Does 1 Degree Lie Angle Make a Difference? (Answered!)

There are many things to consider when choosing the ideal golf clubs for your game, and lie angle are one of them. But what is meant by 1 degree of lie angle – either flat or upright?

This article explains lie angle and why just one degree of difference can significantly impact your game.

So, read on to discover the importance of 1 degree of lie angle and what you can do to prevent hooks and slices from ruining your scorecard.

What Does 1 Degree of Lie Angle Mean?

The lie angle is formed between the center of the shaft and the ground line of the club when it is soled. For instance, most drivers have a standard lie angle of about 55 degrees.

If your club is said to have 1 degree of lie angle greater than the manufacturer’s standards, you have clubs that are 1 degree flat.

Conversely, if your lie angle is 1 degree lower than standard, your club is said to be 1 degree upright.

While it might not seem significant, the golf club’s lie angle can significantly affect how you hit the ball, as we explain below.

How Much Difference Does a 1-Degree Lie Angle Make?

A change in lie angle by just one degree can make a big difference to the way that you strike the ball and can result in wayward shots by as much as four yards for every degree.*

In other words, if you play golf with just one degree out clubs, you are likely to hit the ball four yards off your target line.

Just think how detrimental this is to your accuracy on the golf course!  

The reason why lie angle is so important is that it can affect your entire setup. For instance, if your clubs are too upright, the toe of the club won’t make contact with the ground at impact, meaning you’re more likely to hook shots.

The converse is true if your clubs are too flat.

Therefore, it’s imperative to consider the lie angle of a golf club before adding it to your bag, and you should make sure that the clubs you choose are well suited to your setup.

Does 1-Degree Lie Angle Affect Distance?

One degree of lie angle can affect the distance you hit the golf ball, mainly if the lie angle of your driver is out. This is due to the lie angle involving setting up on the tee, which can lead to hooks and draws.

As recreational golfers, you will be aware that hooks and draws not only head precariously close to out-of-bounds markers but also don’t fly anywhere near as far as straight drives.

This being said, the lie angle degree of a golf club is more important from an accuracy perspective, as opposed to distance, but it can affect both.

So, if you want to hit the ball consistently long and straight off the tee, you must check that your club has a suitable lie angle for your setup.

What Does 1 Degree Up Mean on a Golf Club?

1 degree up on a golf club means that the toe of your golf club is one degree higher than the standard lie angle set by the manufacturer.

It’s essential ** to distinguish the loft of a golf club from the lie angle, as they’re two separate measurements.

Although many recreational golfers don’t consider lie angle, it can make a massive difference to the accuracy of your shots.

As well as one degree up, golf clubs can also be one degree flat, so be mindful that one degree of difference on either side of the manufacturer’s standard can have a significant impact.

So, if you’re having problems with accuracy out on the golf course, it’s helpful to consider the lie angle of the golf clubs you’re using to ensure that you’re not causing issues from the very start!

Will Changing the Lie Angle by 1 Degree Help to Correct Slices and Pulls?

There are several reasons you might be slicing or hooking your shots, and the lie angle of your clubs is one of them.

If the lie angle*** of your golf clubs is too upright, it can lead to hooks, essentially hitting the ball way too far to the left (for right-handers).

In this respect, adjusting the lie angle on your clubs can reduce or even eliminate hooks.

Equally, if your clubs are too flat for your swing, it can cause you to hit the ball to the right via a slice.

Again, correcting the one degree of lie angle can re-center your ball striking, helping you to eliminate slices from your game.

One thing to note, however, is that several factors, including an incorrect setup, can cause hooks and slices.

So, you need to think carefully about whether the lie angle of your clubs causes your hooks and slices or whether something else needs to be fixed in your setup.

Is it Possible to Adjust the Lie Angle by Only 1 Degree Accurately?

Yes. A club fitter is trained to make slight adjustments to the lie angle of your clubs by hand, which is ideal if you want to shift the lie angle by just one degree.

If you have experience adjusting your clubs (and have adequate tools at your disposal), you can even attempt to make the changes yourself, although it’s not recommended!

The last thing you want is to adjust the lie angle of your golf clubs incorrectly or inexpertly, as you could end up with more issues than you started with.

As a result, you should seek a professional club fitter, as explained below.

Would I Need a Professional to Change the Lie Angle by One Degree?

While some golfers might be able to change the lie angle of their clubs, it’s not something we recommend if you don’t have any experience altering golf clubs.

Club fitters have the experience and the tools available to change the lie angle by one degree, saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself.

Of course, they will get it right, too, meaning you don’t have to worry about being slightly out with your adjustments.

Also, when you schedule an appointment with a club fitter to look at your club’s lie angle, you can ask them to look at various other aspects of your clubs to ensure that you’re using the best possible gear for your setup.

What Does the Term 1 Degree Flat Lie Angle Mean?

One degree flat is the opposite of 1 degree up, which means that your golf club’s lie angle is flatter than the manufacturer’s standard.

If the lie angle is too flat, the toe will be down, which will naturally push the ball to the right, potentially leading to a slice.

So, whether your golf club is 1 degree up or 1 degree flat, it can cause a significant issue as far as your alignment is concerned.

Remember, it can cost you four yards in either direction, which doesn’t bear thinking about on tight fairways!

The bottom line is that if you fear your club’s lie angle is out, get it fixed by a pro club fitter before it has a detrimental effect on your game!

Conclusion

Despite its importance to the way you hit the ball and the direction of your shots, the lie angle of golf clubs is something that many recreational players overlook.

But in reality, when the lie angle is just one degree out, it can lead to troublesome hooks and slices, which can cause you to shoot high scores and lose a lot of balls.

So, be sure to think about the lie angle of your golf clubs if you’re worried about hooking or slicing the ball, as it could significantly impact your accuracy out on the course.

Sources:

1. https://www.tgw.com/golf-guide/what-is-lie-angle/ *
2. https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/63976-lie-angle-vs-loft-and-what-does-1-up-mean/#:~:text=1%20degree%20up%20means%20that,left%20to%20right%20ball%20flight.
3. http://fairwaygolf.com/2020/10/08/lie-angle-what-does-it-do-and-how-does-it-effect-my-swing/ ***