Golf courses are all different. Some are flat. Others are hilly. On hilly courses you’ll encounter plenty of uphill lies, so you need to know how to handle them. Consider these three factors when hitting from an uphill lie:
Thanks to these factors, playing from an uphill lie is tricky but not difficult. Below are five keys to hitting from an uphill lie:
Club selection is a key consideration. The angle of the slope changes the effective loft of a club, changing the shot’s trajectory. In severe cases, a 7-iron becomes a 9-iron. Experience will tell you just how much of a change to expect.
Another consideration is stance. Tailor your stance to the slope. Your spine needs to be perpendicular to the slope, meaning your shoulders will tilt back and your right knee will support most of your weight (for right-handers). Weight distribution at address ultimately determines the shot’s success.
A third consideration is your backswing. Keep your weight pretty much where it was at address in the backswing. The less drift, the cleaner the shot. And concentrate on making a wide takeaway and keeping your wrists quiet in the backswing’s early stages.
Finally, go with the slope. Since your weight’s farther back and your lower body less active than usual, you’ll have a tendency of pulling the ball left, caused by your hands getting over active at impact. Top avoid this, keep the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible by swinging with the slope. Finish in balance, with the right leg supporting some of your weight.
The best drill for hitting from an uphill lie is to drop a ball on an upslope, and hit. Work on the shot until it becomes second nature.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that was able to figure out the secrets of shooting in the 70’s on a consistent basis without quitting your day job. Jack has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.