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When I was at the Garra de Leon Golf Course in Costa Rica, it was obvious that most amateurs did not know how to make adjustments in their swings when they were faced with awkward side hill, uphill or downhill lies.

The two most important things when faced with hilly terrain are keeping your balance when you swing and making solid contact.

You have to counter the effects of gravity to maintain good balance, keeping more weight on the uphill side.

Knowing where to position the ball in your stance will help you make the necessary solid contact. Taking a practice swing will let you know where the swing bottoms out. In all cases, you need to align your knees, hips, shoulders and eyes parallel to the slope.

Here are some of the tips on how to handle these lies that I passed along to students when giving them playing lessons:

Downhill lies

The angle of the hill will decrease the launch angle of the shot, causing a lower shot that will roll farther. It usually goes toward the right in the form of a push or slice. Therefore, use a 7-iron, or even an 8-iron, instead of a 6-iron. I try to avoid using straight-faced clubs like long irons, even if it means I will be short of the green. Aim more to the left, assuming a closed stance to help offset this tendency. Move the ball back in your stance. Anchor yourself with more weight on the back foot. Let the arms do most of the work when swinging and make a three-quarter motion so that the lower body does not get out of control because of the effects of gravity.

Uphill lies

The angle of the hill will cause the ball to fly higher and shorter than normal. So take one or two more clubs, depending upon the severity of the slope. The ball flight is usually in the form of a pull or hook. So aim right and assume an open stance to offset the tendency to go right. Position the ball more toward your front foot. Your tendency is to slide to your back foot once you start your swing. So put more weight on the front foot at address. Again, let the arms do most of the work.

Side hill, ball below feet

Take one or two more clubs. The ball flight will be higher with a left-to-right shape. Spread your feet a little wider and take an open stance. Make sure to bend more at the waist and knees so you can get the club head down below your feet where the ball is. Put more weight onto your heels at address to help offset the tendency of the weight moving toward your toes. Position the ball in the middle of your stance. Hold the grip as close to the butt as possible. Stand closer to the ball. This means your swing plane will be more upright.

Side hill, ball above feet

Take one or two clubs less as the shot will normally go lower and farther than usual with a right-to-left shape. Take a narrower, closed stance, farther from ball than usual, with the ball positioned in the center. Stand more erect, with less knee flex, and choke down an inch or two on the grip. Take a flatter swing, more like how a baseball bat is swung. Set more weight on your toes at address to compensate for the fact that gravity will naturally force your weight back toward your heels.