Golf Tips » May 1998: Uneven Lies, Part 1 – Uphill Lies

Most students I work with , including low handicap players, are confused as how to play the ball from uphill and downhill lies. This uncertainty often results in bad shots. So let’s set out a few principles:

Picture #1.

As you can see from picture #1, I have the ball position forward in my stance and my body tilted almost perpendicular to the slope. Most of my weight is on my back foot.

Picture #2.

In picture #2, I have completed the shot and you notice that my weight is still on my back foot. This is one of the few shots in golf where there is no weight shift. If you try to shift your weight to the front foot you will raise your body and you will top the ball.

Here are a few rules:

1. Take at least one extra club ( a 7 iron instead of an 8), or maybe two if the slope is a severe one.
2. Aim to the right (for right handed golfers) as the tendency is to pull the ball.
3. On uphill or downhill lies, always play the ball off your highest foot – in this case the front foot.