Handle Every Uneven Shot with Confidence
Golf is a game of precision, patience, and, let’s be honest, a little bit of controlled frustration. If you’ve ever walked up to your ball and found it resting on a slope steeper than your driveway, you know the feeling. Uneven lies are the ultimate curveball in golf—tricky, unpredictable, and capable of making even seasoned golfers feel like they’ve never held a club before.
But, with a little know-how, the right setup, and a dash of confidence, you can turn those tricky shots into strokes of genius using the pro-tips in this guide. Take a deep breath, take a seat, and take notes as we dive into the art of playing from uneven lies.
Topics Covered in This Guide
1. Understanding the Four Types of Uneven Lies
Before we start shaping shots like Picasso with a paintbrush, let’s break down the four main types of uneven lies you’ll encounter:
Ball Above Your Feet – A recipe for an unexpected hook.
Ball Below Your Feet – Say hello to an unintentional fade (or worse, a whiff).
Uphill Lie – Feels like a free pass, but it’s a club selection puzzle.
Downhill Lie – The cruelest of them all, making it tough to get the ball airborne.
Each of these lies presents unique challenges, and the secret to conquering them is adjusting your stance, club selection, and swing accordingly. Let’s break it down step by step.
2. Ball Above Your Feet
Taming the Hook
When the ball is sitting above your feet, gravity wants to pull your shot left (for right-handed golfers). Here’s how to keep your ball on the straight and narrow:
Grip down on the club – The closer your hands are to the ball, the better control you’ll have.
Widen your stance – This helps maintain balance since you’ll feel like you’re swinging on a hill.
Aim right – The ball naturally wants to go left, so give it room to do its thing.
Take a smoother swing – A steep backswing can exaggerate the hook, so keep it controlled and compact.
Pro Tip: Imagine swinging inside a barrel. That flatter swing path will help prevent overcooking the shot.
3. Ball Below Your Feet
The Shot That Feels Like a Circus Trick
This is the golf equivalent of standing on ice while trying to hit a target 200 yards away. The ball is further away, forcing you into a less stable stance and making a fade (or a complete miss) a real possibility.
Bend your knees more – You’re lower to the ground, but don’t hunch over—this isn’t Notre Dame.
Stay balanced – Your weight should favor the balls of your feet to avoid toppling over.
Aim left – The ball wants to fade right, so counteract it.
Use more club – The lower stance shortens your swing, so take one more club than usual.
Pro Tip: Imagine your knees are shock absorbers. Keep them flexed throughout the swing to avoid topping the ball.
4. Uphill Lie
The Gift That Keeps on Giving (Sort Of)
An uphill lie can feel like a rare favor from the golf gods—until you skull the ball 30 yards past the green. The slope naturally adds loft, so distance control is key.
Match your shoulders to the slope – Your body should tilt with the hill.
Put more weight on your back foot – This prevents chunking it halfway up the hill.
Use one more club – The ball will fly higher, but with less distance.
Swing up the slope – Let the terrain help, rather than fight against it..
Pro Tip: This is the one time you can really trust the slope. Think of it as an invisible caddie giving you a hand
5. Downhill Lie
The Nemesis of Every Golfer
Downhill lies are where golf gets unfair. The ball loves to stay low, making it tough to get airborne. Play this one smart, and you’ll save yourself a walk into the woods.
Adjust your shoulders to match the slope – You want to swing with the hill, not against it.
Move the ball slightly back in your stance – This helps you make clean contact.
Take less club – A 7-iron will fly more like a 5-iron due to the reduced loft.
Make a controlled, smooth swing – Aggression leads to disaster here.
Pro Tip: Downhill lies love to turn into low screamers. Accept it and adjust rather than fighting against physics.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
The only way to get comfortable with uneven lies is to put in the work. Next time you’re at the range, find a spot with some slope and experiment. Play different lies, use different clubs, and pay attention to ball flight. If your course has a practice area with some undulation, make it part of your routine.
Here's our top instructional videos that will help you with various shots:
Pro Tip: If the range is flatter than a pancake, practice shots with your feet on different levels—one foot on the mat, one off—to simulate real course conditions.
The Final Takeaway
Work With the Slope, Not Against It
Playing from uneven lies is about making adjustments, not forcing your normal swing onto an unpredictable surface.
Match your body to the slope.
Adjust your aim based on the expected ball flight.
Make smooth, balanced swings.
Don’t try to overpower the shot—work with gravity, not against it.
If you can master these adjustments, you’ll turn what used to be nightmare lies into confident, controlled shots. And if all else fails—well, at least you’ll have a good excuse for that double bogey.
Now get out there, hit some sloped shots, and tell those uneven lies who sent ya.
To better golf,
Matt Stephens
Founder & Inventor, GoGolf365
