Fixing the sidehill lie shot
By Bruce Lewis
The most important element of successful sidehill lie shot – or
when the ball is above or below your feet because of the slop of
the hill – is balance. There are several ways to maintain balance
but golfers also need to adjust their aim for an accurate sidehill
lie shot.
Fixing the sidehill lie shot
By Bruce Lewis
The most important element of successful sidehill lie shot – or when the ball is above or below your feet because of the slop of the hill – is balance. There are several ways to maintain balance but golfers also need to adjust their aim for an accurate sidehill lie shot.
When facing away from the hill, and with the ball below your feet, we must add more flex to our knees for better balance. By flexing the knees, we also lower our normal stance to help us reach the ball as well. A more upright swing will make crisp contact and maintain our balance.
When facing the hill, the ball will be above our feet. With this lie, widen your stance for better balance rather than adding flex to the knees. Use a flatter swing and shorter backswing to help maintain the balance.
Always remember this simple rule for sidehill lies: The ball’s flight will bend away from the hill.
If you are facing away from the hill, the ball flight will bend downhill so allow yourself an aiming cushion slightly to the uphill side. The more severe the slope, the more you aim uphill. If the hill is facing you, the ball flight will usually be lower with added roll.
If the hill is behind you, the ball will usually travel a less distance with less roll. So keep in mind your ball flight will bend with the slope of your sidehill lie.
Hole–in-ones
San Bautista resident, Susan Botelho, aced hole the 12th hole on the Gabilan Course at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club. Botelho used her 8-iron on the 97-yard tee shot.
Ray Sanchez of San Jose scored an ace while playing with local friends Bob Fink and Bruce Tyson-Flyn. Sanchez’s hole-in-one came on the 15th hole from 175 yards on the Diablo Course at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club.
Congratulations to Frys.com Open
What an exciting tournament that concluded with a six-hole playoff Sunday. Although I was not able to attend the Frys.com Open, the television coverage was outstanding and the course was in excellent condition.
