In today’s blog post, we are talking about uneven lies! If you have gotten super comfortable hitting balls on a driving range or a practice mat, you know that when it comes to playing in a practical setting, you are unlikely to encounter perfect lies 100% of the time. While it’s really important to hone your skills when it comes to your full swing, it’s also really important to understand that managing this course is another huge component to lowering your scores and reducing your handicap. So here’s a complete (yet concise) guide to helping you deal with uneven lies.

Sidehill lie - ball below feet

While left handed golfers make up about 10% of all golfers, I personally don’t like to say “just do the opposite of the right handed golfer”. Because it’s important to understand the difference for right and left handed golfers, I have broken it down to more easily understand (hopefully).

• Sidehill Lie - Ball Below Your Feet

  • For a right handed golfer:

    • Club face will point to the more to the right

    • You will need to aim further left of the target

    • Normal Ball position and grip

  • For a left handed golfer:

    • Club face will point more to the left

    • You will need to aim further right of the target

    • Normal Ball position and grip

• Sidehill Lie - Ball Above Your Feet

  • For a right handed golfer:

    • Club face will point to the left

    • You will need to aim further right of the target

  • For a left handed golfer:

    • Club face will point right

    • You will need to aim further left of the target

• Uphill Lie

  • This will increase the loft of the club and the ball will go higher in the air

  • Play the ball in normal ball position or slightly further forward in your stance.

  • Match your shoulders to the slope of the hill

• Downhill Lie

  • This will decrease the loft of the club and the ball will go lower in the air

  • Play the bal further back in your stance

  • Feel like your spine is more upright; matching your shoulders to the slope - this will help you hit down on the ball

Uphill lie

Mike showing how the Pitch Assist training aid can show you exactly what your club face is doing. Here, he shows the club face pointing to the left on a side hill lie where the ball is above your feet.

As always, try to find a place to practice these shots. We don’t often get to practice these shots at the driving range or practice facility so it’s important you practice them when you get a chance.