What to do on a Downhill Lie
The problem
You hit your downhill shots fat.
Why do I do that?
Your normal downswing angle isn’t steep enough to avoid the ground behind the ball on a downslope.
How to fix it
Make a more sharply descending downswing. However, on a downslope, creating a steeper-than-normal downswing that produces solid contact with good club speed is difficult, especially if you don’t consistently practice the technique. Luckily, there’s another way. It allows you to make your everyday swing, but with a few simple setup adjustments and a new wrinkle to your finish. Here’s how to do it.
• Set your shoulders parallel to the slope.
• Take a more lofted club to compensate for the decrease in shot height created by the downslope, and grip down a few inches on the shaft.
• Spread your feet to create an extra-wide stance (for better backswing balance) and play the ball two inches back from normal (to provide a margin of error against fat contact).
• Keep your head still and maintain some of your weight on your back foot.
• On your downswing, allow gravity to help you swing through impact.
• Feel your weight move downhill as you turn through the shot.
• Step forward and walk down the hill to help reestablish your balance.
