How to Hit Your Irons Higher

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Hitting a golf ball high with your irons is a great skill that gives you an edge on the green. More height can send the ball further and help you get over hills and traps on the course. But this is easier said than done! If you’re frustrated about hitting line drives all the time, don’t give up— there are lots of ways to fix this problem. Try some of these simple setup and swinging tips to send the ball flying high every time.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Starting Position

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  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with the ball just slightly in front of the line where your toes are. In general, a good position is 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) closer to the ball than you'd normally stand. This should give you a nice, vertical swing plane to lift the ball up. [1]
    • If you want to test your ball positioning, take a slow practice swing. Find the ball position that lets you keep the club as straight as possible.
    • If you’re too far away from the ball, your swing plane will be more horizontal. This will keep the ball low and hit it off to the sides.
  2. First, position the ball right in the middle of your legs. [2] Then move it forward 1-2 ball lengths, closer to your front foot. This helps you hit the ball in the ideal spot to send it flying high. [3]
    • Don’t put the ball any more than 1-2 ball lengths towards your front foot. Otherwise, you’ll hit it on the top and it won’t go very high.
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  3. If you don’t normally use a tee, then give it a try. The tee lifts the ball off the ground a bit and lets you get under it for a higher trajectory. [4] A common height for the golf tee is 3 ⁄ 4  in (1.9 cm), but teeing the ball at 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) will give you a higher shot. [5]
    • The legal tee height for golf is up to 4 in (10 cm), so don't go above that when you're practicing. [6]
  4. Standing straight up makes it harder to get under the ball for a high shot. Bend your knees slightly before you start your backswing. This way, you’ll get under the ball for a higher trajectory. [7]
    • You might have to adjust your ball position again after you bend your knees, since your club might scrape the ground. Do another slow practice swing to make sure you can keep the club as straight as possible without hitting the ground.
  5. Tilt your front shoulder up a bit to move your head and center of gravity back. This keeps you behind the ball and gives you more lift. [8]
  6. This gives you more lift and height at impact. If you're right-handed, open the clubface by aiming slightly to the right of your target. If you're left-handed, aim to the left instead. [9]
  7. It’s harder to get under the ball if you’re stiff, so don’t squeeze the handle. [10] Position your hands slightly ahead of the ball on impact to gain more height. [11]
    • If you’re worried about the club flying out of your hands, use good-quality gloves with a strong grip.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Swinging Technique

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  1. Get set up and stand with roughly 60% of your weight on your rear foot and 40% on your front foot. This helps you stay behind the ball throughout your swing and lift it higher. [12]
    • Don't throw all your weight forward when you swing. Maintain this weight distribution through the whole swing for a high shot. [13]
  2. You’ll need a lot of power to hit the ball high, and that power comes from your body. Start your backswing by turning your rear hip and shoulder back, away from your target. Then, raise your club up, following your shoulder and hip. [14]
    • Avoid sliding your hips back and forth during your swing. This won’t give you any power and it throws your swing off. Be sure to actually your hips and shoulder back to get more power.
  3. This high backswing helps you keep the club straight and maintain a vertical swing. If your hands are lower, like around your shoulders, you probably won’t get a high shot. [15]
    • If you can’t tell where your hands are going on your backswing, have someone watch and tell you. You could also put a camera behind you during your swing and review the video later.
  4. Don’t be afraid to hit the ball hard! This is key to sending the ball flying high. [16] Rotate your hips and shoulders forward, with the club following. This gives you a hard, fast swing so you can hit the ball with a lot of force. [17]
    • When your swing is complete, your rear hip and shoulder should be facing your target. This is how you know you swung enough.
    • Keep your head back behind the ball while you're swinging. This gets a lot of weight behind the ball for more lift and power.
  5. You might think you need to hit the ball in a different spot to send it flying high, but that’s not true. Try to hit it square in the center on your downswing for a strong shot. [18]
    • If the ball is flying too low, then you may be hitting it above the center. Check your swing trajectory to see where you’re making contact, and adjust your stance or swing if you have to hit the ball lower.
    Tiger Woods, Golfer

    Be proactive about learning from your mistakes. "You’re going to make mistakes. The key is to learn from them as fast as possible and make changes as soon as you can."

  6. Continue swinging straight up after you make contact with the ball. Follow the trajectory of the ball with your head and look upward.
    • Remember to keep about 60% of your weight on your back foot during the whole swing, including the follow-through.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What determines how high a golf ball will go?
    Michael Metz
    Golf Instructor
    Michael Metz is a Golf Instructor and the Director of Instruction at Simi Hills Golf Course. With more than 15 years of experience, Michael is adept at coaching all facets of Golf. Mike uses technology, such as Flightscope, V1 Swing Suite, Blast Motion, and BodiTrak pressure mapping, to provide advanced golf training with quick results.
    Michael Metz
    Golf Instructor
    Expert Answer
    The height of your shot is dictated by speed and spin. The more speed you put on a shot, the more the ball is going to spin—and with more spin comes a higher trajectory.
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  • Question
    How do I make my ball higher?
    Michael Metz
    Golf Instructor
    Michael Metz is a Golf Instructor and the Director of Instruction at Simi Hills Golf Course. With more than 15 years of experience, Michael is adept at coaching all facets of Golf. Mike uses technology, such as Flightscope, V1 Swing Suite, Blast Motion, and BodiTrak pressure mapping, to provide advanced golf training with quick results.
    Michael Metz
    Golf Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Try moving the ball a little more forward. This promotes a better dynamic loft (the loft of the club at impact), which allows the ball to go higher.
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      Tips

      • If you’re not sure about your swing trajectory, videotape yourself while you practice. Then you can review the tape later and break down your swing.
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      • Like with everything, practice makes perfect! Be patient and work on your swing to get high shots every time.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://golf-info-guide.com/golf-tips/playing-conditions/3-easy-ways-to-hit-a-high-golf-shot/
      2. ↑ Michael Metz. Golf Instructor. Expert Interview. 24 March 2022.
      3. ↑ https://www.golflink.com/how_650_hit-golf-ball-high.html
      4. ↑ Michael Metz. Golf Instructor. Expert Interview. 24 March 2022.
      5. ↑ https://www.golfdigest.com/story/jason-day-how-to-hit-the-high-ball
      6. ↑ https://www.golfdigest.com/story/hlinstructiontiptee
      7. ↑ https://www.golflink.com/how_650_hit-golf-ball-high.html
      8. ↑ https://www.golflink.com/how_650_hit-golf-ball-high.html
      9. ↑ https://golf-info-guide.com/golf-tips/playing-conditions/3-easy-ways-to-hit-a-high-golf-shot/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/UNd-PmorYdU?t=70
      2. ↑ https://golf-info-guide.com/golf-tips/the-golf-swing/why-the-hands-should-be-in-front-of-ball-at-impact-golf-swing-tip/
      3. ↑ https://www.golflink.com/how_650_hit-golf-ball-high.html
      4. ↑ https://www.golfdigest.com/story/jason-day-how-to-hit-the-high-ball
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/ktSiCVICdWU?t=133
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/ZrjJvmUDcQ4?t=82
      7. ↑ Michael Metz. Golf Instructor. Expert Interview. 24 March 2022.
      8. ↑ https://www.golfdigest.com/story/jason-day-how-to-hit-the-high-ball
      9. ↑ https://www.golflink.com/about_4417_correctly-hit-golf-ball-club.html

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