Undulating golf courses or those with rolling mounds present a range of shot-making challenges that, if not mastered or at least controlled, can prove the difference between making good and bad scores.
Compared to the seemingly tougher shots of a ball below your feet or a downhill lie, a ball sitting above your feet might seem quite simple. But the fact is this shot, more than any other from an uneven lie, can really fly wildly away from the target.
Here’s how should you play this shot.
When the ball is above your feet, you should always grip down slightly so the clubhead bottoms out squarely at impact, like it is for Luke Donald here (pic 1). If the toe of the club is in the air at impact, it will lead to a hook.
A general rule of thumb for uneven lies is the ball will fly with the slope. Meaning a ball hit from above your feet will steam off to the left (for right-handers) so allow for a right-to-left ball shape when you take your alignment.
There is no need to reach for the ball on this shot, so simply compensate for the slope by standing a little taller than usual.
A flatter swing path will help you come into impact solidly and with the sole of club matching the slope.
Lastly, make sure you complete your follow-through (pic 2). From an uneven lie it is important, to achieve this, that you swing with control. Don’t try and power your lower body on this shot, because it’s very easy to lose control and hit the shot fat.
