What exactly happened?

Question
First of all, I want to thank you for all the help you've given me :]

I was playing yesterday, and I had a downhill lie and was using a hybrid. I tried hit normally, and ended up not getting the ball in the air at all and pulling it out of bounds. What happened here, and how can I fix it?

Answer
Hi Jeff:

From a downhill lie, the tendency is to swing the club on a more vertical path, which leads to coming into the ball from the outside.  If you catch the ball on the outside as you are swinging to the left, then you pull it left if the face is square to that path.  If the face was open, then the ball would slice or curve back to the right.  Also, from a downhill lie, the ball should be moved back more in your stance, so you can catch the ball first and swing down the slope.  If you played the ball in your normal position, you likely will catch the top half of the ball and send it real low, or hit behind the ball resulting in a fat shot.  So remember, downhill lies, move the ball just back of center and swing down the slope....do not try to lift into air.  Your job is to make solid contact, so you must swing down the slope.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member