Sidehill Lie
A sidehill lie is when a golf ball comes to rest on a slope that runs across the line of play, leaving the ball sitting either higher or lower than the player’s feet at address.
What is a sidehill lie?
Of the four uneven lies golfers see away from a flat surface, the sidehill lie is the one defined by a sideways slope rather than a slope running toward or away from the target. The ground tilts across the line of play, so the ball ends up at a different level than the player’s feet.
There are two sub-types, and most golf instruction treats them separately because they play differently. With a ball above the feet, the ground slopes up away from the golfer, and the ball sits higher than where the shoes are planted. With a ball below the feet, the ground slopes down away from the golfer, and the ball sits lower than the feet.
The term is not new. Sidehill lies appear in golf writing going back to the 19th century, and were already standard language by the early 20th century. Gene Sarazen, writing in 1924, called the sidehill lie one of the hardest shots an average player has to face. In Golf for Dummies, former PGA Tour player Gary McCord gives the same plain definition still in use today: a ball “either above or below your feet.”
A sidehill lie does not give the player any rules relief on its own. Under the USGA Rules of Golf, the lie of the ball at rest is one of the Conditions Affecting the Stroke, and the player is expected to play the ball as it lies.
Why a sidehill lie changes the shot
The slope changes the geometry between the club and the ball, and that changes ball flight before the player has even made a swing.
When a club sits flat on level ground, its face points down the target line. On a sidehill, the ground tilts, but the clubhead still sits on it, so the face tilts with the ground. With the ball above the feet, the toe of the club rises, which aims the face left of the target for a right-handed player. With the ball below the feet, the toe drops, which aims the face right of the target. The PGA teaching pro Casey Bourque, writing for About-Golf.org, notes that this effect is stronger with more lofted clubs, because a more open face amplifies how much sideways aim the slope adds.
Footing matters too. A side slope shifts the player’s weight and changes how easily the body can rotate, which affects swing path and balance through impact.
Ball above feet vs. ball below feet
The two sub-types of sidehill lie produce opposite ball flights. The table below sums up the difference for a right-handed golfer.
| Sub-type | Typical ball flight | Effective clubface aim | Distance to ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball above feet | Right-to-left curve (draw or hook) | Pointed left of target | Closer than usual |
| Ball below feet | Left-to-right curve (fade or slice) | Pointed right of target | Farther than usual |
For a left-handed golfer, the curves reverse: a ball above the feet tends to move left-to-right, and a ball below the feet tends to move right-to-left.
The severity of the slope matters as much as the type. A gentle fairway hump may move the ball a few yards offline. A pronounced side slope on a hillside lie can produce a full draw or full slice, regardless of how square the player feels at address.
Sidehill lie vs. uphill and downhill lies
Sidehill, uphill, and downhill lies are all uneven lies, but they describe different slope directions and produce different problems.
A sidehill lie is a sideways slope: the ground tilts across the line of play. The main effect is on ball flight curve, because the slope changes where the clubface points.
An uphill lie is a slope running along the line of play, with the ground rising toward the target. Shots tend to fly higher and shorter than normal. A downhill lie is the opposite: the ground falls away toward the target, shots fly lower, and the ball tends to run out more.
Real-world lies often combine both. A ball can sit above the feet and on an uphill slope at the same time. In that case, the player has to account for both effects, which is part of why hilly courses tend to be harder than flat ones.
Common misconceptions
A few ideas about sidehill lies get repeated often enough that they’re worth correcting.
One is the idea that only severe slopes count. Even subtle fairway mounding can pull a ball offline, and most golf courses have small undulations everywhere. Most fairway shots, strictly speaking, are at least slightly sidehill.
The other is that sidehill lie and hanging lie mean the same thing. They overlap, but they do not match cleanly. Hanging lie is sometimes used as a broad synonym for any sloping or uneven lie. Historically, though, The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms gives a narrower meaning: a ball lying on ground that slopes down in the direction of play. Some golfers also restrict hanging lie to a ball below the feet only. Whether the two terms are interchangeable depends on who’s talking.
Related Golf Terms
- Short iron — Irons numbered 7-9 used for shorter approach shots.
- Scratch golfer — A golfer with a handicap of zero who can play to the course rating.
- Shaft — The long tube connecting the grip to the clubhead.
- Shank — A mishit where the ball strikes the hosel of the club and shoots right.
- Setup — The overall position and alignment of the body before the swing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a sidehill lie make the ball hook or slice?
It depends on which sub-type. For a right-handed golfer, a ball above the feet tends to hook (curve left), and a ball below the feet tends to slice (curve right). Left-handers see the opposite.
Is a sidehill lie the same as a hanging lie?
Not always. Some golfers use the two as synonyms, but historically, hanging lie had a narrower meaning related to a downslope toward the target, and some players still reserve it for a ball below the feet only.
Which clubs are hardest to hit from a sidehill lie?
Longer clubs are generally hardest. Drivers and long irons have longer shafts and lower loft, so small slope-induced aim errors translate into bigger misses downrange.
Can a player take relief from a sidehill lie?
No. Under the USGA Rules of Golf, a sidehill lie is not an abnormal course condition. The player must play the ball as it lies unless some other condition (such as ground under repair or an immovable obstruction) also applies.
Are sidehill putts also a thing?
Yes. On the green, a sidehill putt rolls on a side slope and breaks across the line. Reading the break is a separate skill from playing a sidehill shot from the fairway.
Sources
- United States Golf Association. Rules of Golf: Definitions, Conditions Affecting the Stroke. Accessed May 2026.
- McCord, Gary. Golf for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, 2011.
- Davies, Peter. The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms. Robson Books, 1993.
- Sarazen, Gene. Common Sense Golf Tips. 1924.
- Nicklaus, Jack. Golf My Way. Simon & Schuster, 1976.
- Bourque, Casey. “Sidehill Lies – Ball Above Feet.” About-Golf.org, 2016.
- Kelley, Brent. “Explaining the ‘Sidehill Lie’ in Golf.” Golf Compendium, 2024.
