From the December 3rd, 1921 issue of the American Golfer, we read about Playing The Uphill Lie, by James Barnes, who had won the 1921 U.S. Open in Washington, DC.
His pointers on the execution of such a shot would be would be most appropriate and correct today. Brace against the right leg; stand closer to the ball; grip down on the club; maintain balance at the beginning of and through the swing; shorten the swing; don't sway. These are pretty much the same instructions a teaching professional would give to a student today on the uphill shot.
One exception, though! Mr. Barnes' very first advice is to open the stance and allow for a slice from an uphill lie. Though it is possible to produce a slice or a fade with such a lie, the strong tendency is to pull or hook a shot when swinging uphill. Even with a balancing and bracing of the right leg, gravity tends to restrict a shift of weight to the left side on the uphill shot, resulting in a pulling of the body back and to the left, producing the erratic shot to the left.
