Obstacles on a golf course are no fun. They force you to create a shot you might not normally hit. Maybe you have to keep one under a branch or curve a ball around a tree trunk. Then there are times when your best option (or perhaps only option) is to hit a high-flying iron that soars over the top of something. It’s a valuable shot to learn, and I’ll show you how to execute it with some simple steps here.
Step one: Visualise the flight
- Play the ball slightly forward of centre in your stance.
- Settle your weight 50-50 between your feet.
- Visualise a “window” you want the ball to fly through [pictured above].
- Keep your lead shoulder high.
Step two: Swing back wide
- Make a lower and wider takeaway than normal.
- Feel your arms stretching as you turn your body back [above].
- Keep your weight fairly centred.
Step three: Sweep it, don’t smash it
- Don’t swing down steeply into the ball.
- Feel as if you’re sweeping the ball off the ground.
- Keep the clubhead low after impact [above].
- Stay in your address posture into the follow-through.
Step four: Finish tall
- Let your weight shift fully to your front foot.
- Keep swinging until the club is wrapped around your body.
- Finish tall with your chest up [above].
Michael Kolar, one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers, is lead instructor at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida.
photos: j.d. cuban
