Most golfers are introduced to the game at a driving range.  Often such establishments are lined with squares of artificial turf that present a flat and level surface providing the optimum conditions to hit a good shot.  Proprietors, such as TOPGOLF, rely on such conditions to provide a fun and easy golfing experience.  It is only once the golfer leaves the predictable environment of the driving range and heads to the course that he is faced with the challenges of an ever changing field of play. 

Professional golfers know how hard it is to move from the driving range to the golf course.  Even Tiger Woods has commented on this difficulty.  Knowing what to expect on the course and how to make adjustments from the driving range can make all the difference.  We will be evaluating the different ways a ball reacts when struck from uphill lies, downhill lies, and sidehill lies.  With the added difficultly of a non-standard lie, a ¾ swing is recommended.

All references are based on a right handed golfer.  Left handed golfers can expect the opposite.

How a Ball Sits In the Grass Matters

If you could bring a piece of artificial turf with you around the course and place your ball on it before each shot, reading your lie wouldn’t be necessary.  For this reason, many new golfers place their ball on a tee for every shot until they reach the green.  A ball sitting on top of the grass, like it usually does when hit in the fairway, will allow uninterrupted contact between the club face and the ball. 

The deeper a ball sits in the grass, such as in heavy rough, the less club to ball contact there is, and less predictable ball flight.  The grooves on the clubface grab the ball and create spin.  Therefore, the more the grass that gets between the club and the ball, the less spin the ball will have leaving the clubface.  As a result, the ball flight will be straighter, and the stopping distance on the ground will be longer.

How Ground Slopes Affect Shots

Hitting a shot off of a slope will cause a ball to curve differently than a shot struck from a level lie.  Each lie affects the ball fight differently and requires a different adjustment.  Four adjustments must be considered for every shot made from a sloped lie as compared to a level lie:

• Aim
• Ball position – always up the slope
• Body position
• Always swing with the slope

The Uphill Lie

The uphill lie is the easiest of the sloped lies to deal with because the slope helps get the ball in the air.  In addition, the uphill lie tends to cause to movement to the left.  Most new players curve the ball to the right, so an uphill lie tends to straighten out the ball flight.  The natural tendency is to lean into the hill to gain balance will cause problems. While one feels more stable leaning into the hill, this position will result poor contact because of a steeper attack angle.  The four adjustments are:

• Aim right (10 yards is a good place to start)
• Move the ball forward in your stance (1 inch forward of a level lie position)
• Lower the right shoulder to be parallel with the slope
• Swing up the slope

The slope adds loft to the shot, so use one club longer to ensure that the shot goes the proper distance.

The Downhill Lie

The downhill lie is the most difficult lie to deal with.  Even professional golfers would rather hit a shot from farther away than deal with a downhill lie.  Sometimes we can’t help where the ball ends up, so heed this advice.  The effect of a downhill lie is to lower the trajectory and move the ball to the right.  New players tend to move the ball in this direction already, so the shot appears extreme.  Solid contact is the goal.  The four adjustments are:

• Aim left (10 yards from a level shot)
• Move the ball back in your stance (1 inch back of a level lie position)
• Lower the left shoulder so your shoulders are parallel with the slope
• Swing down the slope

Although this shot will affectively deloft the club, there is no need to take less club. Most golfers will hit this shot the same distance as a level shot.

The Sidehill Lie – Ball Above Your Feet

This lie is the easier of the two sidehill lies for the same reason that the uphill lie was easier – it tends to straighten out the shot shape of most beginning golfers.  If your goal is to straighten out a slice, practicing from this type of lie on a regular basis is an excellent drill.

The four adjustments are:

• Aim right (10 yards from level shot)
• Move the ball away from you (1 inch farther up the hill)
• Stand more upright
• Swing with the slope

The Sidehill Lie – Ball Below Your Feet

Like the downhill lie, this shot is made more difficult for the beginning golfer because it accentuates their common shot shape.   Your natural tendency to “sit” into the hill will make the ball seem farther away.

The four adjustments are:

• Aim left (10 yards from a level shot)
• Move the ball toward you (1 inch up the hill)
• Concentrate on maintaining knee flex
• Swing with the slope

Putting It All Together

Understanding how changes in terrain affect ball flight and setup will lead to lower scores.  The best way to experiment with different lies is by playing golf.  When you come across an unusual situation on the course, remember the four adjustments and learn from every swing.