Need Some Tips on Hitting from Downhill Lies

[pick-it-up]

I've been playing a lot lately and it seems like I lose an average of one stroke per round because I botch the downhill lie shots from the fairway.

Most of the courses I play are pretty hilly so this lie is not uncommon.

More specifically, I'm looking for tips on hitting long irons or even my fairway wood or hybrid from a downhill lie.

If I miss it's because I usually chunk it and the ball goes about 100 yards.

I feel really uncomfortable standing over this shot...

[ForgedRbest]

Take a couple smooth easy practice swings, and pay close attention to where your club head first makes contact with the ground from that position. Place the ball in your stance accordingly. Also, use one to two clubs less for this shot, since the downhill lie and the ball position results in delofting the club. Good luck!

[Bigvivec]

This is a tough one...makes me think of an interview after his loss to Tiger down the stretch of the Masters a couple of years ago...he had a lie in the fairway some 200+ yds away (I can't remember exactly, but it was hybrid distance for him) and chose to lay up vs going for the flag which he said that he would have done if the ball was just 2 yards farther away in a flat lie, but as his lie was a bit downhill he felt that he was pushing his luck going for it...sometimes it is better to take a more lofted iron, put the ball back in your stance and make absolutely sure that you are balanced, then swing within yourself making sure you follow through low...I also will measure to the ball then "give a little extra" allowing the club to drop an additional 1/4" at setup...
I have this in one of my books:
Aim to the left
Use one club less
Medium open stance
4" of the left heel
Weight favors the left side (rt handers)
Hands in front of the ball

The aim left thing is key as well...

[Ty_Webb]

You need to try and get your shoulders aligned to the slope. If you have your normal set up shape, then the U shaped bit at the bottom of your swing will hit the ground before the ball. Just swing in line with the slope, rather than horizontal. I actually quite like downhill lies because I have a tendency to hang back on my right side, but it's difficult to do that when gravity is helping you as well. The other thing to do is get the feeling of chasing the club down the slope as you pass through the hitting area.

[pick-it-up]

Great stuff, thank you fellas!

BV, what do you mean by this?

I also will measure to the ball then "give a little extra" allowing the club to drop an additional 1/4" at setup...

Do you mean your hands at address? (Sorry, I just woke up and things are kinda foggy still )

[Bigvivec]

When addressing the ball with the club in the right hand, measuing the distance to the ball then shift the club to make the left hand grip, I let out an additional 1/4" and compensate with a little more forward press...the club will then bottom out an additional 1/4" lower which ensures getting down on the ball...Ty has a good point about the shoulder alignment thing, but I think the most important part he said was the feeling of chasing the ball down the hill...good visualization for really staying down on the ball...

[Fourputt]

The one basic requirement for any sort of a sloped lie I haven't even seen mentioned. Always make sure that you lean so that your shoulders remain parallel to the slope. On a downhill lie, you MUST lean slightly downhill to keep your shoulders parallel. Depending on the slope, take 1/2 to 1 club less, and allow for the ball to move left to right (fade).

But in order not to hit if fat, you have to keep the shoulders parallel. I know I'm repeating myself, but that is the first thing that any pro will tell you for this shot.

[pick-it-up]

Thanks, 4P!

I believe that was mentioned above. But I did not know that previously. I definitely lean back.

As soon as it stops raining, I'm going to run out to the course and hopefully these tips will improve my play......I'm sure they will.

[3puttguy]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

The one basic requirement for any sort of a sloped lie I haven't even seen mentioned. Always make sure that you lean so that your shoulders remain parallel to the slope. On a downhill lie, you MUST lean slightly downhill to keep your shoulders parallel. Depending on the slope, take 1/2 to 1 club less, and allow for the ball to move left to right (fade).

But in order not to hit if fat, you have to keep the shoulders parallel. I know I'm repeating myself, but that is the first thing that any pro will tell you for this shot.

I agree. This is my main focus when faced with that type of shot. The same holds true for uphill lies.