Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Answer: Golf ball lies refer to the position of the golf ball in relation to the ground. The lie of a golf ball can range from very flat (good for downslope shots) to an upright position (good for uphill shots). Good lies will result in higher lofted shots with more spin, while bad lies can result in lower powered and less accurate shots. Understanding how different types of lies can affect a golf shot is an important part of becoming a better golfer.
Golf Ball Lies 101
Golf ball lies are a key aspect of the game of golf and can make the difference between success and failure on any given golf shot. Understanding different types of ball lies, when to use them, and how they affect your shots can give you an advantage out on the course.
Being familiar with the impact that changes in lie can have on spin, trajectory, accuracy, and distance is essential for any golfer looking to improve their game.
The different golf ball lies
Flat lie: Good for downslope shots, this type of lie results in higher lofted shots with more spin.
Upright lie: Good for uphill shots, this type of lie usually results in lower powered and less accurate shots.
Severely upright or severely flat lie: Results in an even steeper trajectory or an even shallower trajectory respectively.
Sidehill (or side slope) lie: When the ball is resting on a sloped surface. This type of lie can also be used to intentionally change the direction of the shot.
Partial sidehill (partially buried) or downhill (buried) lies: When the ball is partially covered by the ground. There is limited control over spin and trajectory with these types of lies.
Unplayable lies: When a ball has come to rest in an area that cannot be reasonably played from, such as near water hazards or out of bounds areas. (check out the USGA rule 19 for this event)
Fairway golf ball lies
Fairway golf ball lies are those which occur on the fairway, i.e. when a ball comes to rest on relatively flat ground. The types of fairway golf ball lies that can be encountered include:
Flat lie: Good for downslope shots, this type of lie results in higher lofted shots with more spin.
Upright lie: Good for uphill shots, this type of lie usually results in lower powered and less accurate shots.
Severely upright or severely flat lie: Results in an even steeper trajectory or an even shallower trajectory respectively.
Sidehill (or side slope) lie: When the ball is resting on a sloped surface. This type of lie can also be used to intentionally change the direction of the shot.
Rough golf ball lies
Rough golf ball lies are those which occur when a ball comes to rest in an area of long grass or other vegetation. The types of rough golf ball lies that can be encountered include:
- Flat lie: Good for downslope shots, this type of lie results in higher lofted shots with more spin.
- Upright lie: Good for uphill shots, this type of lie usually results in lower powered and less accurate shots.
- Severely upright or severely flat lie: Results in an even steeper trajectory or an even shallower trajectory respectively.
- Sidehill (or side slope) lie: When the ball is resting on a sloped surface. This type of lie can also be used to intentionally change the direction of the shot.
- Partial sidehill (partially buried) or downhill (buried) lies: When the ball is partially covered by the ground. There is limited control over spin and trajectory with these types of lies.
What is a plugged golf ball lie?
A plugged golf ball lie is when a golf ball is embedded in the ground, usually referred to as being “plugged”. This type of lie can make it difficult to hit the ball with accuracy and power due to the lack of motion and spin that occurs with a normal shot.
The best way to handle a plugged golf ball lie is to take an extra club, play for a punch shot and avoid trying to lift the ball completely out of the ground.
What is an unplayable golf ball lie?
An unplayable golf ball lie is one where it is impossible (or very difficult) to make a shot. Common examples would be when the ball is stuck in a tree, or wedged between two rocks. In this situation, the player must first decide if they are able to take an alternative stance and hit the shot from there.
If not, then they can declare the ball as unplayable and proceed with dropping and penalty stroke according to their governing bodies rules.
What are the golf ball lies in the sand?
There are three main types of lies when playing a golf ball from a sand trap: buried, plugged and fried egg.
The buried lie is when the ball is completely covered by the sand, making it difficult to access the ball for a proper shot.
The plugged lie is when the golf ball is embedded in the sand, making it less easy to move and hit accurately.
Lastly, a fried egg lie occurs when half of the golf ball is visible above the sand while the other half is submerged. This type of lie requires good technique to get the ball out since there will be little backspin on the shot for added distance.
What other golf lies are there?
Golf lie is a term used to describe the angle of the golf club’s shaft when it makes contact with the ball. This angle affects how well the golf ball is hit, which in turn affects its trajectory and distance traveled.
Different lies also affect accuracy and spin, so it is important for golfers to understand what a good lie looks like and how to choose it appropriately for any given shot.
Knowing how to select a good lie can provide you with an advantage on the course, so understanding them well is an essential part of becoming an effective golfer.
What is a +1 lie golf?
+1 Lie golf is a way to play the game of golf that takes into account the difficulty of each hole on the course and handicaps a player accordingly.
When playing +1 Lie golf, each hole is given a value between +1 and -11, depending on the length and difficulty of the hole.
For example, a longer hole with more obstacles would be assigned a higher number, while a shorter hole with few obstacles would receive a lower number. A player’s total score for the round is then adjusted based on the value assigned to each hole, giving them an equal chance of success regardless of their skill level or ability.
Hit golf balls out of a bad lie
When hitting a golf ball from a bad lie, it’s important to stay level-headed and take your time to make the shot. Here are some tips to help you hit a good shot:
- Make sure your stance is comfortable and well balanced.
- Loosen your grip on the club to help with accuracy.
- Use a larger club head with more loft so that the ball can get airborne easier out of the sand trap or rough.
- Swing slightly harder than usual to ensure the ball gets up in the air but don’t over swing as this could result in inaccurate results.
- Try to keep your head down and eyes on the ball throughout the entire swing motion so that you maintain consistent contact with the golf ball and avoid mishits.
