Improve Your Golf Game By Mastering Shot Trajectories

Learning trajectory control is an important golf skill. It can help you out of trouble when you need it the most, like when you're in a clump of trees. Controlling trajectory can help cut strokes and improve your golf score.

Your club has two lofts. The first is that created by the club face's angle when the club shaft is perpendicular to the ground. This is the loft the club was designed with. The other loft is the club's "effective" loft, the loft created at impact. Thus, you can use the same club to generate high or low shots once you can control the loft.

Here are some simple golf tips to improve your golf game by learning to control golf shot trajectories:

LOW TRAJECTORY
A low trajectory is ideal on bare dirt or rough, or for punching out of trees or in a strong wind. It's generally a safe play. Even not so great shots can turn out alright because the ball keeps rolling. With this shot, the ball has more backspin than usual, so you can sometimes make it stop short.

First, the ball should be in line with your back ear. Both hands should be close to your front thigh and in front of the ball at set-up and impact. Lean forward so the club pinches the ball against the ground.

MEDIUM TRAJECTORY
A medium trajectory is perfect for medium to light rough or normal fairway conditions, when there are no obstacles. But it's harder to make solid contact. This swing is more of a sweeping motion.

Here the ball should be in line with your belt buckle. Keep your hands under your belt buckle, and lean forward slightly. Lean the shaft forward a slightly to help get solid contact. Distribute your weight evenly over both feet.

HIGH TRAJECTORY
Shooting a high trajectory shot requires lots of practice, but is a tool worth developing. Use it when the ball is resting on a cushion of grass and you need altitude quickly.

The ball should be in line with your left ear. Place your hands slightly back of center. If your hands are too far back, you might hit a skulled shot. Aim left of the target and open the clubface. This can be tricky. It's not always easy to slide the club under the ball while leaning the shaft back. This shot as it can cost you strokes if you don't do it right.

Practice these shots until you can control the trajectory. It's one of the keys to improve your golf game.