ADJUST TO THE SLOPE ON UNDULATING FAIRWAYS elevision doesn’t do No 2 justice. It might look flat, but its fairways are like a bunched-up carpet in a lot of spots, producing all kinds of uneven lies. As
T
are stretching and fully extended as you keep moving long after the ball is struck, even if that throws you off balance. These shots are more about function over form. Often the toughest of these uneven lies is when the ball is lower than your feet ( below ). A lot of players struggle because they rarely encounter or practice this shot, so they don’t know how to adjust. To hit a good shot from there, set up with a slight forward lean with your upper body and realise that you will have more weight favouring your toes because of the slope. On a severe sidehill lie, go ahead and feel more weight in your heels to offset the awkwardness. “I thought about keeping my lower body less involved than normal to make sure I struck it pure,” MacClurg says. Again, don’t forget to take a few practice swings to determine where the club naturally strikes the ground. Then set up to the ball so it’s behind that spot. It will likely fly lower than normal, which is why you take more club.
disappointing as it might be to find your next shot is on a downhill, uphill or sidehill lie, you can’t ignore it and just swing away. Adjusting to the terrain will ensure you advance the ball either onto the green or close to it. First, set your shoulders parallel to the slope. If it were an uphill lie, your left shoulder would be higher than your right, and vice versa if it were a downhill lie. Also, stand slightly wider than normal to help with balance. Next, take a few practice swings. Pay attention to where your club naturally strikes the ground. You’ll want to adjust your ball position in relation to the low point of the swing. Ideally, play it a centimetre to 3cm behind where your club catches the turf, and keep your eyes focused on that point of contact, not the ball. When you swing, feel like your arms
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 53
JUNE 2024
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator