The driving range is flat. The golf course rarely is. On most courses, a large share of your shots are played from slopes: the ball above or below your feet, or your stance uphill or downhill. Each slope changes how the ball flies, how far it goes and how you need to set up. Learn a few simple principles and you will turn awkward lies from round-wreckers into routine shots.
Directions are for right-handed golfers. Left-handers should reverse left and right.
The four golden rules of sloping lies
- Balance first. On a slope, losing your balance is the main cause of bad shots. Widen your stance a little and swing within yourself.
- Use practice swings. Make a couple of practice swings next to the ball to see where the club brushes the ground. That tells you where to position the ball.
- Swing smoothly. A three-quarter swing at around 80% effort is usually best. Big, hard swings on a slope rarely end well.
- Plan for the result. Each slope affects height, distance and direction. Adjust your club and aim before you swing, then trust it.
Uphill lie (lead foot higher)
On an uphill lie, your lead foot is higher than your trail foot.
What happens to the ball
- It launches higher because the slope adds loft.
- It flies shorter.
- It may go left, because your body struggles to rotate through, so the hands release early.
How to set up
- Tilt your shoulders with the slope, so they are roughly parallel to the ground. Most of your weight will sit on your trail side.
- Ball position: slightly forward of normal.
- Take more club, one or two clubs depending on the slope, to make up for the extra height.
- Aim slightly right of the target to allow for the pull.
How to swing
Swing along the slope, up the hill. Do not fight the slope by lunging forward. Expect a shorter follow-through, but stay balanced.
Downhill lie (lead foot lower)
On a downhill lie, your lead foot is lower than your trail foot. It is usually the hardest of the four lies.
What happens to the ball
- It launches lower, because the slope reduces loft.
- It flies lower and runs further on landing.
- It may go right, and contact is often thin or fat if you lose your balance.
How to set up
- Tilt your shoulders with the slope, so your weight sits more on your lead side.
- Ball position: slightly back of normal, nearer your trail foot.
- Take less club, or the same club and expect extra roll. Avoid low-lofted clubs from steep downhill lies; a more lofted club helps the ball up.
- Aim slightly left to allow for a push or fade.
How to swing
Swing down the slope, chasing the ball down the hill with the club after impact. Keep your weight forward and resist the urge to lift the ball into the air. A good downhill strike feels as though you follow the ball down the slope.
Ball above your feet
When the ball is higher than your feet, often on a hillside to the left of a fairway, the ball is closer to you.
What happens to the ball
- It tends to go left, because the swing becomes flatter and the club face points left of where the leading edge appears to aim.
- The steeper the slope and the more lofted the club, the more it goes left.
How to set up
- Grip down the club by an inch or two, because the ball is closer to you.
- Stand a little taller, with less bend from the hips.
- Weight towards your toes, to stop yourself falling back.
- Aim right of the target to allow for the draw.
How to swing
Make a smooth, more rounded swing. Focus on balance and a controlled finish.
Ball below your feet
When the ball is lower than your feet, it is further away from you.
What happens to the ball
- It tends to go right, because your swing becomes more upright and it is hard to rotate fully.
- Contact is often thin if you rise up during the swing.
How to set up
- Bend more from the hips and flex your knees to get down to the ball.
- Hold the club at full length.
- Weight towards your heels, to stop yourself toppling forwards.
- Widen your stance for stability.
- Aim left of the target to allow for the fade.
How to swing
Stay down through the shot. Rising up, even slightly, is the main cause of thin and topped shots from this lie. A three-quarter swing helps you stay in posture.
Quick reference
| Lie | Ball flight | Ball position | Club | Aim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uphill | Higher, shorter, can pull left | Slightly forward | One or two more | Slightly right |
| Downhill | Lower, runs more, can push right | Slightly back | Less, or expect more roll | Slightly left |
| Ball above feet | Draws or pulls left | Middle | Grip down; may need more | Right |
| Ball below feet | Fades or pushes right | Middle | Full length; may need more | Left |
Combination slopes
Many lies combine two slopes, such as downhill with the ball below your feet. Deal with each element:
- Set your shoulders with the up or down slope.
- Adjust your posture and grip for the sidehill slope.
- Combine the effects on your club and aim. Downhill with the ball below your feet, for example, will tend to go low and right.
Uneven lies around the green
- Chipping uphill: the ball pops up and stops quickly, so be firmer than you think, or use a less lofted club so it runs.
- Chipping downhill: the ball comes out lower and runs, so land it softly and allow for roll.
- Sidehill chips: aim for the curve, just as with full shots.
Read how to chip in golf for the basic technique, and how to hit bunker shots for sloping lies in sand.
Practising uneven lies
Most ranges are flat, but you can still practise:
- Find a slope at the edge of a practice area or on a quiet hole in the evening, where permitted.
- Use a practice area with mounds, which some ranges and short-game areas have.
- At home or on a mat, practise standing on a step or block to feel the balance and posture changes (with practice swings only, and safely).
- On the course, take note of how each lie affected your ball and keep a mental record of what worked.
Course management on slopes
Sometimes the smart play is to avoid sloping lies altogether. When choosing where to lay up, pick a flat area of the fairway, even if it is a little further from the green. And when you face a severe slope, it is often better to take a shorter club and simply advance the ball, than to attempt a long shot from an awkward stance. Read golf course management.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the ball go left when it is above my feet?
Because the ball above your feet makes your swing flatter and tilts the club face so it points left. The effect is stronger with more lofted clubs.
How much more club should I take on an uphill lie?
On a gentle slope, about one club more; on a steep slope, two or more. Experience on your home course will help you judge.
What is the hardest uneven lie?
Most golfers find the downhill lie hardest, especially with a long club, because the ball comes out low and it is easy to lose balance. Use a more lofted club and keep your weight forward.
Should I change my swing on a slope?
Not fundamentally. Adjust your set-up, ball position, aim and club, then make a smoother, slightly shorter version of your normal swing, keeping your balance.
Can I improve my stance by building up the ground?
No. The Rules of Golf do not allow you to improve your stance by building it up, moving soil or flattening the ground. You must play the lie as you find it. See golf rules every golfer should know.
The bottom line
Uneven lies are part of every round. Set your shoulders with the slope, adjust your ball position and posture, choose the right club, aim for the curve the slope will create, and make a smooth, balanced swing. With a little practice, sloping lies will stop costing you shots. For more on-course skills, read our golf tips to play better and how to hit the ball solidly.
Around the green, read sloping lies around the green.