Hitting a ball from a sidehill lie is a difficult shot. It's also hard to simulate on the practice range, which means you need to know the proper techniques for when you're faced with the situation on the course.
Sid Cormier lives in an area where golf courses are filled with many sidehill, downhill, and uphill lies. He asked me to share some tips on how to attack his approach shot whenever he finds himself faced with a tricky lie.
Dear Don,
Been using PPGS for 4 years now with good results and referring my friends to it. We live in a mountainous region of northern California, and many good shots land on sidehill, downhill, or uphill lies. Shortening my backswing tends to help, but any other concise comments on sidehill downhill, and uphill lies?
Thanks,
Sid
As I've said before, the daily videos are merely an avenue to introduce the swing and a forum for Surgites to discuss the game of golf. Many lessons take much longer than the 5-10 minutes I have available for dailies. Nevertheless, they are a good starting point for learning the basic ideas of the swing.
Today I will give you a few tips on sidehill lies, but it would be in your best interest to check out Situational Shots: On the Course. It's one of the most comprehensive videos I have produced and features many more difficult shots that golfers face on a day to day basis.
To learn these techniques, click here to buy.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
Comments
Downhill
Hi Surge,
The downhill lies are definitely the ones we need to pay the most attention to. As shallow as the path into the ball is with the PPGS, it is VERY easy to come up 3-4 inches fat on those lies. The Situational Shots: On The Course video is a great help with these and so many other shots. There are elements in there I go back to regularly, as I am a professional at putting my ball in less than optimal places. Anyone wanting to learn how to deal with all of the shots where it's not like standing on the driving range really should get that video, and the Situational Shots: Around the Green video. It's saved me more than a few strokes.
Driver advice
Lynn42, Robert:
I went to Golfsmiths today - I hit the R1 and the Rocketballs. Both felt like I was hitting with a tin can attached to a stick. I left the store and thought what you have just recommended. So seeing your replies reafirms what I need to do. I already had downloaded Doc's form, just need to gather the info.
Guys thanks for your input - much appriciated.
I posted earlier I played the twilight at Maple Lane last night. Played 16 holes. Had a double (poor tee ball on par three), and a triple (stinkin driver). Played the other 14 holes EVEN PAR. Had back to back birdies for only the second time ever. Hitting it great. Have been using Kenny Knox's technique for chipping and pitching - working well.
Good luck to all of you - hit em well.
Jerry
Driver Advice
Jerry,
I downloaded Doc's form and put off filling it out and getting it to Doc. I figured my problem with my old driver was me and not the driver. After I cut it down and tinkered with lead tape trying to make it work I finally sent Doc the info and video he needed. As I've said before I will never be the poster boy for the PPGS swing, but Doc worked with what I have and gave me the "arrow" that allows me to be the best I can be, so it's now up to the Indian. ;o)
Best money I ever spent on a driver. Doc will not disappoint.
Agree
Lynn:
Looking forward to working with Doc. I bought some lead tape today - will try it this weekend to get me through till I get the new driver.
Thanks again for your input, hit em well friend :)
Jerry.
Drivers and stuff
Jerry,
I played around at Golf Galaxy with a bunch of the new major company drivers a few weeks ago and that's exactly how I felt about all of them. The driver Doc built for me is so much better. The only flaw is my own inconsistency.
I need to sit down and go through all of the Kenny Knox videos sometime. I've watched parts, but my life has been a bit crazy, so I haven't watched all of them. I certainly need help on my short game.
Tin cans.
Robert:
I started filling out the questionaire, need to get the video and swing speed info. I bought some lead tape for the driver - will try it for the weekend. Playing Heather Highlands Sat morn, Greystone Sun afternoon. Both tough - ive played HH three times, first time for GS.
I hear you on crazy life - we always have so much to do. The KK videos are excellent. You use the same method for chipping and pitching. The pitch from 20-40 yrds has really improved using his method.
Thanks again for your input, very much appriciated.
Hit'em well Friend,
Jerry
Videos
I have every video produced by Surge and they're all gold.
Cindy and I played today and I rediscovered something with my driver. I seem to have to learn this lesson over and over. 3/4 is all that is needed. i was hitting all my drives on the back nine straight and long. A slightly lower trajectory but bullets right down the middle. I was using what I call the anti-wrist cock. Actually locking my wrists firmly in the set up and then when I go back in the BUS the club face opens up very little, really slightly closed. This allows me to get back to the ball with crisp centered contact and the ball just zips off the face and neither fades or draws but stays fairly low and then when it lands it runs like a scared rabbit about 250- 260. Now, I could hit it further at times with my old swing but left or right and in trouble half the time. Today was middle, middle and middle. Cindy said that while my over all back swing was shorter (3/4's only) that my move looked much more powerful and confident. I'm really excited and looking forward to my next round, tomorrow likely:) Why wait?
So while I have followed Surge for nearly 5 years now and preach, teach and believe in the vertical 3/4 swing I continue to slip and over swing. Today I think I had a permanent AHAH! moment.
Cindy also had a swing improvement ahah today. Hers was when I noticed that her right forearm was too high. I got her to move it down and under in the master set up position and presto she was hitting it great. This simple move allowed her to come from the inside on her FUS. Farther and straighter. No more weak fades.
So, take Surges advice. If you don't own the lesson paid for videos yet, shame on you. You're missing out friends.
BTW. like Robert F. I review the work the ball and situational vids frequently/ Awesome stuff.
Sidehill Bliss
Today played 8 holes on the hallowed turf. The course was absolutely swamped with golfers in groups of 5 and 6 or even more. Dry weather can do that to you ; - ) On one hole my ball was on the right hand slope 160-165yds out. Aimed for the middle of the green and making an allowance for the ball being above my feet. Slightly down the grip on my 5iron, stood more erect and made a controled swing and nailed the centre of the green. 20yds from the hole [tall overhanging trees guarding the flag on the left rear of the green]. A putt to tap in distance and a big smile from me. Have become better at uphill,and side hill lies lately. Down hill lies? Trie to avoid them like the plague hahaha. Now after today's video I will give them a try in future. My new 'ONE and TOE' worked well after I settled down on the third hole. A very happy laddie. Now I know what I have to do on EVERY SHOT not just 75% of them. Keep on hitting them straight consistently. From 150-160yds in today, apart from the 5iron side hill shot, three others were scarily accurate, with the 8iron/9iron and PW All three shots never left the pin after I had aimed and struck the balls! A real confidence boost. Now for the promised better weather next week, I know where we will be ; - ) Thanks to Surge, the Surge Nation and all those who have helped me thus far. DH in sunny NZ [Now there's a change heh heh heh ; - ]
Nice work laddie
"ONE and TOE". I like it:) Been working with Cindy on getting her to finish on her front foot. She really started hitting the ball well yesterday. We will play this afternoon too then it's off to a rare family reunion in California Friday morning.
Should be close to 80 people. All the old aunts and uncles are gone now we are the aunts and uncles. We are mostly cousins. My brother and I in our mid-50's are among the youngest of the present older generation. Crazy and so life goes.
We'll return Sunday night.
Nice work with your short to mid irons DH. I agree, every shot not just 75%.
I am especially focused on consistent driver strikes at the moment Found something yesterday and looking for repetition on all drivers today.
Glad your sun is shinning:) Play on!!
One and Toe ; - )
"ONE and TOE" my go to phrase at the moment. I like it because it spurs my addled old nut to do it right ; - ) You have a safe,pleasant and rewarding trip to California. DJ finished round one even par, good on him!
Sun is shining again, but wouldn't you know it, other stuff is getting in my way of playing before Monday. But next week is looking GOOD! Consistency is my Holy Grail at what ever level I may be.DH
Both of you have a safe trip,
Both of you have a safe trip, and keep up the good playing.
Jerry
Driver fitting
Excited for you getting fit by Doc. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results.
In my case I found that it was the shaft that made the biggest difference. Then it was a matter of delivering a consistent swing. I have gone through phases of good play with the driver but yesterday I found something that has made all the difference. It is kind of hard to describe it here but suffice it to say that I really focus on no wrist cock and maintaining firm wrists along with a firm grip. Then when I set up I actually have the driver face looking slightly closed. Then in the back swing I don't allow the club face to open up at the the top of the back swing. When I reach the top I am only 3/4's and The hands are fairly high. It is the right hand that is in effect my anti-wrist hinge and the means to limit my back swing to 3/4's. As Surge says, we need to use the right hand. It is the right hand that can help our BUS become more vertical and limit and keep it compact. Also in the FUS the right hand can and should be a key to keep us "in the alley" and facing the target.
Today using the radar I measured my swing speed with the driver using this 3/4 no hinge feel and averaged 98 mph. Cindy and I played 18 today and I only missed 3 fairways (hit 11 out of 14) missing two on the front and only one on the back nine. My drives averaged about 240 yards. The longest was 285 and the shortest was 220. They were neither fades or draws but bullets straight and down the middle. The three that missed were all left. That makes sense as the slightly closed face promotes the potential pull left and happened when my release through the hitting zone was over done. Making sure my alignment was good and that my follow through was up and my chest faced the target and not left of corrected that with all the other drives today. My whole golfing life I have fought a slice. No more slice. No more weak fades. I feel that a day of hitting all 14 fairways is coming soon. Now I need to re focus on my short game. Especially on the 50-75 yard shots. Now that my drives are consistently longer and in the fairway I am facing a lot more short chips and pitches from closer in. It's a good problem to have.
So the right driver with the right swing and better play will come.
Keep us posted as to how things turn out.
Canadian
For those interested in watching or following on Shot Tracker, DJ did get into the Canadian Open as an alternate. He was in the first group off the first tee.
TEF Update
I just finished watching a rerun of the Jack Benny show and who should be the guest star? None other than our own Doc!
Here's a short clip for all to enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTPsKkIYYOI
The old timers on the site will get a kick out of this.
Hit'em Long and Straight!
Bob
TEF UPDATE
Thanks Bob, enjoyed that. I noticed that after the video there were some other nice links to TEF which appeared. Here is one worth the watch.
Thanks again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8yI2A0QUtM