Here are the secrets to hitting great shots when you have a ball below your feet or above your feet at address.

Ball below feet:

-Aim left of target to compensate for severity of slope.  Remember the ball wants to follow the direction of the slope.

-Place ball in the middle of stance.

-Choose a stronger lofted club. For example if your 8 iron typically goes 150 yards from a good lie, in this lie you would need to change to a 6 or 7 iron.

-Bend from hip sockets to get body closer to ball.  We don’t want the knee flex to be the sole means of getting closer to the ball.

-Hold posture on backswing and follow through.  The tendency for most players is to rise up out of the starting posture on the backswing causing poor contact.

Ball above feet:

-Aim right of target to compensate for severity of slope.  Remember the ball wants to follow the direction of the slope.

-Place ball in the middle of stance.

-Choke up on grip equal to severity of slope.  (Always remember to take a rehearsal swing to make sure your hand position matches the slope) If you thump the turf this means you need to move your hands further down on the grip.

-Choose a stronger lofted club since you have moved the hands down on the club.

-When you position the hands further down on the club you have shortened the length of the club.  This is what keeps the ball from going its normal distance.

-Make sure to still set up in a golfing set up with butt out as normal.  The tendency for most players is to stand too upright with no body tilt toward the ball which will cause poor contact.

The Lesson Tee……..
By Director of Instruction, Andy Scott School of Golf

Until next time………see you on the lesson tee.