how to make solid contact with the ball on an uneven lie going
downhill, which is probably the most difficult shot in golf.
One of the reasons this shot is so hard is because when you address
a golf ball that is on a downhill lie there isn't any room for
error. Most people end up hitting the ground behind the ball, or
hitting the golf ball thin since the ground is going away from the
ball. A downhill lie makes it very difficult to swing under the
ball and get it up in the air.
In this golf lesson, I will show what you need to do to get the
ball up in the air and on its way to the pin.
When you stop to think about what area of your golf game you should work on you don’t often think about the different trouble shots. You spend time at the practice facility working on your full swing and you might spend some time on your putting. However you rarely think about uneven lies, flop shots, deep rough or punch shots.
I have put together some valuable information on two Trouble Shots that I know will play a big role in you lowering your handicap.
Hands down this has to be the most difficult shot in golf. The game was just not designed to be played going downhill and there are two problems you are faced with. Just when you think you have a tough downhill lie you look up to see that you now have to hit the ball over a pond onto the green. Not going to happen.
The Arc
You see the reason the ball going downhill lie is so difficult is because we swing the golf club on a arc. The arc has to have a bottom to it so you can find the bottom of the golf ball. When you address the golf ball on level ground the bottom of the golf club can swing up and down on the arc and return to the bottom of the golf ball, there is turf under the golf ball.
When you address a golf ball going downhill there isn’t any turf under the golf ball. The ground goes away from the ball. When you swing the golf club on arc and return to the golf ball the turf goes away from you. There isn’t any turf for the golf club to swing into.
You have to compensate so you can find the bottom of the ball.
Finding the Bottom of the Ball
The next problem is as big as the first one. You not only have to find the bottom of the golf ball, you have to make sure it goes up in the air.
There are four degrees of loft between all of my irons. If I am 150 yards from the green on a downhill slope of 8 degrees I am going to have a difficult time hitting the green with this shot. When I am standing 150 yards from the green I have to hit a shot that has enough loft so the ball will stop when it hits the green. I usually hit a 7 iron from 150 yards; in this case my 7 iron has the loft of my 5 iron. I have to drop down and take my 8 or 9 iron. Because the 8 and 9 irons are shorter than the 7 they will not perform like a 7.
When you have long downhill lies that won’t reach the green that usually isn’t a problem. Anytime you have a chip, pitch or full swing shot that can reach the green that is when the trouble begins.
So let’s spend some time with the technique of hitting a downhill shot.
As soon as the golf club reaches the bottom of the arc it has to swing level along the ground before it can come back up. In other words the arc has to be longer than normal.
Stand to the Slope
The first thing you have to do is stand to the slope. Your right shoulder has to be higher at address which places more weight on your left side.The reason you have to stand to the slope is to make sure the golf club swings UP in the backswing and DOWN in the downswing. If the slope is severe enough you have to make sure you do not transfer any weight going back in the backswing.
Now comes the secret. You have to make sure at the bottom of the hit that you follow through LOW, follow through along the slope. You do not have to worry about finishing high. You have to keep the club head low to the ground so you can make solid impact and not top of scull the golf ball.
You might have the feeling of chasing the golf ball down the fairway. Two other items to remember when you are going downhill, the golf ball will not stop and you will have tendency to slice or push the golf ball to the right.
That's all for Tip #1, I hope it will help you the next time you find yourself with a downhill lie. In a few days I'll show you some great ways to get out of the deep rough.
Sincerely,
Jay
Hello Friend:
Every golfer worth his or her salt wants “touch”—the ability to routinely land the ball on the green and run it softly to the pin.
Maybe you even know somebody who has good “touch” and you’ve envied that person’s skillful shots.
Well, I’m going to teach you how to make those same shots part of your game.
That’s right. I’m going to help you acquire a feel for the greens...to master all the variables that are involved in the pitch shot...to truly have “touch.”
And having touch is going to cut your handicap by a third.
I think you should try it out. What have you got to lose?
If you haven't seen this, please check out:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2473387
You won't be disappointed.
Thanks, and be sure to let me know how much your friends envy your skillful pitch shots after seeing this video.
Jay
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