No. 19 - Playing from awkward lies

Even if you can stay out of the thick stuff, there will be times in a round when your ball is not on a perfectly flat lie, either above or below your feet, up- or downhill.
Stay calm. With a few small adjustments, you can turn these 'awkward' lies into simple shots.

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1. UPHILL LIE
- When taking your stance, make sure your shoulders, hips and knees are parallel to the slope
- Take more club than the same distance from a flat lie, as the ball will fly higher and shorter than usual
- Swing along the line of the slope
- Don't force: maintain your balance throughout

1. DOWNHILL LIE
- When taking your stance, make sure your shoulders, hips and knees are parallel to the slope
- Take a club less than the same distance from a flat lie, as the ball will fly lower and longer than usual
- Swing along the line of the slope
- Maintain your balance and stay down on the shot

1. BALL ABOVE YOUR FEET
- Grip down the club
- Adopt a more upright set-up / spine angle
- The ball will tend to fly left from this lie, so aim to the right of target before making the shot
- Move the ball further back in your stance

2. BALL BELOW YOUR FEET
- Use the full length of the club
- Your spine angle must be more tilted than normal (more spine tilt and knee flex); maintain your knee flex throughout the swing
- The ball will tend to curve to the right, so aim left of target before making the shot
- Take one club more than usual: 6-iron instead of 7