Up onto the green

[ubizmo]

I played a course last week where almost every green was raised, on a mound above the level of the fairway. Consequently, I found myself more often than usual having to make short chip shots from a fairly steep uphill slope. I find this to be the trickiest of chips, because I don't want to use a very lofted club, due to the loft already provided by the slope, but I do want to get the ball in the air briefly to get it up on the green. I'm just wondering how people like to play these.

[LowPost42]

Re: Up onto the green

Our #7 has this issue if you go long or roll through the green.

The way I've played it with the most success is to use a wedge, make sure my shoulders get as close to parallel to the slope as I can get them, and still make my chip. Factor in that the ball will react like a pitch (go high, not roll much). Pick your line and fire away.

[Started2k3]

Re: Up onto the green

I would strongly suggest finding a short game practice area and try the same thing with different clubs.

Lets say I have 10yds to the fringe (all uphill and on the slope) ...
(1) and only a few yds from the fringe to the pin then I would be using my 60° wedge with a fairly good swing at it. Ball goes mainly up.
(2) and many yds from the fringe to the pin, then I could be using up to an 8iron to get more horizontal fly distance and roll out of the chip (using the same swing tempo and backswing length).

But to each their own.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Up onto the green

You are right about the slope adding loft to what ever club you have chosen. Still on a short chip, and of course "short" is relative in this case, a higher lofted club is still the best choice some sometimes. This is one of those shots that needs to practiced with different clubs to find which one gives you the best results from various distances. I see a lot of people practicing from perfect lies all the time, and vary few practicing on the harder shots they encounter while on the course. When I am on the slope of a raised green, and the pin is cut close to me, I will use LW, or AW to send the ball straight, with a little forward movement, so that when it hit the green it will stop, with minimal roll. This is especially true with a green that slopes away form your ball position. Now If I need more roll, I would use a less lofted club.

As for aligning your shoulders with the slope, that is all well, and good. However, I would like to suggest that you also align your hips/waist with the slope. By aligning the hips first, the shoulders should naturally align with both the hips, and slope. Once the hips are aligned, then check your shoulders. It is possible that by just focusing on just the shoulders aligning with the slope, that the hips may not be on the same alignment, which can cause fat shots, or other poorly struck balls. Yes the swing follows the shoulders, but the more body parts that are working together, the better the shot will turn out. GJS

[LowPost42]

Re: Up onto the green

FWIW:

Today, I ended up lying 4, short sided, 10 yards to the pin, upslope in the rough.

Took the SW, chipped it up... and into the cup.

@GJS: I always thought that due to the uneven stance you naturally take, that your hips and waist align as much as they will with the slope - but that you can keep your shoulders 'level' without thinking. Perhaps I'm wrong!

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Up onto the green

FWIW:

Today, I ended up lying 4, short sided, 10 yards to the pin, upslope in the rough.

Took the SW, chipped it up... and into the cup.

@GJS: I always thought that due to the uneven stance you naturally take, that your hips and waist align as much as they will with the slope - but that you can keep your shoulders 'level' without thinking. Perhaps I'm wrong!

You are not wrong, just making sure the shoulders are parallel to the slop is a common practice. But sometimes a golfer will align their shoulders more, or less than the hips are aligned. This can adversely effect the weight shift of the player's golf shot. It is easier to adjust the weight shift through practice when everything is aligned properly. A bad weight shift will produce a poor shot. Also, with the feet, hips, and shoulders properly aligned, a player will be able to use the most of the built in loft of the club on a down hill lie. If everything is tilted correctly, acording to the slope, then it is almost like hitting off a level lie when the front leg is lower than the back leg. An up hill lie will exaggerate the loft of the shot more so than a down hill lie, so you need to take a less lofted club for the distance required.

Another way to look at it is that the feet are already (as you wrote) parallel with the slope.When the hips are aligned with the feet, it makes it easier to tie in the shoulders to the same alignment. Just another easy check point to help guantee a better shot. GJS