Short Game - Shots from Different Lies - Uphill, Downhill, Side-hill

Here's some useful advice to help you counteract the odd difficult lie you can get around the green:

The greater the loft the easier to hit the ball left, i.e. to pull or hook it.  That’s why you rarely see a sliced chip or pitch shot.

Uphill

• Set your shoulders as parallel to the slope as is possible to help the arc of the swing work in harmony with the slope.
• Weight will tend to favour the rear/back foot
• Swing with rhythm and balance
• Will be a limited leg action and weight transfer
• The ball will fly higher, travel less distance, stop quicker and might go to the left (aim a little right at address to compensate).
   

Downhill

• Set your shoulders as parallel to the slope as is possible to help the arc of the swing work in harmony with the slope.
• Weight will tend to favour the front/forward foot
• Maintain rhythm and balance
• Will be a limited leg action and weight transfer
• The ball will fly lower, run more, stop quicker and might go to the right (aim a little left at address to compensate).
   

Side hill - ball above feet

• Set posture more upright so that the spine is more vertical.
• Grip down the club for more control and to help limit the tendency for the swing plane (angle) to flatten somewhat (too far behind the body).
• Limit lower body and weight transfer.
• Keep upper torso rotating back through impact to limit tendency to roll club face closed.
• The ball will fly lower, run more, stop quicker and go to the left (aim a little right at address to compensate).

Side hill - ball below feet

• Setup with your posture more over the ball - allow your spine to feel more tilted forward.
• Hold the club in the normal position or if a little more control is required a little lower down.
• The swing plane will tend to be more upright due to the slope and your posture - allow this to happen naturally so that the swing arc helps the club head contact the ball correctly.
• Limit the leg action and weight transfer.
• Rhythm and balance are important with this shot.
• The ball will tend to fly upward but may lack forward penetration - therefore use a less lofted club.
• The ball tends to go to the right (aim a little left at address to compensate).