The other day, I watched one of my students absolutely stripe his drive down the left side of the dogleg-right 13th hole. He ended up in the left rough and a little out of position, about 130 yards out with a clear shot to the pin. But when he got to his ball, his face dropped. The ball was sitting about three feet below his feet on a steep sidehill lie.
What happened next was predictable: he took his normal setup, made his normal swing and watched his ball sail 30 yards right of the green, out of bounds. He turned to me with that familiar look of confusion, like the golf gods had betrayed him.
Here’s the reality, golf fans: Sidehill lies aren’t course design miscues or bad luck. They’re scoring opportunities that most golfers turn into disasters because they don’t understand how to make the necessary adjustments. After two decades of teaching, I can tell you that ball-below-feet lies are actually more manageable than most players think, but only if you understand what’s really happening.
Why your ball goes right every time
When the ball sits below your feet, physics takes over, whether you like it or not. Your swing plane automatically becomes more upright and the clubface opens relative to your target line. This isn’t a swing flaw you can muscle through with better timing or more concentration.
Think about it: You’re essentially swinging on a steeper angle because you’re reaching down to the ball. That upright plane, combined with the natural opening of the clubface, sends every shot sailing right of your intended target. Most golfers fight this by trying to swing harder or aim further left, but that only makes the problem worse.
Ball flight laws don’t care about your intentions. An open clubface at impact creates sidespin, and that sidespin curves your ball right every single time. Understanding this is the first step toward actually managing these lies instead of hoping for the best.
The setup changes that actually work
Your address position needs to change dramatically. First, aim your body and clubface significantly left of your target. I’m talking about aiming 20 to 30 yards left for longer irons, depending on the severity of the slope.
Widen your stance for better balance and flex your knees more than normal. You need to get lower down to the ball, but don’t just bend over from your waist. That creates tension and restricts your turn. Instead, sit down slightly into your setup like you’re getting ready to sit in a chair.
Grip down on the club at least an inch, sometimes more on severe slopes. This brings you closer to the ball and gives you better control. Your weight should favor your uphill foot slightly to help you maintain balance throughout the swing.
The swing adjustment that changes everything
Make a more upright backswing and follow-through. Don’t fight the natural plane change; embrace it. Your swing will naturally become more arms-and-hands oriented, exactly what you want on this lie.
The key is maintaining your spine angle throughout the swing. Most golfers stand up during the downswing when reaching for a ball below their feet, which opens the clubface even more. Stay in your posture, even if it feels like you’re swinging down at the ball.
Take one more club than normal and make a smooth, controlled swing. The upright plane will cost you some distance, but the improved contact more than makes up for it.
The mental mistake that ruins good execution
Even when golfers make the right setup adjustments, they often sabotage themselves by trying to help the ball get airborne. They think that because the ball is below their feet, they need to lift it or scoop it up.
This creates thin shots and pushes that compound the rightward ball flight. Trust your loft and make a descending blow, just like you would on level ground. The club is designed to get the ball up; your job is simply to make solid contact.
The honest truth about sidehill lies
Ball-below-feet shots aren’t about perfect technique. They’re about making smart adjustments and committing to them fully. Aim left, get lower, grip down, and swing with confidence.
Practice these adjustments on the range using alignment sticks or tees to simulate the slope. Your next round will prove that sidehill lies are just another scoring opportunity waiting to be seized.
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