As amateur golfers, we spend so much time listening to the best tips for things like how far to stand from the golf ball or finding the perfect ball position with every club, but often they relate to a lovely flat lie.
Most battle-hardened veterans of the game will tell you that finding such a fortunate position is rare, even if you do find the fairway, so what do we do if the ball is above our feet?
This under-practised shot can really harm your scorecard if you don't get it right, so we asked Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ged Walters to run us through three top tips for striking the ball better when this scenario occurs...
How Do I Play The Golf Ball When It's Above My Feet?
Rather than thinking of this as a totally different swing, instead consider it as making some adjustments. Some of the best golf courses in the world are heavily contoured, like The Masters famous host venue Augusta National, so being comfortable on the slopes is a necessity. I am going to break this down into three areas, which will hopefully help you to stay on the attack next time you find your feet below the level of the ball.
Augusta National, host of The Masters, has some huge slopes that can require this kind of shot
1. Swing Flatter
Your swing needs to be more around you and flatter than usual, so stand a little taller to the ball and maintain your height as you swing. Keep the club moving around you in a semi-circular motion all the way. You’re more likely to hit a draw, so aim a little bit further right, and swing smoothly as balance can be trickier to maintain on sloping lies.
2. The Ball Position
The ball should be as close to its normal position as possible, but perhaps a fraction closer to centre depending on the club. With a mid-iron, for example, it would normally be a little forward, but I’d move it back about a ball’s width so it’s almost dead-centre. This is because the club’s natural arc will impact the ground too soon when the ball is above you.
Slightly altering the ball position and using a flatter swing are two ways to improve your strike when the ball is above your feet
3. Replicate In Practise
Most golfers practise on driving ranges or practice areas with flat surfaces, but many golf courses are far from flat. Sometimes the ball will be well above your feet and successful results from such a lie require the changes to your set-up detailed here. If possible, try and find somewhere where you can also practise from such lies to hone the technique.
-
I Want To See Players Struggle, Not A Bloated Birdie-Fest... Should A Score Of Par (Or Worse) Win The US Open?We haven't seen a US Open win at par or worse since 2018, but do we want more golf courses to test players to that extent? The GM team have their say...
-
US Open Leaderboard, Live Scores And Updates: McIlroy And DeChambeau Out Early On Day 1 At OakmontThe 2025 US Open is underway! Follow along with live scores and updates from the third men's Major of the year at Oakmont
-
How To Play The Toughest Bunker Shot In Golf – Can You Escape The Sand Unscathed?Bunker shots can be hard at the best of times, but this scenario is perhaps the toughest challenge of all. Fortunately, our pro can help you escape the sand
-
Golf Warm-Up Exercises: 5 Things Every Golfer Should Do Before Their RoundGolf warm-up exercises are crucial to improving your scoring and give you the best chance of success in competitions... but many golfers foolishly overlook them
-
'It Sends Shivers Down My Spine' – How To Play The Scariest Shot In GolfThere are some golf shots that instantly strike fear into even the bravest of weekend warriors... but making three simple changes can remove that fear
-
3 Things The Best Golfers In The World Do On The Tee Box (And Why You Must Copy Them)Copying the best golfers in the world is difficult due to their elite technical ability, but every amateur golfer can do these 3 things to improve off the tee
-
Want To Play Better Golf This Weekend? I Can Cure Your Slice In 60 Minutes...So many amateurs are plagued with a slice, which hampers their scoring potential on the golf course. However, with my expert tips, I can cure you in 60 minutes
-
Forget Push Ups And Squats – Try 3 Simple Tips To Gain 10 Yards Off The TeeGain 10 yards off the tee without the need for tiresome workouts and lengthy gym sessions – Top 50 Coach John Jacobs has the perfect distance-boosting formula
-
Recognise This Fault In Your Golf Swing? It's Time 'Elvis Leg' Left The Building...Plenty of people try to emulate the great Elvis Presley, but doing so on the course rarely leads to success in the golf swing. Tom Motley explains...
-
I Can Help You Strike The Golf Ball Better Than Ever Before (And All You Need Is A Towel)Better ball striking and low scoring go hand in hand, but with practise time in short supply it's important to find the right drills. Grab a towel and let's go!
