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how do you calculate an uphill golf shot

by Leland Cassin Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Subtract one club for every 15 feet of elevation change. For instance, if you have 160 yards down hill to the pin, and you would normally hit a 7-iron, the shot calls for an 8-iron because the ball will travel in the air longer than a shot to a flat green. Add one club for every 15 feet of uphill elevation change.

The first thing is to use the 15-feet formula. This formula should be approached as follows: If there is an uphill or a downhill shot of 15 feet of elevation, add or subtract one club. If there is more than 15 feet, add or subtract one club for every 15 feet.Aug 8, 2018

Full Answer

How do you calculate club count for uphill shots?

This formula should be approached as follows: If there is an uphill or a downhill shot of 15 feet of elevation, add or subtract one club. If there is more than 15 feet, add or subtract one club for every 15 feet.

How to hit an uphill shot in golf?

Since you are going into the wind, the ball will want to stop faster on the green, which will help when dealing with an uphill shot. As long as you are able to carry the ball far enough to land on the green, it should put on the brakes pretty quickly after coming down.

How do you calculate elevation change in golf shots?

As a general rule, one yard of elevation change (up or down) equals a yard of distance. For example, if you have a shot that measures 100 yards up a hill that rises 10 yards from ball level to hole, those 10 yards must be added to the total – so it's a 110-yard shot.

How do you calculate golf hole calculations?

This baseline number is always a good starting point because the center of the green is never a bad spot. Measure the distance to the flag using a rangefinder. Alternatives to this are to use a golf GPS, or to employ your yardage book and calculate the exact distance to the hole. Subtract one club for every 15 feet of elevation change.

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How do you adjust yardage for elevation?

As a general rule, one yard of elevation change (up or down) equals a yard of distance. For example, if you have a shot that measures 100 yards up a hill that rises 10 yards from ball level to hole, those 10 yards must be added to the total – so it's a 110-yard shot.

How much distance does elevation add?

With a driver, you get an extra 2.5 yards per 1,000 feet of altitude.

How much does elevation change affect golf distance?

You can calculate the distance gain you will experience (compared to sea level) by multiplying the elevation (in feet) by . 00116. For example, if you're playing in Reno, at 1 mile elevation (5,280 ft.) the increase is about 6% (5,280 x .

How does elevation work in golf?

0:001:44Calculating Elevation Changes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHey quick the champion for golfers Rx and in today's 60 second tip we're going to talk aboutMoreHey quick the champion for golfers Rx and in today's 60 second tip we're going to talk about elevation. And it's changes doctor doctor doctor doctor doctor let's not waste any time let's fire this up

Why do you need more club hitting uphill?

The number one thing to remember with an uphill lie it to always take more club. The incline in the slope will open the clubface so you're going to add loft to a club and the shot will go higher. If you hit an 8-iron normally, you'll want to usually go up at least one club to a 7-iron.

How much does elevation affect golf shot?

Altitude, or elevation, and wind have the greatest and most apparent effect on golf ball distance. Every 1,000 feet above sea level a golf course sits, a golfer can expect their ball to travel approximately 2 percent farther.

How do rangefinders calculate slope?

How Does a Rangefinder Calculate Slope? Basically, the rangefinder shoots a laser out at a target. When the laser bounces off the target, the delay between its being sent out and returning gives the distances to the flagstick.

Do matte golf balls go further?

Regular Golf Balls Have A Higher Flight Path This is why it is important to use a regular golf ball instead of a matte finish ball when playing on the green. The matte finish ball has a higher flight path and will travel further than a regular golf ball.

Does a wet golf ball go farther?

Typically when the club is wet it produces slightly less spin and slightly higher shot then when the golf ball and golf club are both dry. We see very minimal differences between the club being wet or dry.

How do you calculate elevation?

An easy-to-remember equation for finding change in elevation as a decimal is “rise over run,” meaning the rise (the change in vertical distance) divided by the run (the change in horizontal distance). As an example, let's say the rise is 2 and the run is 6. So, you'd take 2 over 6 (or 2/6) to get .

How do you play uphill and downhill lies?

6:3513:16Top Tips to Hit Uphill and Downhill Lies on the Golf Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight because now I'm I'm already with my setup I'm promoting a steep angle of attack. So. If I putMoreRight because now I'm I'm already with my setup I'm promoting a steep angle of attack. So. If I put it back now I'm steep. And hitting early that's a very difficult combination.

How are golf yardages calculated?

How to Calculate How Far I Hit the Golf BallTake your tee shot as per normal, and then find your ball and stand directly beside it.Turn on the range finder, hold its sight to your eye and aim it directly at the flagstick. ... Subtract the distance to the flagstick from the total yardage of the hole.More items...

How far does a 6 iron go downhill?

Thus, the effective distance of the 6-iron is 21 yards shorter. If hitting downhill to a green, 20 yards below, the ball lands ont he green at a horizontal distance of about 180 yards. Thus, the effective distance of the ...

What is the trajectory of a golf ball?

The trajectory of a golf ball is now well understood. It depends on ball velocity, trajectory, and spin as well as on air temperature, humidity and density. Below is a graphic of the trajectory of a golf ball hit with a driver, 5-iron, and 9-iron. Note that in the first part of each trajectory, the path of the ball steepens.

Why is the downhill drive longer?

Even if there was no roll, due to very damp fairways, the downhill drive would be longer. ". It's not always obvious to golfers that when hitting uphill, you need to hit more club and when hitting downhill, you need to hit less club. The question is how much more or less. Of course, it depends on many conditions.

What is the most important factor in hitting it long?

The most important factor in hitting it long is increasing your swing speed.

Which is steeper, 9 iron or driver?

The 9-iron 's impact is the steepest and the Driver's impact is the least steep. Because of this, a Driver's range is more greatly affected by elevation changes than a 5-iron and the 5-iron's is more greatly affected than the 9-iron's. For every yard of fall, the Driver ball travels farther.

What happens if you lie on an uphill golf course?

The main risk associated with an uphill lie is seeing your clubhead penetrate the ground deeply, oftentimes producing a fat shot or worse seeing the club failing to reach the ball at all .

How to protect against a shot from a flat surface?

To help protect against this risk position your spine so that it is perpendicular to the ground, as it is when hitting a shot from a flat surface .

What happens if you put the ball too far back in your stance?

If you don’t think about the ball positioning at all while setting up and if you position the ball too far back in your stance you could run the risk of seeing the ball sitting too low in contrast to your feet. This can result in a whiff where you would swing above the ball and miss it entirely, costing you a stroke.

How to make sure the ball is not too low?

To make sure the ball is not too low, favour a forward ball position rather than a ball back or a ball center position.

How many clubs difference for sidehill?

Note that depending on how severe the sidehill, that club adjustment may call for a two club difference, or maybe none at all…

Can you hit higher from an uphill lie?

Therefore you can expect to hit higher shots from an uphill lie but also shots that travel a shorter distance when compared to a normal shot with that same club from a flat lie. To account for that change in loft and ball flight you will need to club up, i.e. to use one more club than would normally be required.

Is an uphill lie intimidating?

While not as intimidating as other uneven lies the shot from an uphill lie still commands respect and requires adjustments.

What happens when you hit a downhill shot?

With downhill shots, the ball will be in the air longer, and therefore more susceptible to the effects of the wind. You should choose more club accordingly. On uphill shots, the wind will have slightly less effect.

Where to base your judgments on a golf course?

Make sure you base your judgments off exact numbers to the center of the green and to the pin. Nothing throws off distance adjustments like obtaining the wrong yardages.

How far can a golf ball fly in thin air?

According to "Golf Digest," the ball can fly up to 40 percent farther in the thin air of these environments. Every course is different, so experiment to find the ideal yardages. Subtract one club for every 10 feet of downhill elevation change in these thin air climates. The air provides less resistance, and the ball will generally travel farther ...

Why is golf so difficult?

Playing golf at elevation is very difficult because the ball travels farther in the air in elevated climates like Colorado and Utah as opposed to normal elevation areas like the Midwest or East Coast.

Why do you need an 8 iron in golf?

For instance, if you have 160 yards down hill to the pin, and you would normally hit a 7-iron, the shot calls for an 8-iron because the ball will travel in the air longer than a shot to a flat green. Add one club for every 15 feet of uphill elevation change.

How to measure the distance to the flag?

Measure the distance to the flag using a rangefinder. Alternatives to this are to use a golf GPS, or to employ your yardage book and calculate the exact distance to the hole.

Why is it so hard to play on an upslope?

Playing shots on an upslope is a significant challenge mostly because of the problems you are going to have getting your body into the right position. This is hard enough to do well on flat ground, and it gets even harder when you add in this type of slope.

Is it hard to play golf on an upslope?

That is hard to do when on an upslope, but you'll need to find a way to pull it off. Playing from an uphill lie will always be one of the trickiest tasks in golf, just because there is so much that can go wrong.

Shot Selection

When throwing uphill, because you are going to be throwing on an upward trajectory, you run the risk of throwing too high.

Wrap-Up

While uphill shots can be quite intimidating, especially when you're not used to them, with a little bit of practice and experimentation with different discs, you'll be well on your way to confidently throwing uphill in no time!

What is the easiest shot in golf?

Uphill and into the wind. Of all four, this might actually be the easiest shot in the group. Since you are going into the wind, the ball will want to stop faster on the green, which will help when dealing with an uphill shot. As long as you are able to carry the ball far enough to land on the green, it should put on the brakes pretty quickly after coming down. Get the club selection right and make a good swing to conquer this type of shot.

What does elevation change mean in golf?

For most golfers, hitting a shot that involves elevation change boils down to simply guessing at which club to use. Without a plan in mind for dealing with this situations, most players will just grab the club that they feel like may be able to handle the shot, and then they swing away while hoping for the best.

How many irons do you need for a par 4?

For example, imagine that you have 150 yards to the middle of the green for your approach shot on a par four. If this shot is being played over flat ground with no wind, you will simply pull your 150-yard club (maybe a seven iron) and make a confident swing. However, if that shot is significantly downhill, it may only play like a 135-yard shot, meaning you could use an eight or nine iron. On the other hand, an uphill shot from 150 may play like 170, meaning you will need a six or even five iron to cover the distance. All of these shots are technically played from the same distance from the green, but they can require wildly different club selections depending on the topography of the course.

How to find yardage on a par 3?

Normally, getting a yardage is one of the easier parts of the game. You can use a handheld laser rangefinder or GPS device, you can look for a sprinkler head with a yardage marked on it, or you can even look on the scorecard in the case of a par three. Good golf courses are well marked to help you know exactly how far you are from the green on any given shot. Unfortunately, when you start to deal with elevation change, you are going to have to adjust the yardage you find to accurately reflect the kind of shot you will need to hit.

Why does my right shoulder drop when playing uphill?

When playing uphill, the tendency is to try to lift the ball into the air. This causes the right shoulder to drop, producing fat shots. Focus on making your normal swing and letting the club's loft do the work of sending the ball up the slope. Conversely, it's easy to come up and out of shots when hitting downhill.

How far can you subtract from a distance?

As a very general rule of thumb, you can add or subtract around 10 yards or distance for every 15 feet that you are going up or down.

How many yards does elevation change?

As a general rule, one yard of elevation change (up or down) equals a yard of distance. For example, if you have a shot that measures 100 yards up a hill that rises 10 yards from ball level to hole, those 10 yards must be added to the total – so it's a 110-yard shot. In other words, you must trust your yardage, not your eyes, when picking a club.

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