Golf tips from a professional

WORKING at a driving range, I spend a fair amount of time practicing and teaching on perfect flat lies.

On the golf course however, many lies have some degree of slope, ranging from so slight it’s barely noticeable, to the most severe possible.

While coaching and practicing on the level is the norm, we need to adapt to the on course situations. That’s just one reason why one of the best ways of learning to play the game, is to play the game more.

This week we’ll look at shots played uphill and downhill. There are a couple of changes required and when phrased correctly, it can mean there is only one rule to apply to both situations.

When playing from any lie, the golfer’s spine will be close to 90 degrees to the ground and this stays the same when faced with up and downhill lies.

The rule for both lies is pretty straight forward — you should put more weight on the lower foot and the ball should be positioned more towards the higher foot than normal.

You will see on picture one, I am playing up a severe slope. My spine is almost perpendicular to the ground, weight on the lower foot (right foot) and the ball is closer to my higher foot (left) than normal.

In picture two, downhill, you’ll see the weight on the lower foot (left) and the ball nearer the higher foot (right).

It’s not all plain sailing however. You’ll probably know to use a longer club uphill and a shorter on for downhill shots, but due to the body moving with or against gravity more, you might see the ball fly differently as far as direction goes compared to your normal flight.

I want you to hit some shots off different lies, so I’m going to let you find out how the ball flies for yourself. The best way to learn is by playing the game more, so go out, play and learn.