Tips for Golf Chipping and Drives on Uneven Slopes on Golf Courses

One of our most fun experiences learning that we knew less about golf than we thought occurred when we played at Balmoral Golf Course on our way to Martha's Vineyard. A similar experience occurred when we played El Conquistador in Puerto Rico. Both courses have holes that play uphill, downhill and often have the ball located below and above your feet. Learning how to hit a golf ball off a slope is one of the hardest to do and not smack dirt because slopes often cause the ball to veer off in an unpredicatable (to the uninitiated) direction.

About the Rules of Thumb for Handling Golf Balls Lying on Uneven Slopes

My husband bought a booklet that gave rules of thumb about where to place the ball and which foot to have your weight. I found the lists confusing to remember and it difficult to carry the booklet, although it did fit nicely into my husband's shirt or pants pocket, but unlike him, most of my golf clothes do not have pockets. What the rules of thumb for handling slope do for a beginner golfer is teach that there is hope of hitting off of these slopes but most will find the experience hit or miss and the rules at the end of this article the basics provided by the booklets.

Selecting a Club for an Uneven Slope

There are several things to consider when selecting a club for playing a ball off an uneven slope. The first thing to consider is that given that the ball veers off to the side, will it run into a hazard or out of bounds? If so, you might want to select a club which hits a shorter distance, just in case. The second thing to consider is the likely arc of your club. If a ball is sitting in a hole or where the arc will be narrower, I often select an iron or my seven wood instead of my five or three wood, which also has the effect of playing a shorter distance.

Visualize the Arc of the Club head Before Taking Your Practice Swing

The golf stroke on both a chip or fairway drive is a pendulum. Hit up or down the slope so that the pendulum doesn't go through the hillside or through air. If you can't help hitting into the side of the hill, try a chop with an iron, the distance will be shorter and the ball will pop into the air even if you get stuck in the dirt. You may need to shorten your club by moving your grip lower, or crouch (not a good idea unless there's no alternative). Adjust your distance to the direction you have to hit.

Before Taking a Practice Swing Match the Club Head to the Slope

The most common result of playing a ball on a slope is the club head slamming into dirt and reverberating up your arm (ouch). In general, when you hit your ball, the club head should lie upright with the bottom lying flat on the surface. A slope means you have to tilt the club head to insure it lies flat. This is done by how you hold the club.

Rather than Using Rules of Thumb, Let Your Set Up Routine Teach You the Bottom of Your Stroke

Read "What Your Set Up Routine Should Do For Golfers" to learn how to find the bottom of your stroke on your practice swing and how to determine the likely direction the ball will fly. When you find the bottom of your stroke, you will naturally find the best place to put your feet. You will also see where your follow through will end up, so you can adjust your direction as needed.

When the Ball is Below Your Feet Keep Your Weight on Your Back Foot

I never knew what they meant by this rule, so I always just stood on my back foot. The reason this works is because the pendulum arc will bottom near that foot.

When the Ball is Above Your Feet Treat It Just Like It's Teed Up

I never had a problem with balls on an upward slope, except they do tend to have a lot of loft and less distance.

Overall, the one thing you should do when you hit a ball off a slope is use your practice swings to test out your stroke before you hit it. Then see how well your game plays. Have fun.