How to Hit a Golf Ball Higher With Irons

Hitting a golf ball higher with your irons can be beneficial for several reasons. Getting extra loft on your shots allows you to stop the ball more quickly on the green, clear hazards and reach tucked pins more easily. With some adjustments to your setup and swing, you can get your iron shots to launch on a steeper trajectory. Here are some tips for hitting your iron shots higher:

Evaluate Your Equipment 

The loft on your irons plays a key role in launch angle. Stronger lofted irons will launch lower, while weaker lofts are designed to get the ball airborne easier. Most players can benefit from having their irons adjusted to give 1-2 degrees more loft, especially in the mid and long irons. This small change can make a big difference in getting the ball to launch higher without needing to make major swing alterations.

Optimize Your Ball Position

Ball position impacts launch angle. Playing the ball too far forward encourages a flatter swing plane and more downward strike, resulting in lower shots. Position the ball slightly back of center in your stance, closer to your trail foot. This helps steepen the angle of attack coming into the ball. Keep the ball position consistent with each iron to groove your setup.

Use Wider Stance and Open Hip Alignment

Setting up with a wider stance and open hips makes it easier to get your body tilted on the backswing, promoting a steeper downswing. Align your front foot slightly open and set your rear foot further back. Make sure to hinge wider going back and engage your rear glute to facilitate getting your body angled towards the target on the downswing.

Don't Sway Laterally on Backswing

Excessive lateral swaying off the ball on the backswing will cause you to swing too much around your body on the downswing. This leads to a flatter angle of attack. Maintain your posture and keep your rear hip back to prevent swaying too far from the ball. Stay more centered to give yourself room to properly drop down into the ball.

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Increase Wrist Hinge

The angle created between your left arm and the shaft promotes steeper delivery into impact when maximized. Gripping down an inch on the handle helps increase wrist hinge at the top of the backswing. Feel like your hands are moving up as your turn your torso on the backswing to get the wrists fully hinged.

Swing Up Aggressively with Your Hands

Start the downswing by feeling like you are swinging your hands up and high above the ball. This helps set a steep shaft angle and high hands through impact to add loft. Time your upward hand motion so impact occurs right at or slightly after the hands reach their highest point.

Compress the Ball

To get the launch angle up, you need to compress the ball by increasing the downward strike. Allow your torso to drive forward assertively going into impact so you are compressing into the ball and removing any chance of scooping. Swing through to a full high finish.

Making adjustments to your setup, backswing and downswing moves can have a dramatic effect on iron shot trajectory. Focus on implementing these tips during your practice sessions to develop the ability to move the ball higher or lower depending on the demands of the shot.