When should you use a low shot instead of lifting the ball?

The decision depends on what you have in front of you and what you want the shot to achieve: reducing the effect of the wind, keeping the ball under the branches or allowing it to run towards the target.

Being able to vary the height of your shots gives you more options during a round. There are situations where a higher ball flight provides the control you need, while keeping the ball low can make the shot simpler.

The wind can make a lower trajectory the better choice

A headwind is one of the clearest situations in which to consider a low shot. A ball travelling higher remains exposed to the conditions for longer and can lose distance or move away from the intended line.

If you are playing into a strong wind, keeping the ball closer to the ground reduces its time in the air and can limit its influence. You still need to consider the strength and direction of the wind before choosing the shot.

A crosswind presents a different challenge. The ball will still be affected during its flight, so lowering the trajectory does not remove the effect. It simply reduces the amount of time the wind has to influence the ball.

The run after the bounce can work in your favour

There are shots where you do not need the ball to fly all the way to the target. If you have a clear area with enough room for it to roll, landing the ball earlier can be a useful option.

This requires you to look beyond the end of the flight. A firm surface will allow the ball to keep moving, while a slope can speed it up, slow it down or change its direction. The landing point therefore becomes an important part of the shot.

The distance you have to the flag is not always the same as the distance the ball needs to travel through the air.

Some obstacles require you to play the ball higher

A low shot makes little sense when the line of play is blocked by an obstacle that the ball needs to clear. Branches, a steep rise or any other obstruction between you and the target may require a higher trajectory.

Height can also be useful around the green. If the flag is close to the front of the green and there is little room for the ball to run, you may want enough flight for it to land and stop before travelling beyond the target.

In these situations, trying to keep the ball low can add a difficulty that the shot does not need.

Your lie affects the shot you can play

Before thinking about trajectory, look at how the ball is sitting. From a clean lie on the fairway, you will usually have more options. In thick rough, on a slope or from an uneven lie, making solid contact can become the main challenge.

A ball sitting slightly down in the grass, for example, may make it harder to produce a clean, high flight. On a slope, the position of your body and club will also affect how the ball comes away.

A shot that works from a flat fairway may no longer be the right choice a few metres further on. When you reach the ball, adapt the trajectory to the lie you actually have.

A low shot requires you to read the ground ahead

Keeping the ball low is not simply about reducing its height. You also need to consider the surface it will find when it lands.

If there is plenty of room to run, that distance can be part of the shot from the start. An uneven area, a pronounced slope or an obstacle beyond the first bounce can make the final roll much harder to predict.

Before you hit, identify where you want the ball to land and look at what comes next. That gives you a clearer picture of the whole shot, from the ball’s position to where you want it to finish.

Practising different trajectories helps you make better decisions

The best way to understand these differences is to practise them. On the practice ground, you can work on the same distance with different trajectories and see how the flight changes, where the ball lands and how far it continues to roll.

It is also useful to practise with different wind strengths and targets. Over time, these references make it easier to recognise similar situations on the course and choose an option more quickly.

At Golf Alcanada, the practice area features Toptracer, allowing you to access data on your shots and see how the ball behaves. The club was the first in Mallorca to introduce the system to its practice area.

More options for every shot

A low shot can be the right answer when you are playing into the wind or have enough room to let the ball run. A higher trajectory makes more sense when you need to clear an obstacle or stop the ball in a limited area.

Working on both options at the practice area helps you recognise the differences and use them when they matter. At Golf Alcanada, the golf school can complement that practice with professional guidance, helping you work on your technique for different playing situations.

The next time the wind changes the conditions or you need to decide how to get around an obstacle, consider the height of the shot as well. It can be the detail that determines whether the ball finishes where you planned.