Just because your drive lands in the fairway doesn’t mean you have a good lie. Golf course architects love to build in undulations in fairways like hills and down slopes that can produce tough lies. Downhill lies are among the toughest. They can cost you strokes if you mis-hit one. But follow the tips we provide below and you’ll conquer any downhill lie you encounter.
Below are six keys to this shot:
- Angle your shoulders
- Choke down on the club
- Play the ball back a few inches
- Shift your weight back slightly
- Use a three-quarter swing
- Extend your arms down the slope
Your setup is the key. Angle your shoulders to match the fairway’s slope. Choke down on the club slightly so you don’t stub the ground behind the ball. And play the ball back in your stance slightly. You also want to settle your weight a little more over your back leg.
Maintaining your center of gravity with downhill lies is critical. Many golfers slide forward with this shot. That spells trouble. Instead, make a three-quarter “armsy“ backswing with an abbreviated turn, which will help you maintain your weight over your back leg.
Keep the downswing as smooth as possible. Don’t try to swing hard. Instead, let your weight shift to the downhill leg and drop the clubhead into the back of the ball. Extend your arms down the hill as far as possible. The longer you can extend your arms without your upper body moving down the hill the better.
Shots from downhill lies come out lower than normal. How much lower depends on the slope’s severity. Take this change in loft into account before hitting and you’ll be fine. Follow our keys to the shot and you’ll beat even the toughest downhill lies.
