Dealing With Awkward Lies In The Sand

Most golfers find it difficult to deal with up-slopes, down-slopes & plugged lies in the bunker. If you struggle with these, Scotty has some practical advice to help you cope better with these bunker shots.

Ball is lying on an up-slope:

    Firstly, align your shoulders parallel to the slope, in other words your left shoulder will be higher than your right. (PIC 1)
    This will encourage the correct angle of entry into the sand.
    Your ball position should be slightly more forward (closer to your front foot), which will improve your strike as your club enters the sand on the up-slope, thereby getting the ball up quicker.

Ball on a down-slope:

    Again, align your shoulders parallel to the slope, this time your left shoulder will be lower than your right. (PIC 2)
    This will encourage the correct angle of entry into the sand.
    Your ball position should be slightly back of middle (closer to your back foot), which will help prevent your club from entering the sand too early.

The plugged lie, affectionately known as “the fried egg”:

Firstly, we must understand that pressure needs to be created between the club & ball in order to get the ball to pop up in this situation. The most effective way to achieve this is as follows:

    The ball must be right back in the stance, in line with your back heel.
    This ball position will cause your hands to be in a forward press position, which will facilitate a downward strike on the ball to create pressure. (PIC 3)
    Be sure to keep your clubface square to the ball, not “open”.

    Take a steep backswing, then accelerate your club downwards to the sand behind the ball and watch as your ball rolls up the club-face and pops out onto the green – voila!

Don’t forget to practice this from a variety of bunkers at The Pro Shop World of Bunkers.