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Uneven LiesPitching WedgesWedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Victor Dubuisson's Approach: Don't Chunk It

Victor Dubuisson tackles a common shot that isn’t often discussed: the short sand wedge shot from a lie on an uphill slope, with the green above you. The danger is that the club will dig into the slope; his entire approach is aimed at avoiding that.

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Victor Dubuisson
Victor Dubuisson · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

13 minSame problemIrons Downwind and on Slopes: The Morikawa SchoolCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert6 minSame problemBunker shot down the slope: Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy · Intermediate / Expert2 minFrom the same proVictor Dubuisson's Swing: Stance, Swing Plane, and BackswingVictor Dubuisson · Expert

What the lesson shows

On this shot, Victor Dubuisson wants to a pretty clean shot, without too much spin. The problem is that the club can quickly to stick into the ground: There's a wall in front of us. So it adds 10 to 13 feet to the distance and aim behind the flag, intending to get past him and put her in the hole.

It opens just a tiny bit on the face to take advantage of the bounce, especially since there’s some grain against it: for him, the biggest danger is a face that’s too square, which closes up and stalls. Neutral grip, left hand in front, with the ball positioned slightly to the left, and his weight distributed neutrally, as if the ground were flat. He finally looks for a movement as smooth as possible around him: A club from outside the green misses nine times out of ten, and the ball falls short or veers to the left.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Estimate the slope: with a wall in front of you, add 10 to 13 feet and aim behind the flag.
  2. Open the face of the sand wedge just a little bit to take advantage of the bounce.
  3. Use a neutral grip, with your left hand having a weak grip and your right hand having a little looser grip.
  4. Place the ball a little further to the left and keep your left hand in front.
  5. Distribute your weight as if you were standing straight, neither too far to the left nor too far to the right.
  6. Make a smooth, circular swing around your body to prevent the club from digging into the ground.

Key Takeaways

The danger on the backswing: the club that slips on the slope.
Add 10 to 13 feet and aim behind the flag.
Keep the face slightly open for the bounce, especially when the grain is against you.
Left hand in front, ball slightly to the left.
Neutral weight, distributed as if on level ground.
A smooth swing around your body—never from the outside in.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • A face that's too square, closing in and digging into the ground.
  • A swing that moves from the outside in: hit the ball short or to the left.
  • Let your left hand go behind you.
  • Aim at the flag without adjusting for the slope.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. An uphill sand wedge shot, with the clubface slightly open, aimed at a flag that needs to be cleared
  2. The same shot when comparing a square stance and a slightly open stance
  3. Circular swings around your body on a slope

Your Questions

Why aim behind the flag on an uphill approach?

Because the slope forms a wall and the ball tends to fall short. Victor Dubuisson adds 10 to 13 feet and plays with the intention of clearing the flag.

Should we open up the front?

Just a tiny bit, to get more bounce. According to him, the biggest danger is a face that’s too square, which closes up and digs into the ground, especially when the grain is against you.

Where should you place your body weight?

In the middle—neither leaning too much to the left nor too much to the right—he balances as if he were standing flat-footed.

Learn More

All “Slope Shots” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Pitching and Wedges” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Wedge Play = Pitching and Chipping” →Find the lesson that's right for you Irons Downwind and on Slopes: The Morikawa SchoolRead the lie and the wind, then choose between two shots: Morikawa demonstrates three shots with an iron and a wedge—downwind, downhill, and uphill. Ball Above Your Feet: Find the Plane with GravityBall above your feet: find the plane and the distance from the weight of the club, with horizontal swings, then a double grass brush around the ball. Bunker shot down the slope: Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy adjusts his setup for a downhill bunker shot, shoulders matching the slope, and invites you to lower your expectations on this shot. Victor DubuissonAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Victor Dubuisson). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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