Slanted lies

[golfaddiction]

I played at a championship course last week and there wasn't a flat lie on the course. Does anyone have any tips for hitting from slanted lies where the ball is above or below your feet or on an up or down slope? How do you practice this at a range?

I had problems with full shots but also had a bunch of short pitch and chip shots (inside 15 yards) where the ball was below my feet. I was utterly unsuccessful in getting the ball in the air and on line.

[trumps4]

Living in the mountains of NC, pretty much every course I play regularly has dramatic elevation changes. So, naturally I see a lot of uneven lies. For me, I focus on balance and ball position at set up.
If the ball is below my feet, I will focus on comfortably keeping my weight back a little more at address. I will also set up a little closer to the ball.
If the ball is above my feet, I apply the opposite techniques.
For uphill and downhill lies I will try and align my shoulders with the slope at address. Ball position is back a little for downhill and up a little for up hill.

[JetFan1983]

When the ball is below my feet, I used to always hit a weak dribbler to the right. Pros call it a "cut lie" because the general result is a cut/fade of some kind. The grass range I practice at is not level at all. You can practice these types of shots, as well as shots where the ball is above your feet. It has helped me immensely.

When the ball is below my feet, I flex my knees a bit more and have my weight a bit more on heels. I take my normal swing but make a conscious effort to keep my right foot on the ground at impact. This seems to help me hit the ball straight off these lies and gives me good balance.

I find hitting a ball above my feet is a lot easier than when it's below. I basically set up to it normally, maybe with some weight a little more on the balls of my feet, but not over-doing it. I choke up on the club so I don't hit it fat and I take my normal swing. When I mishit it, it's always with too much of a draw, but if my balance is good, the shot comes out straight.

Experiment and see what happens for you.

As for an up or down hill slope, it's pretty simple. You just align your shoulders to the slope and then swing normally. The only thing you have to be aware of is that when hitting uphill, you are adding loft to your club. So take one more club and use a 3/4 swing to get your normal distance.

Anyways, I haven't played a round of golf in a while and I'm just getting healthy again. I was hitting some good balls on the range yesterday, and feel like I'm on the brink of becoming a half-decent ball striker!