The lob shot is golf's most spectacular short-game shot: the ball pops almost straight up, floats over a bunker and drops softly beside the flag. Played well, it can save a shot from an impossible position. Played badly, it can slide under the ball, skull it across the green or barely move it. Knowing how to hit it, and more importantly when to hit it, will make you a better short-game player.
When to use the lob shot
- Short-sided: you have missed the green on the side close to the flag, with little green to land on.
- Over a hazard: a bunker, a mound or water between you and a nearby flag.
- Downhill green: the green runs away from you and a lower shot would roll off.
- Elevated green: you need to land the ball softly on a raised green.
Before choosing the lob, ask whether a lower chip or pitch could still finish on the green. Read chip or putt? How to choose the right shot around the green.
Check the lie first
The lie is the most important factor.
| Lie | Lob shot? |
|---|---|
| Ball sitting up in fluffy rough or on thick grass | Ideal: the club can slide under the ball |
| Good fairway lie with some grass under the ball | Possible, with care |
| Tight, bare or firm ground | Risky: the bounce can skid into the ball and thin it |
| Ball sitting down in thick rough | Hard: play a steeper pitch and accept a lower flight |
If the lie is poor, choose a safer option, even if it leaves a longer putt.
The club
- Lob wedge (around 58° to 64°): the natural choice.
- Sand wedge (around 54° to 56°) with the face opened: works well for many golfers and has more bounce.
Bounce is your friend on soft and fluffy lies: it lets the club slide through the grass without digging. On firm ground, a low-bounce wedge is safer, but only if you have good technique. Read golf wedges guide: loft and bounce.
Set-up
- Open the club face slightly so it points a little to the right of the target (for right-handed golfers), then take your grip. Open the face first, then grip, so it stays open.
- Stance: a little wider than a chip, with the feet and body aimed slightly left of the target to balance the open face.
- Ball position: forward of centre, towards the lead heel.
- Weight: evenly balanced, or slightly favouring the lead side.
- Hands: level with the ball or very slightly behind it, not pressed forward. Pressing the hands forward removes loft.
- Lower: flex the knees a little more than normal, which helps the club slide under the ball.
The swing
- Make a longer swing than you think. A lob needs a bigger swing for a short distance because so much energy goes up rather than forward.
- Swing along your body line, slightly left of the target.
- Hinge your wrists early in the backswing.
- Accelerate smoothly through the ball. Slowing down is the most common cause of a failed lob.
- Keep the face open through impact, with the clubface pointing to the sky in the follow-through.
- Let the club slide under the ball, brushing the grass. Do not try to lift the ball with your hands.
- Finish high, with your chest facing the target.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Result | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Decelerating | Duff or chunk | Make a longer swing and accelerate through |
| Scooping with the hands | Thin or skulled shot | Keep the wrists quiet through impact and trust the loft |
| Ball too far back | Low, spinning shot | Move the ball forward |
| Hands too far forward | Less loft, lower flight | Hands level with the ball |
| Closing the face | Lower shot, pulled left | Keep the face open through the finish |
| Playing from a tight lie | Bladed shot | Choose a safer shot |
Safer alternatives
- A higher pitch with a sand wedge, square face, with a normal pitching swing.
- Aim away from the flag to the fat part of the green, accepting a longer putt.
- A bump-and-run into a bank, letting the slope slow the ball, when there is no hazard in the way.
- A putt from the fringe if the ground is smooth enough.
A safe shot to 20 feet is often better than a risky one that might finish two feet away, or in the bunker.
Practising the lob
- Start on good lies. Practise on fluffy grass before moving to tighter lies.
- Use a target. Place an umbrella or a bag a few yards in front of you and lob balls over it onto a towel.
- Vary the length. Hit lobs to 10, 15 and 20 yards to learn how swing length changes distance.
- Use the clock. Feel the backswing reaching 9, 10 or 11 o'clock to control distance.
Read golf practice games and golf practice at home.
Lob shots from bunkers
The greenside bunker shot uses many of the same principles: an open face, a wide stance, ball forward and the club splashing the sand under the ball. Read how to hit bunker shots.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a lob shot and a flop shot?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Some golfers use "flop" for the most extreme version, with a very open face and a very long swing for a very short, high shot.
Do I need a lob wedge to hit a lob shot?
No. Many golfers hit lob shots with an open sand wedge. A lob wedge makes it easier to get maximum height.
Why do I keep skulling my lob shots?
Usually from scooping with the hands or decelerating, or from trying the shot from a tight lie. Accelerate through, keep the wrists quiet at impact, and choose a better lie.
Can high handicappers play the lob shot?
Yes, but it is a high-risk shot. High handicappers should first master basic chipping and pitching, and use the lob only from good lies.
The bottom line
The lob shot is a valuable weapon when you are short-sided or need to carry a hazard close to the flag. Check the lie, open the face, set the ball forward and make a long, accelerating swing that slides the club under the ball. Know the safer alternatives, and choose the lob only when the reward is worth the risk. For the rest of your short game, read how to chip in golf and wedge play: pitching and spin.
When you have little green to work with, read short-sided recovery shots.