The Long Blast From An Uphill Lie
The Swing Doctor,
Golf Australia's Resident Therapist

Escaping a bunker when the ball is lying on an upslope is one of the easiest shots you can face on the golf course. The nature of the lie dictates that the ball will fly higher than normal making it a simpler task to get your ball airborne quicker, over the lip of the sand trap and onto the green.

While this extra height is an obvious benefit, it also means the ball does not fly very far forward. Again, this can be construed as a good thing if you are close to the flag because a shot from an upslope does not run when it hits the green. But what happens when you’re trapped in the sand 30- or 40-metres short of the putting surface?

Firstly, it is important to tackle uphill bunker shots with the same set up and basic swing fundamentals no matter how far you are from the flag.

I suggest you always aim slightly left of the target on uphill bunker shots and tilt your shoulders so they are roughly parallel to the angle of the slope. Play the ball off your left heel and make sure the clubface is only slightly open in relation to your swing line, which should be along your body line aimed left of the target.

It is also a good idea to use at least one club stronger than normal for this shot when the slope is less than about 20 degrees and you are inside 10 metres of the hole.

To read the rest of this exclusive by the Swing Doctor - see the May 2005 issue of Golf Australia magazine.

If you missed the May 2005 issue on the magazine stand, order a back copy at www.mymagazines.com.au