Golf would certainly be easier to master if we played every shot from a level lie, alas this is not the case.
There are four types of sloping lies, each demanding adjustment to your setup and swing. All slope, no matter how slight will affect the impact of the clubface on the ball, so understanding how this works is vital if you are to be consistently in control. You will need to adjust your address position which will have an effect on your swing to take account of these challenges.
There are two sidehill situations, where your feet are level with each other, but higher or lower than the ball. There are uphill and downhill sloping lies, where your left foot is higher or lower than the right foot.
UPHILL LIE
Hitting up the slope creates the need for an upward angle of attack; this approach makes the ball fly higher and stop quickly. The hill inhibits the lower body action and therefore restricts the clearing of the left hip during the forward swing. The tendency is for the hands to become very active closing the clubface to the left. Points to note are:
- Take a club with less loft than normal for the yardage.
- Play the ball nearer your higher foot.
- Aim slightly more to the right, remember it is only tendency for the ball to fly left.
- Set yourself more perpendicular to the slope.
- Swing with the slope not against it, allow the sole of the club to “surf the turf”.
- Swing with a reduced speed helping balance from an uneven position.
DOWNHILL LIE
The downhill shot requires a steep downward angle of attack; this approach makes the ball fly lower with more ball speed. The slope of the hill encourages weight shift and tends to leave the clubface open, so the ball moves to the right. Points to note are:
- Take a club with more loft than normal for the shot.
- Play the ball nearer your higher foot.
- Aim slightly more to the left, take care it is only a tendency for the ball to move to the right.
- Set yourself more perpendicular to the slope.
- Swing with the slope, allow the sole of the club to “surf the turf”.
- Swing with a reduced speed helping balance from an uneven position.
BALL ABOVE YOUR FEET
The ball sitting higher than your feet will make your posture more upright and promote a flatter swing. A flatter swing leads to more activity in the hands which tends to close the clubface to the left. Points to note are:
- Grip further down the shaft.
- Position the ball in the middle of the stance.
- Aim slightly more to the right, it is a tendency for the ball to fly left.
- Swing with a reduced speed helping balance from an uneven position.
BALL BELOW YOUR FEET
The ball sitting lower than your feet will make your posture more horizontal and promote an upright swing. An upright swing leads to more activity in the upper body which tends to make the golfer swing across the ball promoting an open club face. Points to note are:
- Stand slightly closer to the ball and bow over more.
- Position the ball in the middle of your stance.
- Aim slightly more to the left, it is only a tendency for the ball to fly to the right.Swing with a reduced speed helping balance from an uneven position.
This has been written for a right-handed golfer.