Acer XK Golf Irons

Specialty Shots

Sidehill Lie - Ball Above Feet

Club Selection: Take one or two clubs less as the ball will travel further on an uphill slope.
Ball Flight: Lower than usual with a left-to-right bend depending on the severity of the slope
Address and posture: Align your body parallel to the slope. Body more erect, with less knee flex
Alignment: Closed stance. Choke down on the club about one inch.
Ball Position: Center of stance but slightly further from you than normal.
Weight: Evenly distributed between your left and right feet. Because of the slope, you will naturally be forced back on your heels so having a solid stance is critical.
Swing: Your swing will be flatter than usual because of the slope – more like a baseball swing. Once again a quiet lower body is the key to ensure good balance and solid contact.
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Sidehill Lie - Ball Below Feet

Club Selection: Take one or two clubs more as ball won’t fly as far.
Ball Flight: Higher than normal with a left-to-right bend.
Address and posture: . Once again, align your body parallel to the slope. Make sure to bend more at the waist and knees in order to get down to the ball. Feet should be planted slightly wider than normal.
Alignment: Stand slightly open. Grip the club as far up toward the butt end as you can to facilitate getting down to the ball. Make sure you still maintain a good grip on the club.
Ball Position: Centered.
Weight: Distributed evenly between your left and right feet. The slope will push your weight forward toward your toes but with the increased bend at your waist, proper balance should be maintained.
Swing: You swing will be more upright. Don’t bob up and down as you swing. Again, lower body is still. Arms dominate the swing.
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Uphill Lie

Club Selection: An uphill slope magnifies the angle at which you launch the ball, so the club you would normally use for the distance will fly higher and shorter than usual. Take between one or two clubs more, depending on the severity of the slope, to get the ball to the target.
Ball Flight: Besides flying higher and shorter than usual, the ball will typically fly to the left.
Address and posture: Align your body parallel to the slope.
Alignment: Use an open stance. Forward foot drawn 2 -4 inches from the square position.
Ball Position: Ball is positioned forward in your stance, toward your left heel.
Weight: The incline will naturally force your weight downhill so keep your weight braced on the inside of your back foot to ensure good balance.
Swing: The slope will definitely bother your balance so keep feet solidly planted. Swing with your arms with very little leg action.
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Downhill Lie

Club Selection: Because the downward slope, the ball will fly lower and farther than normal so back down by one or two clubs.
Ball Flight: Ball flight is lower and typically a push to the right.
Address and posture: Align your body parallel to the slope.
Alignment: Closed stance.
Ball Position: Ball should be back in your stance, about half-way between center and your right heel.
Weight: The slope will force your weight to your front leg and foot. To maintain good balance at address, let your weight settle on the inside of your front foot and keep it braced there.
Swing: Your swing will be flatter than usual because of the slope – more like a baseball swing. Once again a quiet lower body is the key to ensure good balance and solid contact.Keep lower body still with your arms doing most of the work. Because of the slope, and gravity, you’ll be easily enticed to let your body get away from you but be disciplined – swing under control. The club head will stay low and move along the line of the slope.
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Fade

Grip: To execute the right-to-left flying shot, you must strengthen your grip. With the club grounded and face square to the target line, rotate your hands slightly to the right (keeping club face alignment square).
Ball Position: Slightly forward in your stance.
Alignment: Slightly open stance accomplished by moving your left foot back from your normal address position two inches. This position, as you have learned, encourages the club to come in from an ‘out-to-in’ line to impart the appropriate spin on the ball. Again, a normal swing is all that is required to impart a slight left to right curve of the ball.
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Draw

Grip: To hit a controlled right to left sot, weaken your grip slightly. Same routine as above but rotate hands to the left slightly.
Ball Position: Slightly back in your stance.
Alignment: Slightly closed stance easily accomplished by just moving your right foot back two inches. This closed position encourages the club to approach the ball from the inside. Swing normally. The adjustments will impart low trajectory with a right to left spin on the ball when struck.
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 There's nothing hard about hitting a fade or a draw or from an unusual lie. There's also nothing that will boost the confidence more than being able to work the ball - to be able to hit a fade or a draw - or to hit the ball solidly on an uphill or downhill lie or with the ball below or above your feet. It just takes a bit of knowledge of the basic set-up and alignment and some confidence.