The longer your golf ball is in the air, the less ground friction will slow your ball down, and thus the less distance you will lose on your shots. On shorter shots, such as approaches and pitches, it's important to minimize forward roll to keep your ball on the green, so you'll want a more up-and-down arc on these shots. You can get your ball higher in the air, and avoid "worm burners" that travel along the ground, by addressing several areas of the golf swing.
Step 1
Tee the golf ball higher in order to let your club get under the ball. If your club hits the top of the ball, you will drive it downward. If your club hits the ball from the bottom, it will project the ball upward. The higher you tee your ball, the more elevation you may get; however, this can cause extreme elevations that create a more up-and-down shot, taking considerable distance off your shots.
Step 2
Place the ball forward in your stance. Your ball should be close to or even with your front foot, especially on long clubs. Some teachers even suggest placing the ball in front of your forward foot, but this could lead to hooking — your ball traveling from right to left — instead of straight.
Step 3
Use a more lofted club face. Loft is the angle of the club face, which directly affects the height of the ball launch at impact. A higher loft angle increases the height of your shot. This is why club head angles get more lofted as the clubs in your golf bag get shorter — the closer you are to the hole, the more elevation, and less distance, you want.
Step 4
Use a longer swing with a higher finish after follow-through. Golf instructor Hank Haney, who has taught Tiger Woods and other professional golfers, says this will create more club head speed and backspin, which create more height on golf shots. Increased backspin will cause your ball to bite when it hits the ground, which is beneficial when you are trying to hit the green and keep it from rolling off. This backspin decreases distance and fairway roll, however, according to United States Golf Association research cited by teaching professional Josh Zander.
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