Playing From Side Hill Lies

By Ken Martin, PGA
Director of Instruction

As you know, most golf courses are not flat and it’s only a matter of time before your golf ball comes to rest on a slope. The ball may be below or above your feet; or it may be halfway up or down a slope. These positions are called side hill lies and there are minor pre-swing changes that you can make that will dramatically improve your shot making ability. The common denominator in all these shots is finding balance to go with the slope.

Ball below Your Feet

If the ball is below your feet, lean back more to maintain your balance on the side slope. Because you are leaning back, you will be farther from the ball so be certain to hold the club at the top of the handle to make use of its full length. Thin shots may be typical from this lie for two reasons. First one may straighten their legs to maintain balance and second, one may try to lift the ball by swinging up through impact. So, be certain to maintain balance with knees flexed and allow the loft on the club to create flight by using a descending approach angle to the ball.

How to Play the Shot

• Use a hip width or wider than hip width stance for better balance
• Place your weight more toward your heels than usual
• Flex your knees more than usual
• Use the full length of the club by holding at the top of the handle
• Use a more lofted club to minimize left to right spin (for right-handers)
• Rehearse your swing to find your best impact position

Ball above Your Feet

The reverse is true when the ball is above your feet. In this situation you have to lean a little into the hill to keep your balance. If you stand at your normal posture, the slope of the hill may cause you to fall backward.

How to Play the Shot

• Reduce knee flex and hip bend –
• Stand taller
• Put your weight “into the hill” – toward your toes
• Hold down on the handle to compensate for being closer to the ball
• Aim more right of target to counteract tendency to pull shots left (for right-handers)
• Maintain balance by minimizing lower body motion – use mostly an arm swing

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From the Natural Golf Forums

kiwi writes: I think I read somewhere that Moe Norman said that he held his golf clubs as if he was holding a hammer (I assume he meant his left hand). If this is true, then, when I do this, there is a definite angle between the left arm and the club shaft-looking from down the line - just like a conventional grip. This position won't allow me to place may right hand on the shaft and deliver the straight line between shaft and my right forearm. The only way I seem to able to create any "shape" at all is to hold my left hand grip with the butt end pressing on the fleshy part at the thumb base - this is very weak and can't be right? I have played the conventional way all my life with reasonable success but I'm keen to give this a go!

bhutso responds: There are a few variations but the club goes in the fingers of the left hand and more toward the palm of the right hand. From the front view the club will be in a striaght line with your left or lead arm and from the down the ine view the club will form a straight line with your right or trail arm. It is explained pretty well in the Quick Start video on the Instruction page. Hope this helps and by the way I am also a low handicap conventional golfer, and trust me if you spent the time and practice this swing correctly you will only get better and more consistent. I went from a 2 hdp too a 0.6 in 3 months (my bad shots stay in play now). GOOD LUCK!

moe2b@mac.com responds: Al. The lead hand is held in the fingers not like a hammer. Hold the lead hand conventionally. It is the trail hand that's like a hammer.

Ken M. responds: The Quick Start Video will guide you to the correct Natural Hold. Because the handle is held in the fingers of the lead hand (left hand for right-handers) there is an angle between the forearm and clubshaft when viewed from downline or from the target side (upline). With the proper trail hand hold, the clubshaft will align with the trail forearm when viewed from downline.

Thanks for your input Moe2b and bhutso!

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