I live in Salt Lake City.
Thanks to the Rocky Mountains, I’m no stranger to up-and-down golf – and I’m not talking on an emotional level. Similar to your area, I’m certain, many of the courses are hilly. In fact, a few are straight situated along the side of a mountain. And I mean that quite literally – at a ski resort.
The most common struggle on these kinds of layouts comes from traversing undulating fairways. Unless you’re a seasoned triathlete, you’ll likely find yourself sucking oxygen only a few holes in. It’s one thing to have to regain your composure to drive from a teepad or approach from the fairway. It’s yet another, however, to do so on the putting green – you know …
Where rounds go to die.
Sound familiar?
This should help …
Putting uphill
When putting uphill, most people assume they simply need to aim higher on the basket …
“Most people” need to read this post – there’s more to it than that.
For example, if your putting style tends to fade (hyzer) at the end of its flight, note that the disc won’t fade nearly as much when putting uphill. This occurs because of the more direct trajectory an uphill putt must take. To account for it, even if you’re a hyzer putter, go straight at the chains.
Next, stance is BIG when aiming uphill.
Take a more narrow stance. To do this, assuming you prefer to putt from a staggered position, bring your back leg closer to your front leg. By so doing, your back leg can push into your putt without having to overcome as much of the hill’s incline. You’ll notice a difference – it’s easier.
Not a fan of messing with footwork?
Putt from a straddled stance. If you’re not used to this position, it might feel a bit awkward. But with your feet perpendicular to the incline of the hillside, it’s as if they’re back on flat ground.
* Note: The above also works on elevated baskets – with the exception of footing, of course.
Putting downhill
When putting downhill, there are fewer surprises …
But you still want to know what you’re doing.
Similar to what takes place with an uphill putt, hyzer-heavy putting styles will fly straighter than normal. Also, with gravity on your side, they tend to maintain their speed better, as well. So if you’re a bonafide spin-putter or putt with considerable pace, be leery of the possible blow-by.
Speaking of gravity, it can cause foot faults on downhill bids …
Adjust your stance accordingly.
As opposed to getting tight with your feet on an uphill attempt, widen your stance – get bigger. A wider, more sturdy, staggered stance will prevent you from falling forward after releasing the disc. And yet again, if the entire thing feels too funky, straddle your feet for fewer variables …
Less to think about.
As a manner of personal preference, I enjoy uphill putts …
It’s the downhill stuff that gets my knees knocking.
Regardless, if you plan on seriously competing, BOTH are necessary skills to acquire. And even if you’re content to play little more than a few casual rounds a month with your buddies, learning how to putt on all kinds of playing surfaces will lead to you taking more of their money …
Which makes it worth it.
In the meantime, happy hiking.
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