Weight on the front leg, shorten your follow through

Set Up

The downhill sand shot can be a very challenging.  To execute this shot well you must first learn the correct set up, which starts by placing most of your weight on your front foot.  Next, lean your upper body down the hill with your torso perpendicular to the slope.  Lastly, the ball should be positioned just forward of middle in your stance.

Swing Technique

The key to getting the ball up and out of the sand consistently is to hinge your wrists quickly which will get the club head moving vertically.  This vertical take away is essential  because it will keep you from hitting the sand in your back swing, which would be a penalty, and provide you with sufficient power to hit sharply into the sand behind the ball.

As you start your down swing, be sure to fix your eyes on the sand about 3 inches behind the ball.  Many players fail to keep their eyes and head still causing them to sway forward and hit the shot thin.

After impact, your follow through will be shorter than normal due to the steep angle of attack created by the vertical back swing.  Keep in mind also that because of the down slope and the short follow, the ball will have little back spin causing it to roll out once it hits the green.