How To Hit Off Uneven Lies

The ability to hit off uneven lies is necessary if you want to shoot low scores in the Northeast. You will encounter uphill and side hill lies, and the ball will move differently off of each. Understanding how the ball reacts to each uneven lie will help you hit long, solid iron and fairway wood shots.

Uphill Lie
The uphill lie is one of the easiest shots to hit because you have a natural uphill slope to help you get the ball in the air. Before you hit your shot there are a few things you need to do. First, the angle of the slope will cause you to hit the ball high and short. You should therefore take a club with slightly less loft to offset the uphill slope. Second, you need to aim right because the ball wants to fly to left off of an uphill lie. Lastly, you want to make sure you put more weight on your left foot, so you resist falling back when you swing.

Down Hill Lie
The down hill lie is one of the most difficult shots to hit. In order to hit a solid shot you must first set up your body parallel to the slope. Your left shoulder should be considerably lower than your right at set up. Second, put the ball further back in your stance to ensure solid contact. Third, make sure you choose a club with extra loft because the tendency is for the ball to fly low. Finally, you want to aim more to the left because the ball will want to fade to the right off the downhill slope.

Ball Above Feet
Your set up position is very important when the ball is above your feet. First, you want to grip down on the club lower than normal. Gripping down on the club will eliminate the tendency to swing too steep into the ball. Second, you want to put more weight on the balls of your feet to prevent you from falling backwards. Lastly, you want to aim to the right of the target because the ball will want to fly to the left when the ball is above your feet.

Ball Below Your Feet
The set up position is also very important when hitting a ball that is below your feet. First, you need to bend your knees more than normal at address. This will put you closer to the ball and help you make solid contact. Second, put more weight on the balls of your feet. Finally, you want to maintain your spine angle through impact to prevent you from topping the ball.

When you understand how to hit off uneven lies, you will create solid contact on the ball and hit more greens. Thank you for reading this month’s tip, and I hope you hit a great shot the next time you encounter an uneven lie. You can contact me at rickaltham@pga.com if you would like help hitting from difficult lies or if you would like to schedule a lesson.