more height and better results than simply trying to swing harder with poor technique.

• What’s the difference between a high shot and a “sky ball”?

A high shot is a controlled, powerful shot with good carry and a reasonable descent angle. A “sky ball” is an uncontrolled shot hit with excessive loft, often due to a steep, scooping motion or a very closed clubface, resulting in a ball that balloons and drops quickly. The goal is a high, penetrating trajectory, not a ballooning one.

• How can I practice hitting higher shots effectively?

Start at the driving range. Use your driver and focus on the setup adjustments: higher tee, ball forward, wider stance. Then, concentrate on the feeling of swinging up through the ball. You can also practice with a 7-iron or hybrid, focusing on the same principles. Some golfers find using alignment sticks to visualize their swing path helpful.

Sources

[1] How to Hit A Higher Golf Shot: Step-by-Step Guide: https://golfhubz.com/how-to-hit-a-higher-golf-shot-step-by-step-guide/