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The Hilly Lie FormulaThursday, November 03, 2005The Hilly Lie Formula, by Jim DeLaby, PGAAll golf courses are designed to with a 1-2% slope in order to drain water effectively, even the driving range and tee boxes which appear to be flat. As golfers on the Central Coast know, finding a flat lie once you leave the tee is a real challenge. Many of our courses are carved into canyons, are surrounded by hillsides or slope sleeply towards the ocean. Practically every shot after the tee shot involves a hilly lie - a slope of 3% or greater. That means that the average golfer, shooting 100, plays their other 82 shots - 36 putts and 46 approach shots - from hilly lies on greens, fairways and rough. That's 82% of your shots! So, when you're working on your game on the range, you're practicing on a flat lie that only comes into play on 18% of the shots you experience on the course. This results in most golfers loosing their balance over the majority of their shots on the course. The Hilly Lie Formula Since maintaining balance is paramount in hitting a successful golf shot, Jim DeLaby made this the key to his Hilly Lie Formula: BALANCE + BALL POSITION = SUCCESSFUL SHOT! Step 1 - Your weight should be on the lowest part of your feet (e.g.: if you are on a downhill lie then the weight goes to the target side foot). Depending on the slope, decide what percentage of your weight will be on the target side foot. Step 2 - Concentrate on holding that percentage exactly through the hitting area with a practice swing. Step 3 - Notice where the club landed and that is where you will place the ball in your stance. Step 4 - Now address the ball with that ball position and again concentrate on maintaining that balance percentage on the target foot. If a ball is above your feet then a higher percentage of your weight goes to your heels, since the heels are now at the lowest spot. Then start the 4-step process above. If the ball is below your feet, your weight percentage goes to the toes. Then start the 4 step process above. If you have an uphill lie and you want to sweep the shot like you did on the other three lie positions described above, then your weight goes to the back foot. Then start the 4-step process above. Learn more about Jim DeLaby and schedule a golf lesson. |
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