Perfect advice and thoughts.I know that shot will fade but I am coming out of my tilt on the backswing b/c of balance. I think shortening my swing will also help. I just need to focus on hitting a solid shot vs hero shot. Thanks Tom!
My pleasure and I hope it works for you! There are definitely times and situations where the "hero" shot is an acceptable play, but you first need to build confidence in your ability to consistently hit it solid from the type of lie you are facing. Once you've got that, then carving a 40-degree fade around that tree from a downhill sidehill lie to a green with a creek protecting the front becomes a realistic possibility and worth the risk!
Uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies are on my to-do list for online school lesson content. Having said that, the keys to playing this shot are in 1) adjusting your setup to properly orient yourself to the ball (since it will be closer to you, your upper body will be angled more towards the ground than on a standard shot), 2) balancing yourself as you may need to feel your weight more towards the heels of your feet depending on the severity of the slope, 3) taking an extra club or two than you normally would from the given distance, and 4) aligning yourself with the expectation that the ball will fade. Once you are oriented, balanced, and properly aligned, you are ready to execute the swing as taught. Bump your hips forward an inch as you typically would so your weight favors the front side 55-60%, and when you take it back make sure that your weight stays forward and your shoulders do not flatten out as they turn, as they will have a tendency to do so due to their preset steeper orientation. In fact, a good thought for this shot is to keep the chest pointing down as you turn, since mishits from this type of lie are oftentimes a result of the golfer coming out of his or her tilt in the backswing.
Perfect advice and thoughts.I know that shot will fade but I am coming out of my tilt on the backswing b/c of balance. I think shortening my swing will also help. I just need to focus on hitting a solid shot vs hero shot. Thanks Tom!
Uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies are on my to-do list for online school lesson content. Having said that, the keys to playing this shot are in 1) adjusting your setup to properly orient yourself to the ball (since it will be closer to you, your upper body will be angled more towards the ground than on a standard shot), 2) balancing yourself as you may need to feel your weight more towards the heels of your feet depending on the severity of the slope, 3) taking an extra club or two than you normally would from the given distance, and 4) aligning yourself with the expectation that the ball will fade. Once you are oriented, balanced, and properly aligned, you are ready to execute the swing as taught. Bump your hips forward an inch as you typically would so your weight favors the front side 55-60%, and when you take it back make sure that your weight stays forward and your shoulders do not flatten out as they turn, as they will have a tendency to do so due to their preset steeper orientation. In fact, a good thought for this shot is to keep the chest pointing down as you turn, since mishits from this type of lie are oftentimes a result of the golfer coming out of his or her tilt in the backswing.
I hope this helps!
Tom