The Four Sloping Lies: Rick Shiels
Whether the ball is above your feet, below your feet, on an uphill slope, or on a downhill slope: do you know what to adjust? PGA instructor Rick Shiels addresses beginner and intermediate golfers, explaining for each slope the setup, the effect of loft on direction or height, and the right club selection.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Rick Shiels, the ball above your feet, goes left, and more so the more loft the club has: with a wedge, the loft points much farther left than with a less-lofted club. Stand straighter, choke down, and aim at the right side of the green. With the ball below your feet, the ball curves slightly to the right, but not as much: aim just to the left of the flag. To keep your balance, bend your knees more and stick your butt out instead of just leaning forward, with your weight slightly toward the front of your feet. In any case, turn your body all the way to the finish, rather than hitting with just your arms.
In ascent, set your body parallel to the slope, with your right leg slightly straighter and your left leg more bent. The slope adds loft: at 155 yards, his 8-iron plays like a 9-iron and comes up short; so he takes one more club. In descent, the hardest lie, the body follows the slope, weight on the left. The slope takes off loft: his 7-iron flies like a 6-iron, very low, and runs through the green. Take more loft, and above all don't try to lift the ball by leaning back: you'll hit the ground before the ball. Change the loft, not your swing.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Identify the slope: above, below, uphill, or downhill.
- Adjust your stance: stand straighter, bend your knees more, or stand parallel to the slope.
- With the ball above your feet, choke down.
- Adjust the aim according to the expected curve.
- Change clubs based on how the slope affects the loft.
- Rotate your body all the way through the finish.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Bending only from the waist when the ball is below your feet.
- Keeping the same club on an uphill lie and coming up short.
- Leaning back to lift the ball on a downhill lie.
- Hitting with only your arms, body frozen.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- One ball from each slope with the same iron; note the curve
- On an uphill lie, compare your usual club with one more club
- On a downhill lie, a more lofted club, weight kept on the left
Your Questions
Why does the ball go to the left when it's above your feet?
The club's angle changes with the slope, and the loft points to the left. According to Rick Shiels, the effect is stronger with a high-lofted club like a wedge.
How do you keep your balance with the ball under your feet?
Bend your knees more and push your hips back instead of just leaning forward; shift your weight slightly toward the front of your feet.
Which club should you use on an uphill lie?
One more club: the slope adds loft, and the ball flies higher. His 8-iron played like a 9-iron and came up short of the green.
How do you play the downhill lie?
Keep your body parallel to the slope, shift your weight to the left, and use more loft. Don't lean back to lift the ball—that's what the club is for.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Rick Shiels). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.