Best Way to Hit Golf Shots from Sloping Lies

Lies which involve you standing above or below the ball on a side slope can be tricky to play.

When standing above the ball you will automatically stand closet to the ball and find yourself bending over more. The key to playing this shot well is to maintain good balance. If anything, you may find yourself moving slightly down the slope through impact, so take care to address the ball in the middle of the clubface or towards the toe. Keep the ball centrally in your own stance.

At the top of the backswing the swing will be more upright than normal. Just allow this to happen and don’t right it.

Through impact it is crucial to keep good balance and to stop yourself from falling forwards. Both heels will probably still be on the ground through impact. Look at the ball well to make sure you strike it from the middle of the clubface.

In keeping good balance your foot work may be slightly restricted. The followthrough should naturally be high, with the club coming up and over your shoulder. In other words, the whole swing should be on and steeper plane than your normal swing.

The effect of this higher backswing and a sloping lie is that the ball will invariably slice away to the tight. It will not only curve to the right in the air but will also spin to the right on landing. Remember that the ball will also probably land on ground sloping the same way and will therefore kick even further to the right on landing. Most golfers fail to aim sufficiently far left. With a 5 wood from such a lie, a top woman golfer hitting the ball 160 metres (175 yards) or so might aim 45 to 55 metres (49 to 60 yards) left to allow for the slice and spin.

With an iron shot you may be able to counteract the slope by turning the toe of the club inwards at address and try to hold it slightly closed through impact.

Sloping lies – below the ball

When standing below the ball your position automatically puts you further away from it. If you are small or the slope is steep and the club feels alarmingly long, grip down it slightly. If not, keep gripping at the end.

With this stance the swing should automatically be much flatter, going around your body. Remember that the plane of the swing should follow the clubshaft at address. In this case the swing will be flat and rounded.

Through impact, balance is usually far easier than when standing above the ball. Stay firmly on both feet through impact and watch the ball well. The clubface is likely to close and the ball will invariably turn to the left.

The followthrough again follows the whole playing of the swing and will he much flatter and more round the body. Don’t fight it. Just allow it to happen.

The flatter playing of swing and more rounded attack will usually see the ball bend away to the left. If you normally hook the ball, this lie will exaggerate your fault. Aim well away to the right and allow for the ball to turn low and left.

Advanced golfers can counteract the slope by holding the clubface slightly open at address and through impact and keeping the right hand further over in the grip.

With a short shot beside the green from the same sloping lie, or with the ball on this slope in a bunker, allow for the ball to turn quite dramatically to the left.