There’s a lot of different terrain on Southern California golf courses, which means that uneven lies or tricky situations can pop up at any time. Here are some tips to help you handle those instances when you might be out of your comfort zone.
BALL ABOVE YOUR FEET
It’s important to know what to expect from these lies. When the ball is above your feet the shaft of the club is lower relative to the horizon than it is for a flat lie. Because of this and because your clubs have loft, the sweet spot on the face will aim left of the target for a right-handed golfer. That means a typical swing that normally produces a straight shot will cause the ball to start left and go farther left because the clubface is closed to the target and swing path.
Here are some set-up adjustments to ensure your ball will fly toward the pin:
Stand closer to the ball and taller than you normally would. The greater the slope the more you need to do this.
Choke down on the club to get the shaft more upright. Because of this, take one more club than you’d normally hit for that distance.
Aim your body a bit to the right so the ball starts right of the target before it curves left.
Commit to the swing and trust that the ball will come back to the left.
DOWNHILL LIE
Most amateurs fail to plan accordingly when hitting approach shots to the green from this position. Keep these things in mind the next time you play this shot:
Because the ground is higher behind the ball, fat shots are common. To avoid this miss you must alter your set-up to increase the angle of attack to impact. First, place the ball slightly back in your stance and match your shoulders to the slope. This will allow you to make a more descending blow and keep your divot on the forward side of the ball.
Downhill lies also cause the ball to launch on a lower trajectory, causing many amateurs to try to lift the ball into the air. Unfortunately, that often results in a thin or bladed shot. Lining four balls in a row is a terrific visual to help you keep your club low to the ground through impact and avoid hitting the ball in the center.
Of all the awkward lies, a downhill one is the only one that increases the distance the ball travels because of the lower launch angle and faster ball speed. Take one extra club when hitting this shot and trust that solid contact will provide enough spin to stop your ball on the green.
PUNCHING OUT
Risk/reward shots are inherently what golf is about, but playing your percentages is key when it comes to maximizing your scoring potential. When stymied by a tree or low-hanging limbs, your No. 1 goal should be to get out of the trees, even if your ball won’t be closer to the green. Of course, advancing the ball toward the green or getting it on the putting surface is the ultimate endgame, but only if it’s doable in your skill set. Here are some keys to follow:
Decide how far you want the ball to go. The further the distance, the less club you need.
Play the ball slightly back in your stance to lower the loft.
Stand closer to the ball and choke down on the grip.
Shorten your swing, especially in the follow-through.
FLOP SHOT OVER A HAZARD
The biggest fault I see with amateurs with this daunting shot is in a set-up where the body isn’t forward enough and the shaft isn’t pointing back enough. Also, if you lean back too far thinking it will help get the ball in the air, the club will bottom out behind the ball and result in fat or thin shots.
To help, follow these keys:
Play the ball slightly forward and aim your body to the left.
Open the clubface relative to your body but not to the target.
Keep your hands even or behind the ball.
Shift 60 percent of your weight to the front foot.
Keep your shirt’s buttons over your belt buckle.
Make a committed swing and trust that your keys will get the job done.
Devan Bonebrake is the owner of the Southern California Golf Academy at Carlsbad Golf Center. He can be reached at (503) 706-7187 or southerncalgolfacademy.com.
