How to play uneven lies
HOW TO PLAY UNEVEN LIES
By Michael Balderstone, PGA Master Professional
While we normally practice on driving ranges with perfectly flat surfaces, the golf course often provides us with uneven ground that will affect the flight of the golf ball. Here is a summary of what you can expect to happen (taking into account your normal shape), why it happens and how you can adapt. For simplicities sake I’m assuming a right handed player.
Ball Above Feet
Expected ball flight:
Right to left. The amount depends on the severity of slope and the loft you are using.
Why:
- ‘Face plane tilt’ is the term used to describe how the loft of the club changes the aim of the clubface when either the toe or heel sit up more than usual. See diagram. In this case the heel is up, therefore the face points left. The more loft, the more it points left.
- Your swing will be more rounded as a result of the slope, encouraging the club to approach more from the inside and the arms and club to release more.
How to adapt:
Aim further right to compensate for the curve. Grip further down the club to avoid hitting the ground first. Swing smoothly to maintain balance.
Ball Below Feet
Expected ball flight:
Left to right. The amount depends on severity of slope and the loft you are using.
Why:
- Face plane tilt will aim the face right.
- Your swing will be more upright as a result of the slope, encouraging the club to approach more from the outside and the club to release less.
How to adapt:
Aim further left to compensate for the curve. Bend more from the knees. Swing smoothly to maintain balance. Note, if you are in the rough for this shot the grass might grab the club and turn in into a right to left shot. Grip tightly in this situation.
Uphill Lie
Expected ball flight:
High, right to left. The amount depends on severity of slope.
Why:
- It goes higher because there is more dynamic loft presented at impact.
- Gravity keeps the weight more on your back foot through impact, encouraging more arm and club release, thus creating the curvature.
How to adapt:
Aim further right to compensate for the curve. Take more club. Place more weight on the back foot so you can sweep up the hill.
Downhill Lie
Expected ball flight: Low, left to right. The amount depends on severity of slope.
Why: 1. It goes lower because there is less dynamic loft presented at impact.
- Gravity increase your weight transfer through impact, making your body ‘get ahead’ of your arms and hands. This delays the arm release leading to the curvature.
How to adapt: Aim further left to compensate for the curve. Take less club. Place more weight on the front foot so you can sweep down the hill.
Give those a try next time you find yourself in one of those situations. Hopefully it saves you a few shots. Adaptability is a hallmark of all good players.
Michael Balderstone is a PGA Master Professional. He is the founder and Managing Director of Balderstone Sports Institute, which operates South Africa’s premier PGA accredited golf academy.
