Golf Tips » July 1998: Uneven Lies, Part 3 – Sidehill Lies – Ball Above the Feet

As you can see in Picture #1 I am in a situation where the ball is above my feet. This means that in order to keep my normal posture I must grip the club a little shorter. If I do not, the club will hit the ground first – or as a good friend of mine once said – "I hit the big ball instead of the little ball "

Picture #1

Here is one of the errors I see out on the course – Picture #2 – straightening the body and especially the legs – to compensate for the club feeling too long – this position will tend to make you lose your balance very easily – something you do not want at any time.

Picture #2

Here are a few rules:

1. Take one club more ( a 7 instead of an 8) – play the ball off the middle of your stance.
2. Aim to the right (for right handed golfers) as the ball will tend to hook or pull.
3. Grip the club shorter – the amount of slope will determine how much, more slope means shorter grip – make sure you are in your normal posture.
4. Make as smooth a swing as possible – don’t try and pull the ball back on line – it will do that on it’s own.