Watching a golf ball climb high into the sky, seemingly pause at its apex, and then parachute softly down onto the green is one of the most satisfying sights in golf. This shot, often called a riser, is not just for show, it's a highly functional tool that allows you to attack tucked pins, clear tall obstacles, and hold even the firmest of greens. Executing it successfully gives you a major advantage on the course. In this guide, we’ll break down the mechanics in a simple way, so you can add this impressive shot to your arsenal and hit it with confidence.
A riser is a golf shot that launches on a strong, medium trajectory and then continues to climb - or "rise" - partway through its flight before descending steeply. This differs from a "ballooning" shot, which shoots straight up with excessive spin and loses distance, or a standard shot that reaches its peak height earlier in its flight path. The key to a proper riser is the combination of a powerful launch and high backspin. The spin acts like the wings on an airplane, generating lift that keeps the ball ascending skyward longer than usual.
Knowing when to deploy the riser is just as important as knowing how to hit it. This isn't your stock, everyday shot. It’s a specialty shot for specific situations:
To understand how to hit this shot, it helps to have a basic grasp of what makes it happen. Don't worry, we're not heading into a physics lecture. It boils down to one simple idea: maximizing spin loft.
Spin loft is the difference in angle between the club's dynamic loft at impact (the loft you deliver) and your angle of attack (the direction, up or down, the club is moving at impact). A bigger difference between these two angles "squeezes" the ball against the clubface for a fraction longer, producing more backspin.
For a riser shot, the goal is to deliver the club with plenty of loft while swinging with a shallow or slightly upward angle of attack. This creates optimal spin loft without sacrificing clubhead speed. You aren't trying to help the ball get airborne by scooping it, you're creating the conditions for speed and spin to work together, so the ball climbs on its own.
Now, let’s get to the fun part - the actual mechanics of hitting the shot. We'll focus on an iron shot first, as this is where you'll use the riser most often.
More than half the battle is won before you even start the swing. Your setup needs to prime your body and club to create that high-launch, high-spin environment.
With the setup dialed in, the swing itself focuses on creating effortless speed and a full, uninhibited release through the ball.
Imagine your finish position: belt buckle pointing to the target, most of your weight on your lead foot, and standing tall. If you can hold that pose, you’ve likely made a good, balanced swing.
Yes, you can absolutely hit a towering riser with a driver, and it's a great shot to have when you need maximum carry distance. The principles are similar to the iron shot, but slightly exaggerated.
This is by far the most common error. The golfer tries to actively lift the ball into the air with their hands and wrists. This kills clubhead speed and leads to thin contact or chunks.
The Fix: Trust the loft. Your setup and the loft of your club are designed to get the ball airborne. During your swing, focus only on turning your body through to the finish. Let your arms be passive passengers that release the club, don't try to manipulate the clubface with your hands.
Another classic attempt to 'help' the ball up, this involves your weight hanging back on your trail leg through impact, causing inconsistent strikes.
The Fix: Practice hitting shots and immediately walking toward the target. You can’t do this if your weight is stuck on your back foot. Another great drill is to simply swing to your finish position and hold it for three seconds. Make sure 90% of your weight has transferred to your lead side.
Shooting for a high finish sometimes causes golfers to stop turning their body through the shot, letting their arms take over entirely. this leads to a loss of power and control.
The Fix: On the driving range, hit shots focusing on finishing with your chest and belt buckle pointing directly at your target. This forces your body to continue rotating through impact, which keeps the club on a good path and maintains your speed.
Learning how to hit a riser is about changing your setup to leverage the club's built-in loft and then making a confident, balanced swing. By moving the ball forward and keeping your shaft neutral, you set the stage for a high, soft-landing shot. The key is to commit to the swing, trust that the club will do the work, and finish in a proud, tall position.
Of course, mastering any new shot comes down to practice and knowing the right time to use it on the course. We believe that with the right guidance, any golfer can improve. With our app, Caddie AI, you can get instant strategic advice right on the course for tricky lies and tough decisions - like whether a high-flying riser is the right play for the situation at hand. You can even send a picture to get an instant recommendation, removing guesswork and letting you commit to every shot with confidence.
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