tip on uneven lies

[InTheTwenties]

Good news, I'm breaking 100 consistently. The bad news, is when I'm on a hook lie or a slice lie (aka- uneven lie), my shot is not good. Sometimes i get lucky, sometimes not.

Anyone know a good practice setup for uneven lies?

Someone told me if you use the range mat, and put a 2x4 underneath, the lie would be uneven thus emulating the fairway. Opinions on this?

thanks in advance.

[Richie3Jack]

Good news, I'm breaking 100 consistently. The bad news, is when I'm on a hook lie or a slice lie (aka- uneven lie), my shot is not good. Sometimes i get lucky, sometimes not.

A few things to know about uneven lies (provided you are a right handed golfer):

1. If the ball is below your feet, the ball is going to go from left to right. So you'll need to aim left to play for the slice. 2. If the ball is above your feet, the ball is going to go from right to left. So you'll need to aim right to play for the hook. 3. If it's a downhill or uphill lie, then you should play the ball closer to the "higher foot." So on a downhill lie you want to play it more towards the right foot which is higher. If it's uphill, then you want to play it more towards the left foot. I grew up practicing these shots by just finding spots on a my local course course and hitting shots from there when I had the time. But if you know the basics of uneven lies, then you should be able to hit them almost as well as you hit shots from even lies. 3JACK

[bruce]

Plus If the ball is below your feet i use a little more knee flex and if its above my feet i also choke down on the club a bit.

[sonicblue]

The notions about what the ball does off each lie is deceiving. It's not that you "tend to hook" a ball above your feet, e.g., it's about what gravity does to it, not spin.

Picture a perfectly level world. Gravity pulls perfectly evenly on your stance, you're balanced and set. You hit the ball perfectly, perpendicular to your toe line, out toward your target. Gravity pulls it straight down, it's all good. Now, picture an imaginary arrow that still points perfectly straight down, representing gravity's direction, but tilt the "playing board" all around....

* Ball above your feet -> your weight will go toward your heels, and the tendency is to fall backwards, usually meaning you toe it. A ball struck perfectly perpendicular to your toe line, as gravity affects it, will fall left.

* Ball below your feet -> your weight will go toward your toes, and the tendency is to fall forwards, usually meaning you heel it. A ball struck perfectly perpendicular to your toe line, as gravity affects it, will fall right.

* Ball uphill -> your weight will go toward your back foot, and the tendency is to fall away from the target, usually meaning you pull it. A ball struck perfectly will balloon upwards.

* Ball downhill -> your weight will go toward your front foot, and the tendency is to fall toward the target, usually meaning you push it. A ball struck perfectly will come out low and run.

Which leads to, there's only two rules about hitting with uneven lies:

1) Know which way the perfectly struck shot will go and pick your target accordingly

2) When you set up, match your body to the slope and absolutely focus on balance to hold it there during your swing. Normally, this requires taking more club because you'll have to swing easier, quieter and with less lower body action to do so.

[iacas]

The notions about what the ball does off each lie is deceiving. It's not that you "tend to hook" a ball above your feet, e.g., it's about what gravity does to it, not spin.

Dude, gravity has nothing to do with it.

With the ball above your feet, you're essentially playing a club that's too upright. The face will point a little left. With the ball below your feet, you're essentially playing a club that's too flat. The face will point a little right. That's all there is to it. On an uphill stance, you play the ball forward in your stance, which is the cause of the pulls. The clubface is further along its arc than normal and tends to be closed more than a few inches back. Vice versa for a downhill lie - ball is played back, so club hasn't quite had a chance to close enough.

[Soup Fan]

The most important thing I have found about having the ball below your feet is to make sure you are not dropping your shoulders down to the ball, rather, bend those knees so you can maintain proper posture at address. It is a little easier said than done with fairway woods and long irons, but it will help you make better contact.