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A promising looking approach shot comes up just short in the greenside bunker.
As you approach the green the deflating sight appears, a plugged ball. Don’t panic! It’s a hard shot, but very doable with the proper technique and mindset.
Learn how to master the escape from a plugged bunker lie with these tips from GolfPass instructors.
1. The Stinker
School of Golf Teacher Martin Hall covers all things bunker plays in his series Build A Better Game: Bunkers. In this episode he covers “the stinker,” aka a plugged lie in the flat of the bunker. Use the toe of the wedge like a knife to cut through the sand and pop the ball out effectively.
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2. Escaping a fried egg
Martin Chuck enjoys a nice fried egg. Just not on the golf course! In this tip, he breaks down the keys to hitting from a plugged lie in the face of the bunker. It’s all about leaning into the slope and leaving the club in the sand.
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3. Don’t swing overly aggressive
Andrew Rice explains two different techniques to find the putting surface from a fried egg in the bunker – each of which increases depending upon your skill level. With the proper fundamentals, it’s not all that hard of a shot (at least to find the green). Watch more in the series, Breaking Bad Habits: Short Game.
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4. Buried lie vs. normal bunker lie
Cameron McCormick touches upon some strategies mentioned above but adds a bit of detail. Angle of attack and thinking about driving sand onto the green are the main keys.
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5. Sledgehammer swing thought
Michelle Winkler nearly holes the bunker shot in this tip from a plugged lie, so you know the advice works! Just close the toe and think sledgehammer.
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Have any tips to hit from terrible lies in the sand? Let us know in the comments.
Comments (1)
I play where the bunkers are filled with very fine white (silty) type sand. What do you recommend how to play the shot?