Awkward Lies in Golf, Part 1

Awkward Lies in Golf, Part 1 explains how to hit balls from 2 specific awkward positions.

Most players love hitting balls on the range or of the teeing ground as these are the only areas on a golf course that are flat.

The majority of all golf shots are hit from positions that are far from flat. These are the Awkward Lies.

In this blog post, I will run through two very different positions that you can find yourself in.

Firstly, the Uphill Lie and then, later on, I will discuss the Downhill Lie.

I will explain these shots as easily as possible using 3 bullet points that everyone needs to follow.

The 3 bullet points to success are:

• Set-Up
• Club selection
• Swing

For the purpose of this blog, all of my tips are based on a right-handed player.

The Uphill Lie

If there is such a thing as a players favourite awkward lie, then this is it.

Players favour this position as they can launch the ball much higher than normal and it is the easier of the awkward lies in golf.

• Set-up
  The player needs to be set up in such a way that their shoulders & hips are parallel to the ground. (See photo1) and not leaning against the slope (See photo2)
  This will mean that the majority of your weight will be on the lower foot (right foot)
  The ball position should be slightly more forward to help you swing to the contour of the slope.
• Club selection
  Due to the set-up position, there will be an excessive amount of loft on the clubface which will force the ball to fly very high. So high, in fact, it will tend to lose distance.
  Therefore taking a longer club is vital. For example, taking a 7 iron instead of an 8 iron.
• Swing
  The swing will feel quite normal on the backswing but very different on the follow-through.
  It should be quite difficult to finish off the swing, depending on the slope, as the weight transfer will be restricted.
  As a result of the short finish, the hands will be more dominant in the swing and the ball will tend to fly slightly left of the target.

In a nutshell: Set up with the weight on the lower foot, the ball towards the higher foot and take 1 club more & aim slightly to the right of the target.

Photo1

Photo2

The Downhill Lie

This is a golfers least favourite shot because the ball flight will be a lot lower than normal and golfers like to see high ball flights.

• Set-up
  The player needs to be set up in such a way that their shoulders & hips are parallel to the ground. (See photo3) and not against the slope (See photo4)
  This will mean that the majority of your weight will be on the lower foot (left foot)
  The ball position should be slightly more back in the stance to help you swing to the contour of the slope.
• Club selection
  Due to the set-up position, the clubface will be de-lofted which will force the ball to fly very low. So low, in fact, it will tend to gain more roll and can increase the overall distance.
  Therefore taking a shorter club is vital. For example, taking an 8 iron instead of a 7 iron.
• Swing
  The swing will feel quite restricted on the backswing but normal on the follow-through.
  It should be quite difficult to finish off the backswing, depending on the slope, as the weight transfer will be static.
  As a result of the short backswing and little weight transfer, the swing will become quite steep. So steep that the clubface may be open at impact, forcing the ball to travel slightly to the right of the target.

In a nutshell: Set up with the weight on the lower foot, the ball towards the higher foot and take 1 club less & aim slightly to the left of the target.

Photo3

Photo4

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