Lea Cooper Professional Golfer / Coach

In position but out of position!

Even being in the middle of the fairway does not guarantee that the next shot will be easy.

Ball Below the Feet – Using the Lie to Help the Shot

When the ball is below your feet, the lie naturally encourages a left-to-right ball flight (fade for a right-handed golfer) because the club tends to sit more toe-down through impact, often leaving the face slightly open relative to the path.

Key Points

1. Maintain Your Posture Angle

* Bend from the hips and keep your spine angle throughout the swing.
* Avoid standing up during the downswing to “reach” for the ball.
* Staying in posture helps you strike the center of the clubface more consistently.

2. Start Line

* Because the ball tends to fade, aim the start line slightly left of the target (for a right-handed player).
* Let the natural shape of the lie bring the ball back toward the target.
* The more severe the slope, the more curvature you can expect.

3. Balance and Stability

* Weight should feel balanced through the middle of your feet.
* Avoid excessive movement toward the toes during the swing.
* A controlled tempo helps maintain balance on the slope.

4. Expect Slightly Less Distance

* Solid contact can be harder to achieve.
* Many players lose a small amount of distance due to reduced strike quality.

5. Swing Along the Slope

* Let the swing follow your posture and the terrain.
* Don’t try to force a normal flat-ground motion.

6. Club Selection

* Consider taking one more club if the lie is severe.
* Prioritize solid contact over maximum distance.

Simple Shot Strategy

1. Recognize the natural fade tendency.
2. Aim a little left of the target.
3. Maintain posture and balance.

Learning how to adjust your setup and swing for different slopes can significantly improve your golf game.

Many golfers focus heavily on their technique from a perfect lie, but golf is played on uneven terrain. Understanding how various slopes influence ball flight—and knowing how to set up accordingly—allows you to make better decisions, strike the ball more consistently, and use the lie to your advantage rather than fighting against it.

Benefits of Learning Slope Adjustments

* Improved ball striking from uneven lies
* Better distance and directional control
* Increased confidence when faced with challenging positions
* Smarter course management and shot selection
* Lower scores through fewer costly mistakes

BOOK IN FOR:

SLOPE MASTERY CLASS
Group Coaching – Limited to 6 Players

Learn how to play:

* Uphill lies
* Downhill lies
* Sidehill lies

You’ll learn to:

* Read slopes correctly
* Make the right setup adjustments
* Strike the ball with confidence
* Lower your scores

Monday 22 June | 7:00–8:30 PM
£25 per person
Only 5 spaces available

Shot 3 – High Lob (Soft Landing, Steep Angle)

This is the opposite mindset to the low “pop into the bank.” Here, you’re taking the slope out of play and relying on height + spin + descent angle to stop the ball quickly.

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What you’re trying to do

* Launch the ball high and soft
* Land it just onto the green (apron area)
* Use steep descent + spin to kill rollout

This is your “carry it there and stop it” option when you can’t use the slope effectively.

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How to execute it

Setup

* Clubface open first, then take your grip
* Stance slightly open (body aiming left of target)
* Ball forward in stance
* Weight still favoring lead side (important—don’t hang back)

Swing

* Feel like the club is sliding under the ball
* Full, flowing motion—don’t decelerate
* Use the bounce of the wedge, not the leading edge

Contact

* Shallow, brushing strike
* Let the loft do the work—don’t try to “help” it up

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Why it works

* The high launch creates a steep landing angle
* More loft = more spin potential
* Minimal rollout makes it ideal when short-sided

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Where it goes wrong

* Deceleration → chunk or blade
* Too much shaft lean → you de-loft and lose height
* Tight lies without confidence → easy to mis-hit
* Windy conditions → ball gets knocked offline

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When to choose this over Shot 2

Go with the high lob when:

* The slope isn’t reliable or is too severe
* You need to carry rough/fringe cleanly
* The green is firm and fast
* You have just enough landing area to stop it

Choose Shot 2 (low into the bank) when:

* The slope is your friend
* You want a more predictable strike
* You’re less confident with lofted shots

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Reality check

This is a high-skill shot. Even good players don’t pull it off every time. If your strike isn’t consistent, it can turn a par chance into a double quickly

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Shot 2 – Low Flight “Pop Into the Bank

What you’re trying to do

Instead of flying it all the way to the pin (high risk when short-sided), you:

* Drive the ball low into the slope
* Let the hill kill the forward momentum
* Use residual spin + soft landing to stop it near the hole

It’s aggressive—but controlled aggressive.

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How to execute it

Setup

* Ball slightly back in your stance
* Weight favoring your lead side (60–70%)
* Hands slightly ahead of the ball
* Choose a lofted club (typically sand or lob wedge)

Swing

* Keep it compact and accelerating
* Feel like you’re “punching” the ball into the hill, not scooping it up
* Minimal wrist action—more body-driven strike

Contact

* Clean strike, slightly descending blow
* You want ball first, then turf

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Why it works

* The slope acts like a natural brake
* Lower flight = more predictable contact
* Spin helps the ball check instead of releasing past the hole

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When to avoid this shot

* The slope is too steep → ball rebounds unpredictably
* Very firm ground → ball can skid and jump
* Buried lie → hard to control strike
* You must carry a hazard (then you need loft, not this)

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Skill-level guidance

* Higher handicaps: This can be risky—default to a safer chip unless you’ve practiced it
* Mid handicaps: Great option when you’re confident with strike
* Low handicaps: A go-to “attack mode” shot when short-sided

Like and share, part 3 is on the way!

The short game:

When you’re below the level of the green and the pin is short-sided, (Uphill lie) this is one of those situations where discipline usually beats heroics.

Shot 1 – Medium Flight (the “smart play”)

This option is all about removing risk and trusting a predictable outcome.

You’re deliberately:

* Playing a slightly higher, controlled chip or pitch
* Landing the ball safely onto the green surface (not flirting with the edge)
* Accepting that the ball will roll past the flag

Why it works

* Uphill slope slows the ball down → gives you margin for error
* Landing on the green reduces the chance of a chunk or skull
* You avoid bringing the short-sided trouble (bunker, rough, fringe) into play

What you’re trading off

* You likely leave a longer putt coming back
* You’re giving up the chance of a “tap-in”

When to choose this shot

* You’re not 100% confident with high, soft shots
* The lie is average or slightly dodgy
* There’s real trouble short-sided (bunker, thick rough, slope away)
* You’re protecting a score (medal round, match pressure)

Key ex*****on thoughts

* Pick a landing spot safely on the green
* Keep a stable tempo—don’t try to help the ball up
* Keeping a constant Radius will help you to control the club face and loft
* Let the loft do the work, not your hands

Look out for Part 2