How to Hit a Riser: 5 Tips for High Launch & Max Carry

Britt Olizarowicz

Jun 4, 2025 . 5 mins read

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The riser is a shot that golfers with a lot of swing speed tend to hit naturally.

If you’ve ever walked up and down the range and seen a player hit a shot that, midway through, started to rise even higher, you’ve witnessed the riser.

This high-launching shot can easily maximize carry distance, clear hazards, and land softly on greens. If you want to hit a riser in golf, here are some of the tips you’ll need to get it done.

How to Hit a Riser (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read through our entire guide on how to hit a riser, here are some of the most important points to take with you right now.

• Move the ball forward in your stance to naturally increase loft.
• Accelerate through impact to maximize launch angle.
• Finish with high hands to promote a higher trajectory.
• Use wrist extension at impact to control launch height—HackMotion is ideal for monitoring this.
• Maintain a stable axis in your swing to ensure consistent ball striking.

5 Keys to Hitting a Riser for Max Distance & Height

Adjust Your Ball Position Forward

For a higher ball flight, move the golf ball slightly forward in your stance. Positioning the ball closer to your lead foot naturally increases the effective loft at impact.

When you make ball position changes, do it just a half a ball at a time.

If you push the ball too far forward, you may top it. Just a half a ball forward of standard for the club in your hand is enough.

Accelerate Through the Ball

A common mistake when trying to hit the ball higher is slowing down at impact. Players slow down to help the ball get in the air, but this strategy doesn’t work.

Speed is your ally in getting more launch.

Focus on creating maximum clubhead speed through and just beyond the impact zone. If you commit fully and increase your speed, you’ll have an easier time compressing the golf ball, increasing overall launch.

Finish High with Your Hands

Your finish position greatly influences your shot trajectory. Just because the shot is done, you aren’t done.

When setting up to hit a riser in golf, one of your swing thoughts should be to finish high with your hands. Aim for a finish with the hands held high above your head.

This encourages a swing path that adds loft naturally and enhances your launch angle.

Maintain Lead Wrist Extension at Impact

The position of your lead wrist at impact significantly affects loft.

For most golf shots the goal is to increase flexion at impact and square the clubface. This maximizes distance and helps you hit straighter shots.

With a riser shot, you’ll want a little extra extension in the lead wrist at impact.

More wrist extension (slightly cupped) at impact helps keep the clubface open enough to increase trajectory. Using HackMotion, you can precisely measure and train the ideal wrist angles, ensuring you achieve consistent riser shots.

Stable Axis and Balanced Weight Shift

Maintain a centered pivot during your backswing, avoiding excessive lateral movement.

On the downswing, shift your weight slightly forward to achieve a balanced finish, but avoid excessive forward movement, which can steepen your swing too much.

A balanced weight transfer allows optimal launch conditions, helping you sweep the ball upward to create maximum height and carry.

Drills to Practice Hitting a Riser

Now that you have the basics of how to hit a riser, here are some drills you can work on to practice this shot at the driving range.

HackMotion Casting Drill

Early casting (releasing your wrist angles too soon) robs power and height from your shots.

HackMotion’s Casting Drill helps prevent premature wrist release, allowing better wrist extension at impact to achieve the desired high launch.

You’ll have more control over ball flight in general if you can eliminate casting.

High-Hand Finish Drill

If you aren’t used to finishing with your hands high, try this high-hand finish drill. It helps create a slightly steeper swing path, which will increase the ball flight.

Lead Wrist Extension at Impact Drill

This drill helps train proper wrist extension at impact, which increases loft and promotes a higher launch ideal for hitting a riser.

Many golfers mistakenly flex (bow) the lead wrist too much, reducing loft and causing lower ball flight.

Final Thoughts

Learning to consistently hit a riser shot adds versatility and scoring potential to your golf game. It’s not a shot you will hit on every approach shot.

By incorporating these simple setup and swing adjustments, along with targeted drills, you’ll quickly find that launching high, golf shots isn’t all that difficult.

Remember, maintaining ideal wrist positions is crucial for controlling trajectory and loft. Use HackMotion as your “coach on your wrist,” helping you master wrist extension at impact and unlock higher, more accurate ball flights.