WHAT AFFECT DOES INCORRECT LIE ANGLE POTENTIALLY HAVE?

[wpduck]

If you have an incorrect lie angle in your irons, what affect (tendency to draw or fade) might that have? Does having too much of a flat lie angle have a specific affect? Does having too much of an upright lie angle have a specific affect? If you believe an incorrect lie angle has a definite affect, how much (degrees) does it take to make a real difference? Let me know what your experience and wisdom believes on this topic, thanks!   

[Schwingers]

In general, for a righty:

 

Too upright = Left miss

 

Too Flat = Right miss

 

Lie angle adjustment can be used because of the way a golfer is built, or because of their natural swing tendencies. 

 

No direct experience, but I'd think more than a couple degrees would be obvious if you have a repeatable swing. 

[ZacR88]

I am going to say for a vast majority of golfers....none. 

[Socrates]

Long term - you likely would learn to play them as they are by adjusting to them.

Short term - you likely would hit some weird shots.

 

Worst case scenario is that you ruin your swing and you take up fishing or bowling.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

1 hour ago, wpduck said:

If you have an incorrect lie angle in your irons, what affect (tendency to draw or fade) might that have? Does having too much of a flat lie angle have a specific affect? Does having too much of an upright lie angle have a specific affect? If you believe an incorrect lie angle has a definite affect, how much (degrees) does it take to make a real difference? Let me know what your experience and wisdom believes on this topic, thanks!   

 

The divots will be wonky left or right. You might be tempted to setup too flat or steep?

 

Plenty of golfers play the wrong lie angle, and don’t know it.

[gentles]

I'd say the biggest thing isn't the actual lie angle, its the subconscious adjustments your body makes to respond to the different lie angle. A club that is 2-3* too upright for you will likely result in you making a whole different pass at the ball as your body attempts to "square" the sole of the club through impact. 

 

This is a big part of why players prefer flatter drivers and woods when the lie angle makes very little difference to ball flight, it's the confidence and subconscious parts that make a difference to those players. 

[Solidstrike]

A huge effect, if you’re working on your game.  You should be able to make a good swing, with the club freely releasing, and start the ball on your target line.  If you can do that and the ball never seems to start on line, the lie angle is a good thing to check.  Add to that length and lie as a combination!

 

if you can’t deliver the club freely with a square face then it probably won’t matter much if your clubs are a little upright or flat for you.

 

My experience is that I played a pull draw most of my life.  I’m 5’ 6” and have always been fit into ‘standard’ lie. The big box store guys would pull out the lie board and fit me standard.  Started working on my game but still had that little draw shape even though my path was inside-square.  Picked up some Mizuno irons and my flight straightened out immediately.  Found out that Mizuno irons are typically flat compared to other companies.  On the course I felt more free to just release at the target without worry of inexplicably ending up left.

 

Mentally, the flatter lie makes a world of difference for me.  I flatten and open my woods and hybrid too so I can release like heck and not worry about it going left.  Nothing physically keeping me from pull drawing it, but mentally I feel safer and that allows me to avoid the pull draw more often.  

 

Edited October 14, 2020 by Solidstrike

[Stuart_G]

14 hours ago, wpduck said:

If you have an incorrect lie angle in your irons, what affect (tendency to draw or fade) might that have? Does having too much of a flat lie angle have a specific affect? Does having too much of an upright lie angle have a specific affect? If you believe an incorrect lie angle has a definite affect, how much (degrees) does it take to make a real difference? Let me know what your experience and wisdom believes on this topic, thanks!   

 

Depends what you consider a "real" difference.

 

For someone who hits their driver ~250 yards,  each (1*) degree the lie angle is off will move the shot offline roughly 2-3 yards depending on the club.

 

https://www.tutelman.com/golf/design/lie1.php