Sidehill Lies

Video Transcript

Oh boy, do I have a hard shot here. For a right-hander I think this may be the hardest lie you can have. A sidehill lie with the ball a little bit below your feet and add to that today I have a little bit of wind out of the left to right and I have a pin that is cut very close to the water. Where I want to keep this ball is left, I do not want it in that water. The shape of this shot, because the ball is below my feet, the arc or the path of the clubhead into the ball tends to be steeper. Also, the hill tends to throw my weight out, so what I want to do is take a setup and aim left to allow for the fact that the ball wants to bend from left to right. I want to take a little more time to get my weight back on my heels so I can avoid the feeling of falling out. As you have that feeling of avoiding the fall-out, the tendency when you are back on your heels is not to turn through the shot. It is very important that as my weight is back on my heels I want to be able to make a nice smooth swing all the way through. Since I have a very exaggerated slope here, I am taking a little more club. It is 115 yard shot which normally would be a wedge for me, I am taking a 9-iron to allow for the fact that I want to make a smooth swing through the ball, trying to keep my balance and not have my weight fall out over my feet. I am aiming left, weight back, I want to swing all the way through and let the ball go left-to-right. If I allow for the shape of the shot, I allow for enough club and know that my weight tends to go out there, I can get where off this sidehill lie I know what it is going to do and I can hit it there. I suggest that you try these side-hillers, practicing them so that you will have confidence with them on the course. Probably the hardest shot for a right-hander.

Paul Marchand
Shadow Hawk Golf Club
12900 FM 1464
Richmond, TX 77469

Paul Marchand is an instructor to Fred Couples and was Assistant Captain to the U.S. 2000 President's Cup Team. He is also listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers.

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