Golf Tips » January 2002: The High Cut Shot

This months tip was a request from Bill Austin of Pawleys Island who wants to know how to play that high, soft lob shot over a bunker to a tight pin placement, getting the ball to stop fairly quickly.

Vital to the lob shot is the right equipment.You need a 60 degree wedge or a sand wedge with very little bounce. To play this shot correctly you have to open the clubface and if you use a sand wedge with a high degree of "bounce" as in picture #1 the flange will strike the ground first causing the leading edge to hit the ball and a sculled shot will result.

Picture #1

Picture #2

In picture #2 you can see that with a 60 degree wedge I can open the clubface and still slide the clubhead under the ball.

Technique

Picture #3

Take a fairly long backswing fully cocking the wrists as in picture #3

Control the downswing with the torso and not the arms, maintaining the wrist cock and keeping the blade open throughout the shot as in picture #4:

Picture #4

Picture #5

Finally the follow-through will end as in picture #5 with the clubface still facing the sky.

The real secret of this shot is to not allow the fingers to pass the pad of the right hand. See picture #6.

Picture #6

This shot takes a lot of practice in order to master the technique needed for success on the course. However, the results will have a large effect on your score and you’ll feel great satisfaction in having mastered this beautiful shot.