Golf course designers artfully take advantage of the natural terrain to create challenges for golfers of all skill levels. If you play on a course with rolling fairways you can cope with shots off of sloping lies through simple adjustments to your stance and swing. When the golf ball is below — lower than — your feet, it’s referred to as a side hill lie. Maintaining your balance while swinging at a ball that lies on a downslope is difficult — and balance is critical to making solid contact with the ball.

• Hold the club in a normal position — near the top of the grip.
• Aim left of your target (for a right-handed golfer). Depending on how much slope you’re dealing with, the ball will tend to move from left to right — a fade – in flight.
• Shift your weight more to your heels to help you keep your balance and avoid falling forward during the swing.
• Bend your knees to a greater degree than usual and push your backside out so it’s easier to keep your weight back toward your heels when you begin to swing.
• Take a shorter swing than normal so you can stay balanced and make solid contact with the ball. Slow down your tempo to ensure you don’t lose your balance. Choose a longer club for the distance to compensate for the shorter swing. For example, if you would normally hit a 7-iron from that distance, choose a 6-iron.