Golf-FAQ.com

how to play different golf lies

by Jalon Schamberger Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to Play from Uneven Lies

  • Uphill Lie. The ball should be closer to your higher foot and weight should favor your lower foot. ...
  • Downhill Lies. Downhill lies aren’t nearly as fun as uphill lies as it’s a bit more awkward at address. ...
  • Golf Ball Below Your Feet. ...
  • Golf Ball Above Your Feet. ...
  • Dealing With a Combination. ...

How To Beat Uneven Lies
  1. UPHILL. FIT THE CLUB: Going uphill, most golfers push the handle forward to avoid hitting the ball too high. ...
  2. DOWNHILL. FIT THE CLUB: The tendency on a downslope is to drop the handle back to try to add loft to the clubface. ...
  3. BALL ABOVE FEET. ...
  4. BALL BELOW FEET.
May 18, 2010

Full Answer

What are the different lies in golf?

In this article we are going to explore some basics on each lie (uphill, downhill, ball above/below feet), and how you can actually practice these lies at the range.

How to play an uneven lie in golf?

When you are playing an uneven lie, gravity will want to push your body in the direction that the ground is angling towards. You have to do your best to establish a strong core with your legs and make sure that you stay centered over the ball. Players who are able to do this will be the most successful at executing shots on uneven lies.

How do the rules of golf affect the Lie of a ball?

The rules of golf will also impact the lie of a ball. For example, when a ball comes to rest in a bunker a golfer is not allowed to ground the club at address as he would normally otherwise.

What is a tight lie in golf?

A tight lie refers to a situation where a golf ball is sitting up on very short grass or on hard ground.

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How do you hit a different golf lie?

2:3013:02Position stand taller so it's not a chance now to sit really low in your legs it's a chance to standMorePosition stand taller so it's not a chance now to sit really low in your legs it's a chance to stand much taller. And also to grip down slightly on the golf club to adapt to that slope.

How do you play a golf shot from Uneven Lies?

0:135:48The key is you have to select one more Club because the ball is not going to go as far because theMoreThe key is you have to select one more Club because the ball is not going to go as far because the uphill adds loft.

How do you play lies in golf?

0:2911:04Lie i have more mass almost before the golf ball. So i've got a raised level of grass before theMoreLie i have more mass almost before the golf ball. So i've got a raised level of grass before the golf ball. So i don't want to hit that before the golf ball.

How do you play an uphill lie in golf?

0:031:25I want you to take a nice wide stance have a good solid base we're going to put our weight kind ofMoreI want you to take a nice wide stance have a good solid base we're going to put our weight kind of centered on our left leg. But then we're going to tilt our shoulders.

How do you hit a golf ball on a sidehill lie?

1:094:23Also the ball is sitting a little bit higher and closer to us. So it's very important to slide ourMoreAlso the ball is sitting a little bit higher and closer to us. So it's very important to slide our hands down the grip right. So lastly we move our weight slightly forward into the balls of our feet.

How do you play uphill and downhill lies?

6:3513:16Right 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 do you chip uphill lies?

0:273:34On the downhill chip we would want to go with the slope for sure because if we kept the way back weMoreOn the downhill chip we would want to go with the slope for sure because if we kept the way back we thin it but on the chip.

What is a hanging lie in golf?

Definition of hanging lie : the position of a golf ball which comes to rest on ground sloping downward in the direction it is to be played.

How do you practice a downhill lie?

The ball should be closer to your higher foot and weight should favor your lower foot. With a downhill lie, you want to aim left of the target as the ball will tend to leak right. This happens because you're extending your arms down the slope and leaving the clubface open at impact.

How do you hit a wedge from a downhill lie?

1:472:45Remember stance pressure left and it stays left through the swing. All slightly modified back inMoreRemember stance pressure left and it stays left through the swing. All slightly modified back in your stance.

How do you hit a lie below your feet?

0:172:10So the most important thing on this shot is staying down so we get our stance wide we get our rearMoreSo the most important thing on this shot is staying down so we get our stance wide we get our rear end out we get our back down. And we want to make some practice swings keeping.

How do you hit a golf ball laying above your feet?

1:176:09So I'm going to choke up for a moderate slope. Like this I'm just going to go ahead and choke upMoreSo I'm going to choke up for a moderate slope. Like this I'm just going to go ahead and choke up about a half inch or. So that's going to make it a little bit more comfortable.

How to play up a steep hill?

To start, aim to the right as the ball will draw in flight. Position the ball towards the higher foot and lean into the slope.

Is it harder to play a downhill lie?

To play a ball that is on a downhill lie is probably one of the hardest shots but, rest assured, these tips will make this shot a lot easier in the future.

How to play golf from a downslope?

2. DOWNHILL. When playing from a downslope, take less club because the hill delofts the clubface. Position the ball back a little and, as with the uphill lie, feel as if you set your shoulders parallel to the slope. (You might not actually be able to do this on a downslope, but that's the feel you want.)

How to lower center of gravity in golf swing?

You really have to squat down and lean your rear end into the slope to lower your center of gravity; your weight should be on your heels ( see photos below ). Because of this awkward squat position, body turn during the swing is restricted, so it's more of a hands-and-arms motion.

Why do downhill shots go to the right?

Shots from downhill lies tend to go to the right because you're extending your arms down the slope. In effect, you're holding off clubface rotation, which can leave the face open at impact.

What is the easiest golf set to hit?

Uphill lies are the easiest to handle among the uneven set — you’ve got more ball to hit and a natural launch pad to hit soaring shots. Unless, of course, you’re hitting into a breeze, where the combination of an uphill lie and a steady headwind will cause the ball to balloon up into the air and fall short of your target. So whatever you do, take more club.

How to play downhill golf?

Play the ball a bit farther forward in your stance, and distribute most of your weight and ground pressure into your downhill foot, at setup and throughout. Prepare for liftoff by tilting your shoulders to match the slope. Just make sure you have enough club to reach your target.

How to get a ball to fade?

To top it off, a lie with the ball below your feet is likely to cause your ball to fade or slice, so aim to the left of your target accordingly. Maintain your squat posture and keep your weight in your heels. Play for the fade—and hope for the best.

How to turn faster on a hill?

Unlike a lie where the ball is above your feet, fight the urge to lean into the hill. Simply rotate around your back foot, keeping your right glute and thigh activated. The final tweak: Flare your left foot. It’ll help you turn faster from this lie. Set your weight over your back foot and keep it there.

What happens if you grip a golf ball?

If you grip it as you normally do, you’re going to stick the clubhead into the ground behind the ball. The key adjustments are to choke down on the grip (almost to the metal), and because you’re shortening the club, take one or two more than you might otherwise need.

How to adjust a golf shot?

To adjust, aim slightly right of your target, but don’t aim so far right that a straight shot gets you into trouble, because shots taken from a lie with the ball above your feet don’t always draw. The ball is closer to you than you think. Slide your hands down the grip, almost to the steel.

How to stand taller when playing golf?

Setup checklist: Stand taller, choke down, aim slightly right, and keep your weight on the balls of your feet.

What is a lie in golf?

A lie refers to the position of a ball as it relates to its and its golfer’s environments. Use in a sentence: After John hit his drive into a tree he walked nervously towards his ball in order to find out what kind of lie he’d have to work with on his next shot.

What does "lie" mean in golf?

Alternative meanings: A lie can also refer to a part of the club. Furthermore it can also refer to the number of strokes a golfer has hit in order for the ball to reach its present location.

What does it mean when a golfer faces a ball above his feet?

A golfer facing a ball-above-feet lie will see both his feet situated below the level of his ball at address. In other words, he will be situated on a hill that is sloping towards him.

What is an unplayable lie?

Unplayable Lie. A lie is said to be unplayable when the ball is positioned in such a way as to make it virtually impossible to be hit by the golfer. For example, a ball coming to rest inside a shallow hole dug by a small animal will be impossible to hit using a golf club.

What is a downhill lie?

Downhill Lie. A golfer facing a downhill lie will see his forward foot (left for right handed) situated below the level of the ball and even more so than the level of his back foot. Or in other words, he will be situated on a hill that is sloping down towards the target. Use in sentence: Although John hit a good drive down the center ...

What is fried egg lie?

The fried-egg lie is a type of plugged lie that is found inside a bunker. Golfers will be faced with such a lie when the ball stays at the exact spot where it has landed, instead of hitting the bunker and bouncing off and rolling out of the crater.

Why is a golf ball buried in a lie?

Such a lie is considered bad because it will add difficulty to the golf shot, specifically since the grass will slow down the clubhead as it travels towards the ball, negatively affecting the distance. Shots made from buried lies also tend to shoot lower than they would normally which affects how far a ball will roll after landing.

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What is tight lie?

Tight lies can also be called thin lies or, in the case of an area of no grass, bare lies or hardpan lies . Golfers can encounter tight lies anywhere on a golf course, but they are most commonly found on: and in closely-mowed (or "shaved") areas around putting greens (areas often called "green surrounds").

Why do golfers sit up on the grass?

Why? For the same reason that beginners and higher-handicappers are more confident hitting off a tee than off the ground.

What is an upper case tight lie?

What Are Upper-Case Tight Lies? If you see "Tight Lies" written as upper-case and plural, it's a reference to Adams Tight Lies golf clubs. Adams Golf first used Tight Lies as the name of a golf club in 1996, when it launched Adams Tight Lies fairway woods.

Why is it so hard to get the golf ball up in the air?

Getting the ball up in the air is more difficult for higher-handicappers, whose confidence in doing so goes up when the golf ball is "sitting up.". A tight lie can cause a golfer to fret over being able to get the club under the golf ball, which can lead to a fear of hitting a thin shot (or "blading" the ball).

Why are Adams golf fairways shaped?

Adams Golf exploded in sales and name recognition. Those Tight Lies fairway woods were shaped in a way to improve playability from a wide variety of lies (not just tight lies) and had low centers of gravity to help get the ball up in the air.

What was the original Adams tight lies?

The original Adams Tight Lies had a big impact on the golf industry, ushering in a focus on long-iron-replacement clubs such as the modern hybrids. Adams eventually used the Tight Lies name on many golf clubs.

What does it mean when a golf ball is tight?

That might mean short, sparse turf or even bare dirt. The term "tight lie" also implies that the ground under the ball is compact or firm.

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