Golf: How To Hit From An Uphill Lie

Step 1: The set-up

Place the club head behind the ball and set up in your usual way, but with a wider stance than normal in order to balance better on the slope.
The ball should be in the same position as for a normal shot, slightly in front of the middle of your stance.
Next, bring your shoulders parallel to the ground, dropping your right shoulder to lean your upper body behind the ball.
Leaning your shoulders means the club will swing with the slope, rather than swinging more steeply into the ground.
This shoulder position also puts more weight on your right foot - 60 to 70 percent for a gentle slope or more if it is steeper: on a very steep slope, you might have almost all your weight on your right foot.
In such cases, widen your stance even more for stability.

Step 2: The swing

The swing is the same as normal, except that the slope makes it harder to follow through and the body stays further behind the ball.
The slope makes the ball fly higher and shorter than from a flat lie, so you will need to take a lower number club to reach the same distance. Instead of an 8 iron you might need a 7 or 6 iron.
If the green is above you, the ball will fly even shorter, so you should go two clubs lower.
Aim to the right of the target on an uphill lie.
From uphill lies, the ball tends to fly to the left.
Because it is harder to swing through, your body stays too far behind the ball, and your arms drag the ball to the left.
See our video "why we hook the ball" to find out more.
So choose the right club, set up with the slope, and aim to the right of the target to land the ball on the green.