Short Game · Lesson
Keys to a High, Soft Lob
Part of our short game programs for high, soft shots. Build a program with it
A lob is risky, so stack the odds. First, check the lie. Only try it from a good one. From a bad lie, play safe to the middle of the green. Use your most lofted wedge. Let the loft do the work. Play the ball a little forward. Keep the shaft straight up, not leaning forward. Leaning it takes loft away. Be ready to hit the ground. You should hear the bottom of the club thump the turf. Then commit to a big enough swing.
Step by step
- Only lob from a good lie.
- Use your highest-lofted wedge.
- Ball a little forward, shaft upright.
- Thump the ground with the sole.
- Swing fully enough to carry it.
Why it works
A lob shot works because the loft on the club sends the ball up steeply, so you do not need to add height with your hands. Playing the ball a little forward with the shaft upright keeps that loft on the face at impact. Letting the sole thump the turf keeps the bottom of the club moving under the ball, which gives a soft landing, and a swing big enough to carry the distance keeps you from decelerating.
Common mistakes
- You try the lob from a tight or bare lie.Check the lie first and play a safer shot to the middle of the green if the ball is not sitting well.
- You lean the shaft forward at address or impact, which takes loft away.Set the shaft upright with the ball a little forward and keep it there through the strike.
- You slow down through the ball because you are afraid of hitting it too far or hitting the ground.Accept that the sole will hit the turf and make a swing big enough to carry the ball to the target.
How you'll know it's working
- You hear and feel the sole thump the turf just before or at the ball.
- The ball launches high and lands softly with little roll.
- The ball carries to your landing spot instead of coming up short.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a fluffy, sitting-up lie with a generous target area, so the sole slides under the ball easily.
Harder: Practice from a slightly tighter lie, or pick a small landing spot close to a bunker or the edge of a green, and try to land the ball on it.
Common questions
Which wedge should I use for a lob shot?
Use your highest-lofted wedge. The loft does the work of getting the ball up, so you do not need to scoop it.
Why do I keep skulling or chunking my lob shots?
Usually the shaft is leaning forward or you are slowing down through impact. Keep the shaft upright, let the sole hit the turf, and commit to a full enough swing.
