How to Adjust Your Setup to Hit Off Uneven Lies Like a Pro
Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help us play smarter, better golf.
Practicing on the driving range is important for improvement, but it won’t teach us every shot we need to be successful on the course. Practice tees are typically flat, which is great for grooving a consistent swing, but not so helpful for practicing variety.
Once we’re on the course, flat lies aren’t a guarantee. The topography of most courses presents a variety of lies to contend with — even from the fairway. Knowing how to navigate these uneven lies is crucial if we want to play our best golf.
In today’s edition of Play Smart, we enlist the help of instructor Kelan McDonaugh for a crash course on how to hit off an uneven lie.
Understanding Your Setup
When we come upon our ball sitting on an uneven lie, the first step is to assess our feet’s position in relation to the ball. Are they below the ball? Above it? Uneven? The answer will inform how we approach the shot.
In the example above, the ball is above our feet. And as soon as we set up for the shot, it’s obvious that an altered setup is needed. According to McDonaugh, “What we notice immediately with the ball above your feet is the [face] of the club is going to want to go to the left. If we set up correctly, then we just gotta worry about making a golf swing.”
Adjusting Your Setup
To successfully hit off an uneven lie with the ball above our feet, we need to make two small tweaks. First, it’s important to move the ball back in our stance. This adjustment helps us compensate for the effect of the ball’s position. Second, we have to open the face of the club. By opening the face, we align it directly down the line facing the target.
With these setup adjustments made, all that’s left to do is make a solid golf swing. McDonaugh advises, “Then just make your normal golf swing.”
By following these smart ways to adjust our setup, we can confidently navigate and successfully hit off uneven lies on the golf course. Remember, it’s all about making the necessary adjustments based on the specific lie we encounter.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Why is practicing on a flat surface not enough to prepare us for uneven lies on the course?
While practicing on a flat surface helps us develop a consistent swing, it doesn’t simulate the variety of lies we encounter on the course.
What are the two main setup adjustments for hitting off an uneven lie with the ball above our feet?
The two main setup adjustments are moving the ball back in our stance and opening the face of the club.
Is it important to make a normal golf swing after adjusting our setup?
Yes, making a normal golf swing is crucial after adjusting our setup to ensure a successful shot.
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