Most driving ranges only give you flat mats, so you can't really practise uneven lies off the bays. What you can do is find the slopes the facility does have, usually the grass tee, the chipping area and the practice bunker, and use the bays for the parts of slope play that don't need a slope: balance, a shorter swing, aiming off and changing club every shot. It won't replace hitting off real slopes, but it narrows the gap.
Be honest about the limits first
A range bay is a flat, firm mat with your feet level and the ball level with them. It can't tilt. It also forgives fat shots, because the club bounces off the mat into the ball. Those two facts mean the range can't show you the main things a slope changes, which are where the club bottoms out and how solid the strike is.
So go, but be clear about what each part of the session is for. There's more on this in why flat range practice holds you back.
Look for the slopes that are there
Walk round the facility before you buy your balls.
Grass tees. Some ranges have a grass teeing area, often at the end of the line or in summer. These are rarely perfectly flat. Look for a spot where the ground tilts a bit and use it. Ask the staff if you're unsure where you're allowed to hit from.
The short-game area. If there's a chipping green, there are usually banks, run-offs and a fringe with a bit of slope. This is the best uneven-lie practice at most facilities. Chip and pitch from uphill, downhill and sidehill spots around the green.
The practice bunker. Bunkers almost always have sloping sides. Play some shots from the back slope and some from the upslope near the face. It's great preparation for the awkward bunker lies you'll meet on the course.
Practice grounds at golf clubs. If your club has a grass practice ground, it's probably more varied than a commercial range. The edges and corners often have humps and banks.
What to do in the bay
When you're stuck on the mat, work on the things that matter on slopes but don't need one.
Shorter, balanced swings. Hit a few shots at about 80 percent effort and hold your finish for a count of three. On a slope, that controlled swing is the one you'll need. Practising it on the flat at least makes it familiar.
Gripping down. Hit some shots gripped down an inch or two and see how much distance you lose. You'll grip down on ball-above-feet lies on the course, so it helps to know.
Aiming off. Pick a target and deliberately aim 10 or 15 yards right of it, then hit to your new line. Then left. The goal is getting comfortable committing to a line that isn't at the flag. That's what you'll need on any sidehill lie.
Changing club every shot. On the course you never hit the same club twice in a row. On the range, rotate through three or four clubs with a full routine each time.
The fake slope. You can tilt your stance, for example by keeping more weight on one side and setting your shoulders at an angle, to rehearse the uphill and downhill posture. It's a rough copy of the real thing because the ball stays level, so use it for the shoulder tilt and ignore what the strike tells you. Don't stand on anything loose to raise one foot. A wobbly stance in a busy bay isn't worth the risk.
A 30-minute session
| Time | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Bay | Warm up, then 80 percent swings holding the finish, gripped down |
| 5 minutes | Bay | Aim-off shots, one right, one left, rotating clubs |
| 10 minutes | Short-game area | Chips and pitches from uphill, downhill and sidehill spots |
| 5 minutes | Practice bunker | Shots from the back slope and the upslope |
Change the order if the short-game area is busy. If it's not available at all, spend those 15 minutes on the mixed-club routine in the bay. The 20-minute practice plan is another good structure if you're short of time.
Questions to ask your range
Ranges vary a lot. It's worth asking whether there's a grass tee and when it opens, whether the short-game area is free to use or needs a separate ticket, and whether there's a practice bunker. If you find a range with good slopes around the green, it may be worth the extra drive.
If you want more drill ideas to take with you, the uneven lie drills post has seven, several of which work at a range.
The missing piece at most ranges is a real slope in the bay. Libro is a portable platform that sets an uphill, downhill or sidehill lie in seconds, and at 4.97 kg you can carry it to a sim bay, or to a range that allows it, and hit full shots off a tilt. It needs no batteries and nothing to charge. Reserve one for £10, fully refundable.