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N
ot every lie on the golf
course is created equal.
Occasionally, you'll find
yourself with the ball well above or
below your feet on the side of a slope.
While this can present a challenge
and force you outside of your com-
fort zone, there are a some things you
can do to make these situations easier
to handle.
In this edition of Ask the Pro,
Indian Wells PGA Head Golf Profes-
sional Tom Burley offers five tips on
how to play a shot with the ball above
your feet. Keep these tips in mind the
next time you're faced with an un-
even lie – they will help you recover
from an otherwise sticky situation.
1) Move your hands slightly toward
the bottom of the grip. Choke up a
little on the club you are hitting. This
will give you more control on the
unsteady ground.
2) Take one less club than you
would use normally. The ball will
come off with some hook spin, which
will generate a bit more distance and
release when it hits the ground.
3) Aim to the right of your target.
Allow your ball some room to work
back to the target. The hook spin will
move the ball more right-to-left for a
right-handed player, or more left-to-
right for a left-handed player.
4) Alter your swing. Since the ball is
above your feet, your swing will be
slightly more around your body than
down the line. With the swing com-
ing from the inside and around, the
motion will add side spin to the ball.
5) Make sure you get your weight
to transfer during the swing. You
want to avoid hanging back on your
right side (for a right-handed player).
This will cause the club to strike the
turf prior to the golf ball and could
lead to chunked shots or shots that
are hit to the right and stay right.
STAND YOUR GROUND
5 tips for successfully playing off of sidehill lies
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
G
olf clinics are now under way for
the season at Indian Wells Golf
Resort, with classes scheduled every
Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m.
Cost is $29 per student and a differ-
ent topic is covered each day, from
putting and short-game to full-
swing instruction and specialty
shots. If you'd like even further
guidance, Indian Wells Golf Resort is
offering various instruction pack-
ages for both individuals and cou-
ples. CLICK HERE to learn more.
DAILY GOLF CLINICS
< VIDEO EXTRA! Learn how to play
shots when the ball is below your feet.