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Lie Angle

By Brent Kelley, About.com

Definition: The lie angle of any golf club is the angle formed between the center of the shaft and the ground line of the club when the club is soled in its proper playing position (as in at address).

Lie angles almost always range from the mid-50 degrees to the mid-60 degrees. Long irons have lower lie angles (referred to as "flatter"), while short irons have larger lie angles (referred to as more "upright").

Finding the proper lie angle to fit a golfer's swing is an important part of the clubfitting process. Taller golfers tend to require larger lie angles while shorter golfers tend to require lower lie angles in order to make the best contact with the ball.

What happens if the lie angle of your clubs is ill-fitted for your swing? The clubface will wind up in an improper position at contact, resulting in poorer shots. If a club is in a toe-down position at impact (the toe scraping the ground with the heel up off the ground), it is sign that your clubs have a lie angle that is too flat (meaning, too low of an angle). If a club is in a toe-up position at impact (heel on the ground but toe up off the ground), it is a sign that your have a lie angle that is too upright (meaning too great of a lie angle).

For more on lie angle, see the FAQ, What is lie angle?

Also Known As: Sometimes just referred to as the "lie" of a club

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