How to Hit a Golf Ball Above your Feet

Hitting a golf ball above your feet can be a challenging task for many golfers, but it doesn’t have to be an obstacle. With the correct technique and adjustments to your stance, you can confidently hit the ball and improve your overall game. This guide will walk you through the steps to hit a golf ball above your feet, and provide you with helpful tips to make the shot easier and more consistent.

Step 1: Adjust Your Stance

1. Widen your stance: A wider stance will lower your center of gravity, providing more stability and balance during the swing.
2. Bend your knees: Flexing your knees more than usual will help lower your body and allow you to reach the ball better. This will also increase stability and help maintain balance.
3. Choke down on the club: Grip the club lower than you normally would. Choking down on the club will reduce the length of the club, making it easier to control and helping you maintain a consistent swing.

Step 2: Choose the Right Club

When hitting a ball above your feet, the natural tendency is for the ball to travel left (for right-handed golfers) or right (for left-handed golfers) due to the slope of the ground. To counteract this, choose a club with less loft or aim slightly right (for right-handed golfers) or left (for left-handed golfers) of your target to account for the expected curve.

Step 3: Align Your Body and the Ball

Position the ball slightly forward in your stance, closer to your front foot. This will allow you to make solid contact with the ball and promote a higher ball flight. Your shoulders, hips, and feet should be parallel to the slope, ensuring that you’re fully aligned with the ball.

Step 4: Swing and Follow Through

1. Maintain balance: As you begin your backswing, ensure that your weight remains evenly distributed between both feet. Focus on maintaining balance throughout the entire swing.
2. Swing with a shallower path: When swinging on a slope, a shallower swing path will help you make better contact with the ball. Avoid trying to lift the ball, and instead, allow the natural loft of the club to do the work.
3. Follow through: Complete your swing with a smooth follow-through, maintaining balance and control. Don’t force the swing, as this can lead to poor contact and misalignment.

Types of Golf Shots with Ball Above Feet

Shot Type	Club Selection	Stance	Ball Position	Swing Path
High Draw	Hybrid	Upright	Forward	In-to-Out
Low Fade	5 Iron	Wide & Balanced	Center	Out-to-In
Mid-Trajectory	7 Iron	Slightly Open	Middle	Neutral
Punch Shot	6 Iron	Narrow & Low	Back	Out-to-In
Full Swing	8 Iron	Square	Middle	Neutral

Adjusting for Slope

Slope Angle	Club Selection Adjustment	Stance Adjustment	Swing Adjustment	Alignment Adjustment
Mild	Club up 1	Slightly wider	Slight lean	Aim right
Moderate	Club up 2	Wider	Moderate lean	Aim further right
Steep	Club up 3	Widest	Significant lean	Aim farthest right

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Common Mistake	Cause	Correction	Impact on Shot
Slicing	Out-to-In swing	Focus on In-to-Out swing	Straighter shot
Pulling	Over-rotation	Limit body rotation	Straighter shot
Hitting it fat	Poor weight shift	Transfer weight properly	Cleaner contact
Topping the ball	Lifting head early	Keep head steady	Better ball contact

Golf Drills for Ball Above Feet Shots

Drill Name	Objective	Set-up	Execution
Uphill Lie Practice	Develop feel for uphill lies	Find a sloped area at driving range	Practice hitting balls on the slope
Alignment Stick	Improve alignment on sloped lies	Place Alignment Stick on ground at target line	Swing parallel to stick
One-Foot Balance	Improve balance	Stand on uphill foot, trail foot on its toes	Swing slowly, maintaining balance
Choke Down	Control club on uneven lies	Choke down on club grip	Practice swinging with shortened grip
Step Drill	Improve weight transfer on slopes	Take a step with lead foot after backswing	Practice stepping and swinging

Tips for Different Club Types with Ball Above Feet

Club Type	Aim Adjustment	Stance Adjustment	Ball Position	Swing Adjustment	Club Selection Adjustment
Woods	Aim right	Wide	Forward	More upright	Club up 2
Long Irons	Aim right	Wide	Middle	More upright	Club up 2
Mid Irons	Aim right	Wide	Middle	Upright	Club up 1
Short Irons	Aim right	Wide	Middle	Slightly upright	Club up 1
Wedges	Aim right	Wide	Middle	Slightly upright	Club up 1

 

Conclusion

Hitting a golf ball above your feet can be challenging, but with practice and the right adjustments to your stance and swing, you can confidently execute this shot. Remember to maintain balance, adjust your club selection, and focus on a smooth, controlled swing. By incorporating these tips into your game, you’ll be better prepared to handle this unique shot on the course.