How to Hit a Lob Wedge Shot

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Master the lob wedge for high, soft shots that stop on command.
• It’s all about an open clubface, a steeper angle of attack, and a controlled swing.
• Think of it as a delicate touch shot, not a power drive.

Who This Is For

• Golfers keen to elevate their short game and conquer those tricky greenside situations.
• Anyone who’s ever faced a bunker or a tricky lie and thought, “How am I gonna get over that?”

What to Check First

• Lob Wedge Condition: Give your lob wedge a good once-over. Are the grooves clean and sharp? Dirty or worn grooves mean less spin and control. I always give mine a quick wipe with a towel before heading out.
• Stance Alignment: Get your feet and body aiming slightly left of your target (if you’re right-handed). This open stance is crucial for that high trajectory.
• Ball Position: Place the ball just slightly forward of the center of your stance. Too far back and you’ll struggle to get the loft.
• Lie of the Ball: This shot is unforgiving. Make sure the ball is sitting up nicely on the turf. A tight lie or a divot means you’re in for a tougher challenge.

How Do You Hit a Lob Wedge? Mastering the Lob Wedge Shot

This isn’t your everyday full swing. The lob wedge is all about finesse, control, and getting the ball up in the air quickly, then letting it die near the hole. It’s a shot that can save you strokes and boost your confidence around the green. Let’s break down how to nail it.

Setup: Building a Solid Foundation

• Action: Widen your stance a bit more than a standard shot, maybe shoulder-width apart. Crucially, open your stance by aligning your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly left of your target (for right-handers). Your ball position should be just forward of center, around your lead heel if you’re feeling adventurous, but for most, just off the lead instep is good.
• What to look for: You want to feel stable and balanced, with your weight favoring your lead foot slightly (around 60/40). This setup promotes an in-to-out swing path and allows for that critical steep angle of attack. Think of it as creating a stable platform for your body to rotate through the shot.
• Mistake to avoid: A closed stance is a killer here. It forces you to swing across the ball, which often results in a slice and a low, running shot that won’t get over the bunker or the pin. Keep it open, trust it.

Grip: Relaxed Control is Key

• Action: Choke down on the club a bit. Grip about one or two finger widths up from the butt of the club. This gives you more control and helps shorten the effective length of the club, which naturally encourages a more compact swing.
• What to look for: A relaxed but firm grip. You don’t want to be white-knuckling the club – that kills wrist action and feel. Think of holding a baby bird; firm enough so it doesn’t escape, but gentle enough not to crush it. Your grip pressure should be around a 4 or 5 on a scale of 10.
• Mistake to avoid: Gripping too tightly is a common culprit for poor lob wedge shots. It restricts your wrists from hinging properly during the backswing and unhinging during the downswing. This leads to a lack of feel and makes it hard to get that crisp contact.

Clubface: The Secret Weapon

• Action: This is where the magic happens. Open the clubface significantly at address. Aim the face itself slightly to the right of your target (for right-handers). Don’t just point the club down; open the face first, then take your grip.
• What to look for: The clubface should feel like it’s pointing towards the sky, or at least well right of your intended line. This might feel weird at first, but it’s essential for adding loft. The loft built into the club will do the work of getting the ball airborne.
• Mistake to avoid: Leaving the clubface square or closed is the biggest mistake you can make. If you do this, even with an open stance, you’ll hit a low, screaming shot that runs forever, not the soft, high floater you’re aiming for. Trust the open face.

The Swing: Smoothness Over Speed

• Action: Take a shorter backswing than you would for a full shot. For most golfers, a three-quarters swing is plenty. Focus on hinging your wrists early in the backswing. Keep your lower body relatively quiet, allowing your upper body to turn.
• What to look for: A smooth, flowing tempo. Think of it more like a “chip and a run” motion, but with more height. The goal is a controlled, descending blow, hitting the ball first, then the turf. You want to feel the clubhead release through the impact zone.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to “scoop” or “lift” the ball into the air. This is a natural instinct for many, but it’s the enemy of the lob wedge. When you try to lift, you often decelerate, hit the ground behind the ball (a fat shot), or hit the equator of the ball (a thin shot or a top). Let the loft and the open face do the work.

Impact: Crisp Contact is King

• Action: Focus on making contact with the ball slightly before the turf. Aim for a steep angle of attack – meaning the club is coming down on the ball. This helps the grooves grip the ball and impart spin.
• What to look for: A crisp, satisfying “thwack” sound. The ball should launch high and with visible spin. You should see the ball climb quickly and then appear to “sit” down on the green.
• Mistake to avoid: Hitting the ball on the upswing, or making contact with a flat clubface. This is the opposite of what you want. It usually leads to thin shots, tops, or a loss of control because you’re trying to manufacture loft instead of letting the club do it.

Follow-Through: Balance and Completion

• Action: Continue your swing naturally through the ball, maintaining the open clubface throughout the motion. Your weight should shift to your lead side, and you should finish in a balanced position, facing the target.
• What to look for: A full, balanced finish. The club should swing up and around your body. A good follow-through is a sign of a good, controlled swing.
• Mistake to avoid: Decelerating through the shot or stopping the club’s motion immediately after impact. This kills the speed and spin you need. You must maintain momentum through the ball to ensure a clean strike and proper release.

Common Mistakes When Hitting a Lob Wedge

• Scooping the Ball — This is when you try to lift the ball into the air with your hands and wrists.
• Why it matters: It leads to inconsistent contact, often resulting in thin shots (hitting the equator of the ball) or fat shots (hitting the ground way behind the ball). You lose all the spin and control.
• Fix: Focus on hitting down on the ball with a descending blow. Imagine trying to brush the grass after you hit the ball. Let the club’s loft do the work.

• Over-swinging — Taking too big a backswing or swinging too hard.
• Why it matters: This is a delicate shot. Over-swinging leads to a loss of control, inconsistent contact, and often a mishit that goes nowhere near the target.
• Fix: Keep your backswing shorter, more like a three-quarters swing. Focus on tempo and smoothness rather than power. Think “feel” over “force.”

• Closed Clubface at Address — Not opening the clubface enough before you start your swing.
• Why it matters: This is a primary reason for low, running shots that won’t get over obstacles. You’re essentially negating the high-loft design of the lob wedge.
• Fix: Make a conscious effort to open the clubface significantly at address. Aim it slightly right of your target (for right-handers). It might feel awkward, but it’s essential for getting the ball up.

• Trying to “Lift” the Ball — Similar to scooping, this is the mental urge to help the ball get airborne.
• Why it matters: This causes tension in your arms and wrists, leading to a loss of fluidity and often a fat shot. You’re fighting the club’s natural loft.
• Fix: Trust the loft of the lob wedge. Focus on a smooth, descending strike. Imagine hitting the ball with the sole of the club just behind it.

• Poor Stance and Balance — A narrow or unstable stance.
• Why it matters: If you’re not balanced, your swing will be inconsistent. You might sway or shift your weight incorrectly, leading to fat or thin shots.
• Fix: Widen your stance slightly and ensure your weight is distributed evenly or slightly favoring your lead foot. This provides a stable base for your body to rotate through the shot.

• Decelerating Through Impact — Slowing down your swing speed as you approach the ball.
• Why it matters: This is a common cause of fat shots and a lack of spin. You need speed to cut through the turf and get the clubhead releasing properly.
• Fix: Maintain your swing speed through the impact zone. Imagine swinging through the ball, not at it. A good follow-through is a visual cue that you’ve maintained speed.

• Ignoring the Lie — Trying to hit a lob wedge from a terrible lie.
• Why it matters: Some lies are just too difficult for a high-loft shot. Trying to force it can lead to chunks, skulls, or leaving the ball in the bunker.
• Fix: Assess the lie. If it’s tight or buried, consider a different club or a different shot. Sometimes a lower, running shot with a sand wedge or even a putter is the smarter play.

FAQ

• What is the typical loft of a lob wedge? Lob wedges are designed for maximum height, so they pack a lot of loft, usually ranging from 60 to 64 degrees. This is significantly more than a sand wedge (around 54-58 degrees) or a pitching wedge (around 45-48 degrees).

• How far should a lob wedge shot go? For most amateur golfers, a lob wedge shot will travel about 60-80 yards when hit with a three-quarters swing. However, the primary goal of this shot isn’t distance, but rather height and the ability to stop the ball quickly on the green. Distance control is often achieved by varying swing length and tempo.

• What is the difference between a lob wedge and a sand wedge? The main difference lies in their loft and sometimes their bounce. A lob wedge has more loft (60-64 degrees) to produce higher shots. A sand wedge typically has less loft (54-58 degrees) and often more bounce, which helps it glide through sand without digging too deeply. While a sand wedge can be used for approach shots, a lob wedge is specifically designed for those high, soft shots over obstacles.

• Should I use my lob wedge for chips? Absolutely, if your goal is a high, soft chip that lands and stops quickly near the hole. If you’re chipping from off the green and want the ball to roll out a bit, a pitching wedge or gap wedge might be a better choice. The lob wedge is your go-to for getting over a bunker or a fringe hazard and letting gravity do the work.

• How do I stop topping lob wedge shots? Topping a lob wedge shot usually stems from trying to lift the ball or having too much tension in your swing. The open clubface and steep angle of attack are designed to get the ball airborne. Focus on a smooth, descending strike, making contact with the ball first, then the turf. Visualize brushing the grass just beyond the ball.

• What’s the best way to practice lob wedge shots? Find an open patch of grass or a practice green with a bunker or some fringe you need to get over. Start with shorter swings, focusing on the setup and the open clubface. Gradually increase your swing length as you get comfortable. Practice hitting to different targets and focus on your feel and the trajectory.

• Can I use a lob wedge out of a greenside bunker? Yes, you can, but it’s not always the ideal club. A sand wedge is generally preferred due to its higher bounce, which helps it slide through the sand. However, if you have a very tight lie in the bunker or need extreme height, a lob wedge might work, but you’ll need to be very careful with your swing to avoid digging too much. It’s a more advanced bunker shot.