Ball Above or Below Your Feet: Titleist
Why do we miss sloping lies when we hit it well on the range? Joanna Coe, for Titleist, speaks to golfers who always practice on flat ground: on a tilting platform, she demonstrates the setup, aim, and swing shape for the ball above your feet, below your feet, downhill, and uphill.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
With the ball below your feet, you have to go all the way down to the ball: widen your stance and lower your hips, without bending too much at the waist, then stay low throughout the swing, knees flexed. The club’s lie angle flattens: the shot tends to fade slightly, so aim a little left. With the ball above your feet,, choke down on the grip according to the slope and make a practice swing to see where the club touches the ground; stand a little taller. With the club more upright, the loft points left: aim slightly right and make a more rounded swing, never from the outside in, which would dig into the ground.
In descent, the hardest lie, a 7-iron can come off like a 6-iron or a 5-iron: choose your club with the hazards you need to carry in mind. Shoulders and hips tilted to the left, weight on the front foot, position the ball a little further back, with a swing path that moves slightly from the outside in: the shot will fly low and with a slight fade. Don't lean back to add loft. In ascent, the ball climbs and stops quickly: a 7-iron that normally carries 160 yards will only carry 150. Lean to the right and make an inside-out swing for a high draw. Remember: adapt your body and swing to the slope.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Make a practice swing to see where the club touches the ground.
- Adjust your height: lower yourself when the ball is below your feet, choke down when it’s above.
- Align your shoulders and hips with the slope, both when going downhill and uphill.
- Adjust the aim according to the expected curve.
- Choose the club based on how the slope affects height and distance.
- Adapt the shape of your swing to the slope, then play.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Bending at the waist instead of lowering yourself when the ball is below your feet.
- Not choking down on the grip when the ball is above your feet.
- Leaning back on a downhill lie to add loft.
- Keeping the same club on an uphill lie without accounting for the lost carry.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Practice swings on a slope to find the low point
- A few balls from a downhill lie, weight forward, ball back
- Uphill lie: compare the carry of your usual iron and one more club
Your Questions
How do you hit the ball when it’s below your feet?
Widen your stance and lower your hips instead of bending at the waist, then stay low throughout the swing. The ball may fade a little: aim slightly to the left.
What should you do when the ball is above your feet?
Choke down on the grip to match the slope, stand a little taller, aim slightly right, and make a more rounded swing for a draw.
Why is the downhill shot the hardest?
According to Joanna Coe, it combines club selection, since a 7-iron comes off like a 5- or 6-iron, a setup tilted forward, and a steeper swing, slightly from the outside in.
How does an uphill lie affect carry distance?
The ball flies higher and stops quickly: a 7-iron that normally carries 160 yards may only carry 150 yards. Take one more club if necessary.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.