Your preferred trajectory

[greenr4]

What trajectory do you like to see when you hit shots? Do you prefer a high ball flight that hangs in the air and comes straight down, or do you prefer a low piercing shot? The reason I am asking is because it feels more natural to me to hit towering high shots, but I would like a low, boring ball flight that still flies a good distance. I just wondered the advantages/disadvantages to either, aside from the obvious that high shots generally have less roll.

[vangator]

I'd prefer a mid high shot so I could stop my irons better on the greens.  However, I've always hit a very low ball.  Straight but low.

[phillyk]

Depends on the club and/or outcome I want.  Driver I'd typically like to see a lower piercing ball flight that will still carry but roll out more.  3 wood, I like a medium to high ball flight, but I'll hit the low burner when needed.  All irons, i can create enough spin to hold most greens, but I still like the higher ball flight with irons.

[SavvySwede]

Golfers and trajectories are like girls and their hair. We always want the style we don't have. I had a very high ball but switched to low and it didn't make me a better player. A lower flight will give you better control with the shorter clubs but the longer clubs can suffer. High flight is just the opposite. Ideally you want to figure out how to keep the long irons high and the short irons low. This can help http://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/82268-how-to-flight-your-wedges-and-short-irons/?page=1

Edited October 11, 2015 by SavvySwede

[Fairway_CY]

With my driver, I prefer a lower trajectory.  I've always had a very high trajectory off the tee and it kills my distance.  If, by the time I see the ball, it's above my head already... I know it's gonna 'hang'.  I like to catch the ball flight when it's about chest high... then I know it's going to bore through any wind and I'll get one of my longer (250+) drives instead of my average (225ish) drive.  

With my hybrid, 4 iron, 5 iron and 6 iron... I like a lower flight.  Again, it's an indication that I've struck the ball well and it'll get to the intended target.  Because I'm typically 165 or further out when I hit any of those clubs, I don't worry so much about them sticking on greens as I do the ball finding the general vicinity of the green and avoiding trouble.

With all my other clubs... I like to see the ball miles in the air.  If it comes out lower, it's typically a poorly struck shot and it's going to go over the target.  I worry more about distance control with these clubs than I do anything else.  The only exception to this is with my wedges from inside about 60 yards, where I'll try to keep a lower ball flight that will hit and grab quickly (providing there is no trouble in front of my target).

CY

[saevel25]

Driver that looks like launches high but has a boring trajectory.

Irons I like a medium boring trajectory. 

Full Wedges I like a lower trajectory.

[Mike Boatright]

It depends at times I like a straight shot with my driver but when i'm hitting it my best I hit a medium draw that's a bullet. Ideally with my irons I want a high baby draw and medium trajectory wedges.

[greenr4]

Driver that looks like launches high but has a boring trajectory.

Irons I like a medium boring trajectory. 

Full Wedges I like a lower trajectory.

How do you achieve these trajectories? Do you just swing or is it a conscious effort?

[saevel25]

How do you achieve these trajectories? Do you just swing or is it a conscious effort?

I cheer for Ohio State ;)

Driver is just a set up change. The ball is forward enough that I am hitting up on the ball. This adds loft to my driver giving me a higher launch angle, but lower spin. 

http://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/77244-how-to-hit-a-driver-hit-it-further-and-stop-slicing/?page

I have a shallow attack angle with the irons. This helps me not launch the ball extremely low with lots of spin. Also my irons are fitted for me which allows me to control them better. 

Wedges I just tend to always hit partial wedge shots. Even if I have a full LW I will pull my SW and hit a 3/4 shot. This type of shot naturally lowers the flight because you are not hitting the ball as hard. I also move the ball back slightly in the stance and just try feel like I hit it with a somewhat punchy feel. 

http://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/82268-how-to-flight-your-wedges-and-short-irons/?page=1

 

[Jeremie Boop]

It depends on the weather conditions, club being hit, and target being hit to. Not that I'm good enough to adjust for all those, but I know what I'd like to hit in those situations. Generally speaking though, I prefer to hit it low in the wind and high if there isn't much wind.

[greenr4]

I cheer for Ohio State ;)

Driver is just a set up change. The ball is forward enough that I am hitting up on the ball. This adds loft to my driver giving me a higher launch angle, but lower spin. 

http://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/77244-how-to-hit-a-driver-hit-it-further-and-stop-slicing/?page

I have a shallow attack angle with the irons. This helps me not launch the ball extremely low with lots of spin. Also my irons are fitted for me which allows me to control them better. 

Wedges I just tend to always hit partial wedge shots. Even if I have a full LW I will pull my SW and hit a 3/4 shot. This type of shot naturally lowers the flight because you are not hitting the ball as hard. I also move the ball back slightly in the stance and just try feel like I hit it with a somewhat punchy feel. 

http://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/82268-how-to-flight-your-wedges-and-short-irons/?page=1

 

I'm sorry for your poor taste in schools!

I am looking to get fitted for some irons in the next year or two, will they be able to give me an iron that matches the flight I want? 

[DrvFrShow]

Medium trajectory.

[saevel25]

I am looking to get fitted for some irons in the next year or two, will they be able to give me an iron that matches the flight I want? 

Depends on the swing you have. I am not saying getting fitted for irons will grant you the flight you want. If you have a very steep angle of attack then no iron will really stop the ball from being launched low and ballooning upwards. The swing matters much more for what happens with the golf ball. 

[Lihu]

I would prefer a high shot, but end up with a mid to low trajectory with my irons. My hybrid has a high and 3W has a high one with a good strike. Driver is now a mid to high trajectory thanks to my changes at the LSW clinic, and still working on getting a higher trajectory.

I definitely don't like the low trajectories from my 5i to 3i, and most of my shots with my 6i. Still lots of work on those clubs. My carry distances really suffer with these clubs.

[colin007]

I hit the ball way too high...been getting a little better but that's what happens when you flip like a politician...

[billchao]

I like to hit the ball high. I can always flight down the wedge shots when I need to, but I love the stopping power on long irons and hybrids.

It's always good to be able to hit the ball high enough to get over the trees between holes, too 

[RayG]

With the older technology- actual wooden Drivers and the first round of metal woods, I had that classic rising bullet that went out fairly low and rose to a mid height before landing and rolling out a bit. The newer stuff (first "REAL" super club was the R7 quad) has a MUCH higher trajectory than I was ever used to. Still can't seem to get used to it, though. 

Always had a high floating iron though and that's fine. At my 'prime', it was a draw off the tee and a high slight cut with the approach irons. The floating irons were good for distance control, but I learned to modify it in the wind if needed. Maybe up a club or 2 and choke down a bit into the wind.

[PJCdude]

I like my high iron shots but want to lower my driver and hybrids to get more roll.