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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Intermediate Golf
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There are essentially four types of uneven lies: • Uphill lie • Downhill lie • Ball below feet • Ball above feet For each of these situations you must focus particularly on your setup. It is crucial to your success. Let’s start with the easiest shot to perform, the uphill lie. The first thing you should remember is to always play the ball more off the uphill foot (the steeper the slope the more you move the ball forward). By just remembering this simple tip for your setup, you have a solid chance for success. Next, position your stance and body so that your body follows the contour of the ground. Let gravity help you find the proper position. At this point, you may feel more weight on your downhill side. This is OK, because gravity will force your weight there. Remember to take one more club, because the ball will fly higher and therefore shorter. Finally, keep in mind that there’s a good possibility you will draw the ball, so aim accordingly. To make a shot from the downhill lie, you can use the opposite technique you used on the uphill lie. Remember once again to play the ball more off the uphill foot than you normally would for a flat shot, which in this case will be your back foot. This is a difficult shot, so take a practice swing to make sure your swing bottoms out in the correct place. As you set up to the shot, make sure you are positioned to be able to swing down the slope through the ball. Important: If you do not swing with the slope, you will likely top the ball or hit it thin. I recommend you take a more lofted club, since the slope de-lofts the club and the tendency of this shot is to go much lower and to fade. The best tip for success in making a shot with the ball below feet lie is to flex your knees and really squat down for this shot. From this point, maintain the knee flex and attempt to stay down there long enough to hit through the ball. The ball flight will generally be a fade, because the swing will require a more up-and-down motion. The ball above feet lie can be a fun shot if you remember to stand taller and grip down on the club the appropriate amount. The ball is closer to you so you need to take a practice swing to determine how much to grip down on the club. Once this is determined, check your aim, because there is a good chance you are going to draw or possibly hook the ball from this lie. Since you are gripping down on the club, you should take at least one more club to make sure you hit the ball the proper distance. Susan Roll, PGA, LPGA, is the co-owner of the Carlsbad Golf Center and the current Southern California PGA Golf Professional of the Year. |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
Great article Susan! Uneven lies can be challenging even for intermediate and advanced golfers. The Golf Dome Platform was designed to help golfers practice the techniques described above on the driving range, so they have the confidence they need when out on the course. The Golf Dome Platform is a great instructional tool as well to help beginners understand how to position their feet and distribute their weight as you suggest.
| Comment at 1/26/2012 |
Great article Susan! Uneven lies can be challenging even for intermediate and advanced golfers. The Golf Dome Platform was designed to help golfers practice the techniques described above on the driving range, so they have the confidence they need when out on the course. The Golf Dome Platform is a great instructional tool as well to help beginners understand how to position their feet and distribute their weight as you suggest.
| Comment at 1/26/2012 |
