Irons · Tip
How to Hit When the Ball Is Below Your Feet
Part of our irons programs for slice, topped or thin, uneven lies. Build a program with it
Standing above the ball on a slope makes shots bend downhill. Plan for it. Take one extra club. Aim a little toward the high side of the slope. To reach the ball, sit lower in your legs. Don't just bend over more. Swing toward your target and make a full follow-through. That keeps you balanced on the slope. Let the ball curve. On a thin, firm lie, commit to hitting down through the turf.
Step by step
- Take one more club.
- Aim toward the high side.
- Bend your knees more to get down.
- Finish your follow-through in balance.
- Let the ball curve.
Why it works
When the ball is below your feet, the slope tilts your swing plane more upright and pushes your weight toward your toes. For a right-hander, the clubface tends to point right of where the club is swinging, so the ball curves right. Sitting lower in your legs, rather than bending more at the waist, keeps your posture and swing arc steady so the club still reaches the ball. A balanced finish shows that your weight stayed under control, which supports solid contact.
Common mistakes
- You bend over from the waist to reach the ball and lose your balance.Keep your spine angle the same and sit lower by bending your knees until the club sits behind the ball.
- You aim straight at the target and are surprised when the ball curves away.Aim a little toward the high side of the slope and let the slope curve the ball back toward the target.
- You swing hard and fall toward your toes or back off the shot.Take one more club, make a smooth full swing, and hold your finish until the ball lands.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts toward the high side of the slope and curves gently in the same direction as the slope, not sharply away.
- You strike the ball first and then take a shallow divot, with no thin or fat contact.
- You can hold your finish for a few seconds without stepping or falling forward.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice with a short iron on a gentle slope, so the ball curves less and balance is easier to keep.
Harder: Practice on a steeper slope or a firmer, thinner lie, and still commit to hitting down through the turf with a balanced finish.
Common questions
Why does the ball go right when it is below my feet?
For a right-hander, the slope makes the swing more upright and leaves the face pointing right of the swing path. The ball then curves to the right, so aim a little to the high side and let it curve.
What club should I use when the ball is below my feet?
Take one more club than normal. The balance and posture demands of the slope make a smooth swing more reliable than a hard one.
