Inside Golf - September 2010

54
September 2010

www.insidegolf.com.auGOLFTIPS ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

How to tackle
the dreaded (and
misunderstood)
uphill, downhill and
sidehill lies
Trouble
shots

LisaNewling LoraineLambert

WOULDN’T it be great if we had a perfect lie every time? This rarely happens, of course, so it’s important to know how to play a shot from less-than-perfect conditions.

This month, we look at how to play a shot from a sidehill, uphill or downhill lie. While these tips should be very helpful for your next comp or social round , we strongly recommend that you practice these shots prior to being faced with them on the course. We suggest you go to your driving range and try and re-create these lies or, even better, go to your golf course where you are faced with these shots and, at a quiet time, practice these shots.

With a downhill lie, adjust your hips and shoulders to match the slope of the lie. Take a more lofted club, and aim a bit to the left of target

and 2) Stay balanced. Remember that gravity will want to pull you down the hill – thus throwing you off balance and resulting in poor shots. So it will be important to have a solid stance with plenty of balance to counteract gravity.

if you normally hit a 7-iron that particular distance, take a 6- or a 5 iron to allow for the higher ball flight off the slope of the hill.

• The ball will fly right to left; so, aim your shot to the right of your target to allow for this.

Uphill lie

• When faced with an uphill lie,
the ball will fly higher, so make
sure you take an extra club or
two depending on how much
slope you have. In other words
• This part is crucial: make sure
your shoulders and your hips are
sloping the same way as the hill.

The two most important things to
remember when you are hitting from
a hill are: 1) Maintain your posture
• Widen your stance slightly for
better balance.

• Keep your knees bent.

With an uphill lie, adjust your hips and shoulders to match the slope of the lie.

Take a less lofted club, and aim a bit to the right of target

• Keep your weight on the inside of your right foot (for right-handed players) as you take your back swing, if you allow the weight to shift to the outside of your foot you will get stuck on your back foot and probably hit on top of the ball.

• Use a ¾ length swing — it will help you keep your balance.

Downhill lie

• The ball will fly lower, so make sure
you take a more lofted club. In other
words if you normally hit a 7-iron
that particular distance, take an 8- or
a 9- iron to allow for the lower ball
flight from the slope of the hill, and
the ball will a roll a bit further too.

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