[Kim Maengnyoung's Golf English Conversation] "This Is How to Hit a Lob Shot"

A lob shot is used when there is no space in front of the pin or when there are obstacles such as bunkers in front of the green.

'Lob shot.'

This is a shot played around the green by launching the ball high in order to attack the hole. It is also called a 'feather shot.' A lob shot is necessary when the pin is positioned at the front of the green with little space, or when you need to avoid obstacles such as bunkers or water hazards in front of the green. The goal is to maximize the ball's trajectory, land it softly, and have it stop immediately or spin back. (A lob shot is to get the ball to fly over an obstacle and stop quickly or spin back once it hits the ground.)

Choose a sand wedge or lob wedge with a large loft angle, typically 58 to 60 degrees. The usual distance is 40 to 60 meters. The ball should be positioned either at the left heel or in front of the left big toe. (The ball position should be at the left foot's heel or at the big toe.) The weight distribution should be 60% on the left foot and 40% on the right. Take an open stance. (Weight balance 60:40 to the left foot and take open stance.) The backswing and downswing should be about half and three-quarters of a full swing, respectively.

Use a steep, V-shaped swing, striking the ball firmly to generate spin. (Steep up and steep down when take back swing.) The swing path should be out-to-in, keeping the chest and club moving together. (A swing must be out to in, keep the chest and the club moving together.) During the downswing, make sure the club head passes the hands first. (The club head should be the first than hands during the downswing.)

To ensure precise impact, the body should rotate and follow the ball. (Turning with the body following the ball is very important to ensure a good impact.) You can control distance by adjusting how much you open the club face. Remember, the lie must be good. If the ball is sitting tight on the ground, it may be struck with the club's leading edge, causing a topping shot. The lob shot is a high-difficulty shot, and the success rate is low for golfers below the intermediate level.

A: What is a lob shot in golf?

B: It is a short-distance stroke with a lot of height and a lot of spin.

A: In what situation is the lob shot usually used?

B: A lob shot is a high, soft shot that lands and stops very quickly. It is usually used when the flag is close to the front of the green and there is a bunker or rough, in short, it is used when there is an obstacle blocking the flag.

A: Which club is used for the lob?

B: A lob wedge or sand wedge with a loft of 56 to 60 degrees.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyoung, golf columnist

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.