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Newsletter - Issue 23 Date 06/09/07
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Golf Tip: Uphill and Sidehill lies
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If anyone has a golf question that they would like answered, 
please email your question to: teachingpro@bataviacc.com and 
I'll do my best to answer it in an upcoming newsletter.

Tom F. emailed this question:

I have a problem with uphill and downhill lies I always seem 
to feel like I'm falling over.  Any ideas?  

Thanks for the question Tom.  

I'll answer your question, then I'll give you some information 
on how to deal with those lies.

You probably will tend to feel a bit unbalanced when setting up 
for either of these shots, because you have to adjust your knees 
to allow your shoulders to get parallel to the ground you are 
standing on.  There's also a good chance that you may fall back 
a bit after hitting a shot from an extreme uphill lie, or fall 
forward a bit when hitting from an extreme downhill lie.

All I can say is keep your knees braced for the possibility and
put a good swing on the ball, the feeling of imbalance can't be
helped if you are setting up correctly.

Don't get confused between an uphill lie, and when the ball is 
simply above your feet. These are 2 different lies, and should be 
addressed separately. Also, don't get confused with the downhill 
lie, and the ball being below your feet. Again, these are 2 
different lies. 
 
Let's start with the easiest shot in golf, the up-hill lie. If you 
struggle with this shot, you probably swing the golf club to 
vertical into the ground and hit a fat shot. Before you prepare for 
an uphill lie, you need to think of a few important items first.
 
1. Make sure you take a less lofted club. When you have an uphill 
lie, it will make the ball go HIGHER and SHORTER. 
2. The ball will have a tendency to hook to the left, so aim a 
little to the right. 
3. To avoid hitting the shot fat, check your shoulder alignment and 
make sure they are parallel to the ground you are standing on. If 
you are on an uphill lie, your back shoulder should be a little 
lower that your leading shoulder. 
4. The ball should be positioned according to what club you are 
using, as though you were on a level lie. (A bit forward for longer 
clubs.) 
5. You want to make sure you follow through HIGH after impact.
 
Now we can move on to one of the hardest shots in golf, the down 
hill lie. If you have a tendency to struggle with this shot, the 
miss hit is usually a top. Follow the steps below and you will see 
a huge change in your down hill shots.
 
1. Because the ball will fly lower, you can take a more lofted club 
to help the ball go a little higher. 
2. The ball will have a tendency to curve to the right, aim a little 
to the left. 
3. If you have your shoulders at address tilted level to the down 
slope of your lie, this will encourage the club to swing DOWN into 
the ball (correct) and not up in the down swing. Thus, you will hit 
the bottom of the ball and not the top. 
4. Play the ball in your stance according to the club you are using 
(again, a little forward for a longer club). 
5. You want to make sure you follow through LOW to the ground after 
impact.