“Play it where it lies!” We’ve all had that one friend who shouts this as we’re looking at where our golf ball ended up, typically buried two inches deep in a sand trap or stuck at the bottom of a muddy puddle. For those times when you’re set up with a particularly tough lie, or maybe one that looks to be good to be true, we’ve put together a guide here to evaluate how to hit it. Here’s your ultimate guide to the different types of golf lies. Enjoy.
What Is a “Lie” in Golf?
No, we’re not talking about how when your buddy tells you they shot a 77 in the last round they played. We’re talking about where your ball ends up after your shot — whether it’s sitting in the rough or the fairway, whether it’s sitting up nicely or whether it’s buried underneath some grass.
The lie is very important in golf because it has a huge impact on how you hit your shot and the way it’s going to come off your club. You’ll hit a sandy lie very different from how you’d hit a fairway lie, for instance.
It’s so important, in fact, that if you turn on a pro golf tournament, you’ll probably see the player and caddie talking about their lie for minutes, along with the broadcast booth. It’s essential to understand your lie so that you can have the best possible shot.
And it starts with knowing the different types of lies.
The Different Types of Golf Lies
Fairway Lie
A fairway lie is the ideal lie in golf. If it’s a nice fairway, typically you’re up and sitting pretty, and will be able to strut toward your ball with confidence. However, you may still encounter some trouble on the fairway. Many fairways may be sloped, for instance, so you’ll be having to hit off of either a downhill or uphill slope.
- Uphill: With an uphill lie, the ball is going to fly higher in the air, so it can be beneficial to choose a club up and play the ball further forward in your stance.
- Downhill: On a downhill slope, the ball flies shallower and likely will roll farther, so consider clubbing down and moving the ball back in your stance.
- Side Hill: Avoid the side hill shot at all costs. It’s tricky because you may be hitting above or below your feet, depending on the location. If the ball is above your feet it will typically result in a draw, and if the ball is below your feet it will usually result in a cut. So take this into account and either aim left or right depending on where the ball is. And good luck.
Tight Lie
One of the more interesting lies in golf is the tight lie. It’s interesting because at first glance it looks relatively perfect — this will usually be a golf ball sitting up on the fairway or hard ground, as if seated on a tee ready to hit. However, because the lie is so tight, it’s rather unforgiving in nature. You’ll have to make solid contact with the golf ball first in order to hit a good shot, otherwise your club may bounce off the ground or you might chunk it.
So although a tie lie may look like a good thing at first, be sure to take extra care to examine your shot and have a solid strategy going forward.
Rough Lie
More often than not, you’ll probably end up in the rough, where luck will determine how exactly your ball decides to end up. It could end up in a variety of the following circumstances:
- Flyer: The ball is sitting up beautifully on the thick grass, as if placed on a pedestal waiting for your to sweep it off its feet. But beware: the flyer lie can make your ball jump off the ground and “fly” way farther than it typically would, so consider choosing a club down or taking a shorter swing to compensate.
- Buried: In other cases, your ball might be buried underneath a mess of tangled grass. You may feel compelled to take a normal iron and try to belt your way out of it, but sometimes safety is key. If it’s really buried, consider taking a trusty wedge and just blasting your way to freedom, it may save you strokes in the long run.
Sandtrap Lie
In other cases, you may find yourself at the beach on the golf course: in the sand. You’re going to want to be very careful in these types of situations — one bad swing can leave you right back where you began, or even worse: buried underneath several more layers of sand.
The other challenging part about sandtrap lies is that you can’t take a practice shot in the sand as you would in the rough. This means you can’t really get a good feel for how contact is going to feel. As you going about judging your lie in the sand, use your feet to test the consistency and the hardness of the sand. Here are the different types of golf lies to evaluate when you’re in the sand:
- Wet: Sand that’s wet is compact and heavier than normal sand, so you’ll want to close your clubface a bit more and make better contact with the golf ball.
- Solid: Harder sand you’ll want to play more of as a pitch shot.
Water Lie
If you’re brave enough to hit a golf ball out of the water, it’s worth an attempt that could save you some strokes on your round. If your ball is sitting up a bit in the water, you may actually have a pretty decent shot of getting it back onto land and even onto the green. The key is to play the water shot like you’re playing a bunker shot – take a lot of the water with you and essentially try to splash it out, depending on how deep it is, of course.
Since every water shot is different, be sure to examine your situation and think about the best way to get it out of there.
Mud Lie
Finding a ball in the muck can be even more challenging than finding it in a bunker or even some shallow water. That’s because the mud tends to suck at the ball, keeping it locked in position so that it’s difficult to even try to splash it out. With a mud shot, you’ll want to take a look at the consistency of the mud — is it more runny, or dried out and hard?
If it’s softer, in consistency, you actually be able to splash it out (but beware the splashback on your clothes). With harder muck, you’ll likely want to strike ball first to get it out.
FAQs
Here are some frequently-asked questions about lies in golf.
What’s the Best Type of Lie in Golf?
Most people would take a flat, fairway lie in golf. The lack of slope, plus a clean, flat surface to hit off of, makes this type of lie very desirable for golfers of all skill levels.
What Should I Do If My Ball Is in a Difficult Lie Near a Hazard?
When your ball is in a difficult lie near a hazard, prioritize safety. Assess the situation and consider playing a conservative shot that keeps you out of trouble and allows you to recover on subsequent shots. It may be necessary to take a penalty drop if the lie is extremely challenging or the risk of going into the hazard is high.
How Do I Determine the Type of Lie My Ball Is in?
To determine the type of lie, carefully observe the position and condition of your ball on the ground. Factors such as the height of the grass, the slope of the terrain, and the presence of obstacles can help you identify the type of lie you’re dealing with.
The Different Types of Golf Lies: The Bottom Line
As you can see, you’ll encounter a lot of different types of golf lies, no matter your skill level. Whether you’re hitting off a pillow of a fairway or the muck, be sure to assess your situation, stay calm and think about the best strategy going forward.