Every Type of Golf Ball Lie (Complete List)
Golfers will find themselves in all sorts of positions throughout a round of golf. Due to the complex and unique playing surfaces nature creates, golf courses produce many lies you and your golf ball can end up with.
What Is A Lie In Golf? A lie describes the position in which a resting golf ball interacts with the ground and how the golfer is positioned relative to the ball.
For example, if your golf ball is deep in the rough on the side of a hill, it creates a much different shot than in the center of a flat fairway. Various lies in golf require special treatment on golfers’ technique, club selection, and swing style.
In this blog post, I will share every lie you could come across on the golf course.
Tee Box Lie
Tee Shots: A golfer hitting their tee shot on a flat, designated area marked with tee box markers is a “tee box lie.” Golfers can tee their golf ball up on a tee or play the ball directly on the tee box’s surface. When taking a tee shot in golf, the ball must be positioned behind the tee markers within the designated area.
The Ball Lands on Another Tee Box: Occasionally, a golfer’s ball, typically due to an errant shot, can land and rest on another tee box. If you find your ball on another tee box, you must play it as it lies.
Not Level Tee Box Lie
Unfortunately, some tee boxes aren’t in good shape, resulting in a sloping and uneven lie. Tee boxes are generally very flat, creating an even surface for tee shots. Not level tee boxes can cause the ball to be above or below the golfer’s feet, affecting the shot.
Fairway Lie
A standard fairway lie is when the ball ends up in the area of short grass between the tee box and the putting green, also known as the fairway. Hitting out of fairway lies is generally preferred due to the increased control golfers experience when swinging from the short grass.
Flat Lie
A flat lie is when your feet and ball are on the same leveled surface. Golfers can experience flat lies in both the fairway and the rough.
Uphill Lie
Golfers face uphill lies when their front foot facing their target is at a higher elevation than their back foot. Uphill lies are on upslopes where the high side of the hill is in line with the target.
Downhill Lie
Golfers encounter downhill lies when their front foot, facing their target, is on a lower elevation than their back foot. Downhill lies are on downslopes where the hill slopes down toward the target.
Sidehill Lie
Ball Above Your Feet: A lie where the ball is above your feet happens when right-handed players are on the left side of a hill (facing the target) or left-handed players are on the right side of a hill (facing the target). The golfer’s feet are at a lower elevation than the ball. Hitting a ball above your feet promotes hooks and pulls.
Ball Below Your Feet: A lie where the ball is below your feet happens when right-handed players are on the right side of a hill (facing the target) or left-handed players are on the left side of a hill (facing the target). The golfer’s feet are on a higher elevation than the ball. Hitting a ball below your feet promotes slices and pushes.
Divot Lie
Divot lies are when a golf ball comes to rest in a divot. Divots are marks or compressions in the grass caused by a golfer hitting the ground. These unlucky and difficult lies are commonly found in the fairway.
Muddy Lie
In wet conditions, golfers may find their ball in a muddy lie. A mud lie is when a ball sits upon muddy surfaces or when there is visible mud on the golf ball.
Plugged Lie
A ball embedded or stuck into the ground’s surface is called a plugged lie. Golfers get relief from plugged lies if the ball is not in bunkers or other penalty areas.
Flyer Lie
A flyer or flier lie is a shot hit out of the rough when grass, dirt, or other debris comes in contact between the clubface and golf ball, causing the ball to reduce spin and travel higher and further.
Golf balls in a “flyer lie” position are fluffed up in the rough, making it easier for the club head to slide through the grass.
Buried Rough Lie
Buried lies in the rough occur when the golf ball lands and rests in deep, thick rough. Usually, golf balls are difficult to find and require a lower lofted club when they are in a buried lie.
Immovable Obstructed Lie
A ball that lands and rests where an artificial object, such as a sprinkler head, electric box, or sign that interferes with the player’s swing, is considered an immovable obstruction. Trees, branches, or other natural objects are not considered immovable obstructions.
Movable Objects Lie
A movable object in golf is an artificial object that can be moved away from the ball without penalty. Examples of movable objects are cigarette buds, water bottles, or bunker rakes.
Loose Impediments Lie
Loose impediments are natural and movable objects, like sticks, grass clippings, leaves, and rocks. Impediments can be removed away from the ball. However, if the ball moves while the player moves the impediments, the player accumulates a one-stroke penalty.
Unplayable Lie
An unplayable lie occurs when a player is unable or chooses not to hit their ball from its current position. Players can signal an unplayable lie when a ball is stuck in a bush or behind a tree.
Any time a golfer is unable to take a swing, and the ball is not in a penalty area, it is considered unplayable.
When in an unplayable lie, the golfer has three choices.
- Stroke and Distance Relief
- Back-On-The-Line Relief
- Lateral Relief
Water Lie
A water lie is when golf balls land and rest in water. Water lies can be caused by water from a hazard or standing water in the general area.
Cuppy Lie
When a golf ball rests in a depression resembling a cup, it is known as a “cuppy lie”. Depressions in the fairway or around the green that cause cuppy lies can result from a ball mark, footstep, or natural ground complexes.
Uneven Lie
An uneven lie is a common term to describe when a player is hitting on an uneven surface. An uneven surface can vary from one foot being on a higher or lower elevation than the other or the ball being at a different elevation than the player’s feet.
Ground Under Repair Lie
Ground under-repair areas are designated or marked areas where the course is doing renovations or maintenance work. Whenever a player’s ball lands and rests in a ground under repair area, the player may take relief with no penalty.
Pine Needle Lie
Under pine trees, where pine needles are often prevalent, a golfer can find themselves hitting from a pine needle lie. A pine needle lie is when the golf ball sits atop a bed of pine needles.
Wet Lie
Wet lies are due to rain, dew, or moisture, making the ground under the ball soft, damp, and wet. The leading edge of a clubhead tends to dig easily into the ground on wet lies, causing larger and deeper divots.
Tall Grass Lie
A golf ball that lands and rests in long, grassy areas, such as fescue grass, is considered tall grass lies.
Hard Lie
Hard lies are when golfers hit the ball off hard and compact surfaces, such as hardened dirt. Hard lies make it difficult to take divots and can be physically painful in some instances.
Soft Lie
Soft lies are when golfers hit balls off soft and loose surfaces, such as a wet fairway. Soft lies make it easier to take divots.
Snow Lie
A snow lie is when the golf ball rests in the snow. Golfers may find themselves in snowy lies on the golf course during the winter months.
Bad Lie
A bad lie is classified as any lie that increases the difficulty of a shot. These non-preferred lies can be deep in the rough, on the side of a hill, or plugged into wet fairways.
Preferred Lie (Good Lie)
Golf lies that are advantageous to a golfer are classified as preferred lies. What’s considered a preferred lie can vary between golfers depending on their skill level, swing type, and overall comfortability. Typically, preferred lies are on level ground, either in the fairway or fluffed up in the rough.
Hanging Lie
A “Hanging Lie” is another term for a sidehill lie where the ball is below the golfer’s feet. Hanging lies are when the golf ball sits on a surface with a lower elevation than the surface the golfer is standing on.
Hardpan Lie
“Hardpan Lie” is another term for a hard lie where the ground underneath the ball is very compact. Ground surfaces that cause “hardpan lies” are typically dirt patches or grass mowed very low. It’s difficult to take divots when in a “hardpan lie.”
Standard Sand Lie
A golf ball in the middle of a sand bunker with even levels and soft conditions is classified as a standard sand lie.
Plugged Sand Lie
A plugged lie in the sand occurs when the golf ball is buried in the sand. Plugged sand lies are common in the upslope of very soft bunkers. Plugged balls in bunkers can also occur in wet bunkers as the ball penetrates and gets stuck in the wet, compact sand.
Embedded Bunker Lie
If a golf ball is lodged in the lip of the bunker but is not in contact with the sand, the player is eligible for relief.
Hard Sand Lie
Bunkers after rain or bunkers that are not well maintained are susceptible to causing hardpan bunker lies. Hard bunker lies require players to be less open with the clubface, aim closer to the ball, and swing down more on the ball.
Wet Sand Lie
A wet lie in the sand caused by rain and moisture makes the sand more compact and difficult to hit a traditional sand shot where the player hits behind the ball, causing sand to displace and lift the ball out of the bunker.
Fried Egg Lie
A “Fried Egg Lie” is created when the golf ball lands and rests at the center of a crater or cavity in a sand bunker, formed by the impact of the descending ball.
Tight Lie
A tight lie in golf is when there is a short amount of grass under the ball, which makes for a firm or tight ground contact. Tight lines are generally found around the green, in the fairway, or on dirt surfaces.
Fluffy Lie
In golf, a fluffy lie in the rough occurs when the ball is elevated and resting on the grass with space underneath it.
Fringe Lie
The fringe is the surface that directly outlines the putting green, containing grass slightly longer than the putting green but shorter than the rough. Golfers often contemplate to either chip or putt from a fringe lie.
Green Collar Lie
The collar of a green is the area where the fringe and rough meet. Sometimes, a ball rests between the fringe and the rough, creating an awkward shot due to the club often brushing into the rough during the backswing.
Golf Ball Lie FAQs
What Factors Impact a Golf Ball’s Lie?
Factors such as ground slope, material, hardness, length of grass, and natural or artificial obstacles can impact a lie in golf. Any variable that causes a golf ball or a golfer, relative to their ball and target, to change the overall position creates a unique lie.
How Do Bad Lies Impact the Golf Ball?
Bad lies can cause golf balls to fluctuate in spin, direction, speed, and contact. The same swing a golfer produces on a good lie, like on a flat fairway, can produce a drastically different outcome when applied to a ball in a bad lie.
What Is a Good Lie and a Bad Lie In Golf?
Good and bad lies can be subjective depending on a golfer’s skill level and overall preference. Some golfers prefer uphill lies in the rough, while others enjoy flat lies in the fairway.
However, golf balls in the fairway or short grass on level surfaces are generally preferred. While golf balls in thick rough, on a downhill or side hill slope, are often recognized as poor lies
How Do You Read a Golf Ball’s Lie?
First, assess how your resting golf ball is planted on the ground. Is part of the ball dug into the ground? Is the ball in the fairway, rough, or sand? Is the ground the ball’s on soft, wet, hard, or fluffy? Analyzing the elements the golf ball interacts with is the first step in assessing a lie.
The second step is to feel your position relative to the ball and your target. Are your feet level with the ball? Is the ball above or below your feet?
Assessing a golf lie involves visually and physically examining the ball and your positioning relative to the ball and target.
