Golf Tips: Uneven Lies

Uneven lies.  Even slightly uneven lies can produce some unwanted results.  If the ball is above or below the player's feet, many problems can occur if the golfer is not swinging and setup properly. Uneven lies make it difficult for the golfer to make solid contact.  The club will "bottom out" at a different place than it regularly would, depending on the angle at which the golfer is positioned.  Depending on the lie, the ball flight will tend to vary.  For instance, a ball which lies above the feet of a right-handed golfer will tend to veer to the left.  Conversely, a ball which lies below the golfer's feet will tend to go right. Rehearse The Swing Before hitting a shot from an uneven lie the golfer should take a stance near the ball or in place which has the same slant.  From this position the golfer should take practice swings, noticing the point in the stance in which the club strikes the ground or bottoms out.  This is the position in the player's stance in which the ball should be placed. For instance, a golfer may have a severed downhill lie.  Most often in this situation, the club will bottom out farther behind the ball.  The golfer should put the ball farther back in the stance to insure that the contact is solid. Setup One great way to prevent the club from bottoming out at the wrong place is to make sure the stance is parallel with the slope if possible.  Two checkpoints are the hips and shoulders.  If a leg is bent to compensate the upper body position on the slope, the hips and shoulders may be level, but not parallel to the slope. Conclusion These tips work for full shots or even chips on hilly areas around the putting green.  Check your setup, then check where the club bottoms out and make sure the ball is in that position.