When To Hit A High Golf Shot (3 Key Situations)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

One of the most complicated things about golf is that there are times to hit high shots and times to hit low shots.  Shots that curve to the left and shots that curve to the left.

There will be times when you want to fly the ball all the way to the hole and times when you will want to have the ball run up to the hole.

When To Hit A High Golf Shot?

There are some key times when you will want to hit a high shot in golf.  These include: when there is a barrier such as a tree in your way, off the tee box when the wind is to your back and you have plenty of room to carry the ball, or when the greens are firm and require height to help the ball stop.

Here is the quick list when it is optimum to hit a high shot:

  • A barrier such as a tree is in your way
  • Off the tee when the wind is to your back
  • When the greens are firm and height is needed
Three high ball hitters here!

Key Situation #1: A barrier such as a tree is in your way

If you have hit the ball into the woods and the green is 150 yards or less and you can get over the tree, oftentimes a high shot to clear the tree is essential.  Another example is when you are playing a dogleg hole and you want to cut the corvern.  Oftentimes the high shot is optimum if you are willing to play a high risk, high reward shot.

These types of shots are amazing when you can make them happen, but carry a high risk, high reward element to each shot.  It is essential that the golfer practice hitting higher shots to maximize their potential to pull this shot off in the heat of competition.

Here are the elements that help you hit a higher shot:

  • Ball forward
  • Shoulders tilted back
  • Additional swing speed
  • Releasing the club and adding some loft through impact

How to hit your irons higher (5 Tips)

Key Situation #2: Off the tee when the wind is to your back

If you are playing a longer hole where distance is important, hitting a high flying driver can help you maximize the benefits of the wind when the wind is to your back.  The higher you can hit the driver, with the wind to your back, the more the wind will help the ball carry, which will result in a longer driver for you.

The golfer that hits a high ball already will enjoy the wind to their back, but will struggle when the wind is in their face.  Learning to control your ball flight with the driver is the key to being a versatile player that can play in various conditions.

The wind essentially helps reduce some of the spin on your shot with the driver, which helps it carry further as well.  The wind can be a great asset on these shots with the driver.  It also can help you hit the ball straighter because of the reduction in spin.

Here are some quick tips to hitting your driver higher:

  • Tee the ball up higher
  • Move it forward a half inch
  • Tilt your shoulders back a touch
  • Let it go!

How to hit my driver higher (7 Tips)

Key Situation #3: When the greens are firm and height is needed

The players that can hit high flying irons often play better in conditions where the greens are really firm and aren’t receptive to approach shots.  If the course has extra long rough, making it difficult to get spin on the ball, the extra height can help a golfer land their ball softly on the green and give themselves a putt on the next shot.

The golfer who struggles to hit the ball high might struggle on firm greens or if the rough is really punishing.  The best golfers of all time, Jack NIcklaus and Tiger Woods hit high soft fades when needed.  They are able to use the heigh to help stop the ball on long iron shots, difficult recovery shots and around the greens with the sand or lob wedge.

When a golfer short sides an approach shot into the green, they will need to use heigh to get the ball to stop quickly around the greens.  These shorter shots out of the rough make it difficult to rely on spin to stop the ball, so the best golfers will turn to height to control their distance and the amount of roll out once the ball hits the green.

How to hit a flop shot (5 tips)

Check out the 9 different types of golf shot post below!

Final Thoughts: Control Your Trajectory

A sign of a great golfer is one that is able to control their trajectory.  They are able to hit high shots and low shots.  Shots that draw and shots that fade.  Ultimately there are nine different shot shapes that are great to practice which can be used when needed on the golf course.  Tiger Woods is known to practice this game at the range. 

Here are the full details: 9 Different Types of Golf Shots to Help Your Game, Today!

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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