Golfing grandmaster Rickard Strongert with the lowdown on playing those tricky side slope shots in which the ball lies higher than your feet. Hit the green, not the ground!

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Step 1:

The set-up

Place your club behind the ball, aiming 5-10 metres right of the target, and take your normal set-up, feet shoulder width apart and your weight on the balls of your feet.

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Step 2:

The grip

Make sure your grip is low enough on the club to allow you to lean forwards without hitting too far behind the ball.
If your grip is too high, your body position will be too upright, leading to a flat swing that pulls the ball even more to the left.
See our video "why we hook the ball" to find out more.

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Step 3:

The swing

Keep your weight on the balls of your feet and your upper body leant forwards throughout the swing.
This allows the club to swing straight into the line of the ball, reducing the tendency to hook to the left.
When hitting from a steep hill, you can open the clubface at set-up. This normally sends the ball to the right, and in this case compensates for the effect of the slope.
Use your normal swing, your body rotating around the spinal axis.
Make sure your body follows through, leading your arms and hands, or you will hook the ball to the left, and probably hit "fat" behind the ball.
So follow through for a clean, straight contact with the ball, sending it onto the green for a nice birdie putt.