| Every year golf magazines feature articles on the | | | | your front foot. Now bend your knees and drop your |
| game's toughest shots. Usually, each article has its | | | | backside so your club gets down to the ball. Don't |
| own specific criteria on what it considers a tough | | | | bend your torso forward! And hinge your wrist |
| shot. But by and large it means a shot that's not only | | | | quickly. Lowering your body instead of bending |
| difficult, but also intimidating. When missed, these | | | | forward helps you maintain balance. |
| shots boost scores by two or three strokes. Missed | | | | 3. Fried-egg Bunker Lie |
| often enough, they also boost golf handicaps. | | | | Your ball rests in the depression it made when it |
| A recent article in one golf magazine lists over 20 of | | | | dropped into the greenside bunker. So it looks like a |
| these troublesome shots. They range from shots | | | | fried egg. Hence, the name. With sand behind it as |
| involving a full swing to shots requiring a delicate | | | | well as under it, you need extra muscle to get the |
| touch. The article ranks them in order of difficulty. | | | | ball out in one shot. Don't try being perfect with this |
| But they also discuss them in terms of frequency. | | | | shot. Your goal is getting the ball out of the bunker |
| Amazingly, five bunker shots rank within the article's | | | | and onto the green in one. |
| top 10 most difficult shot. Two made the top two | | | | The key to this shot is opening your stance, squaring |
| spots. | | | | your clubface, and favoring your front side with your |
| While these shots are hard, they're not impossible. | | | | weight. Use a steeper swing path than with normal |
| Making simple adjustments to your address and/or | | | | and enter the sand about an inch behind the ball. |
| your swing helps you conquer them as long as you | | | | Imagine you're burying the club in the sand and |
| don't try to do too much with them. In other words, | | | | leaving it there. |
| the adjustments help as long as you stay within your | | | | 4. Plugged Bunker Lie |
| capabilities. Trying to hit that miracle recovery from a | | | | This shot is similar to the last but the ball is really |
| difficult lie shot seldom works. | | | | buried in the sand. You can't float the ball out on a |
| 1. Feet Inside/Ball Outside Fairway Bunker | | | | cushion of sand because there's no sand to do it |
| Your ball rests near the edge of a fairway bunker. | | | | with. Come down hard, almost as if you're jamming |
| The only way you can hit it is to stand in the bunker. | | | | the club's heel in the bunker, with the toe pointing at |
| You must use a baseball-like swing here instead of a | | | | the sky. Keep your hands low to the ground through |
| golf swing. You also have to be practical. You can't | | | | impact. This creates an explosion big enough to |
| try to do too much. Advance the ball as far as you | | | | unplug the ball and flip it onto the green. |
| can and set yourself up for the next shot. | | | | 5. Bunker Blast From a Down Hill Lie |
| Grab a 7-iron from your bag, choke down on it, and | | | | The article considers previous shot the second |
| dig your feet into the sand for support. Choking | | | | toughest to hit. It ranks this shot the most |
| down lets you set up your clubface behind the ball at | | | | troublesome. Your ball comes to rest on the |
| address. Now, make a few practice swings above | | | | downslope of a greenside bunker. Hitting the ball high |
| the ball to get a feel for the motion. Use your | | | | enough to get it out of the green isn't easy. That's |
| shoulders and chest muscles, just as you do when | | | | because the slope de-lofts your club. The key is |
| swinging a baseball bat. Increasing grip pressure a bit | | | | aligning your shoulders with the slope. |
| stops you from rotating the face open or closed | | | | Take a wider stance than usual. Align your shoulders |
| during the swing. And bend your front elbow a bit, so | | | | with the slope. Then, open the clubface and make |
| it's not too stiff in the backswing. | | | | your normal bunker swing. Don't try swinging too |
| 2. Feet Outside/Ball Inside A Bunker | | | | hard or cutting under the ball too much. The ball |
| Your ball is in a bunker, but the only way you can hit | | | | comes out lower and with less spin than if you were |
| it is to stand outside the bunker, which means the | | | | on a level lie, so plan for extra roll. |
| ball is several inches below your feet. Be careful with | | | | Those are five tough shots we just described. No |
| this shot! It's not something you face every round, | | | | doubt about it. All are intimidating for weekend |
| but anything can happen with it-a shank, a slice, or | | | | golfers. But try the solutions we propose, which |
| even a miss. Again, don't try to do too much. Focus | | | | were provided by Tour pros. If you still have |
| on getting the ball out of the bunker and positioned | | | | problems hitting these shots, take a golf lesson or |
| for the next shot. | | | | two. And continue reading golf tips and golf |
| The steeper the slope, the more the ball goes right | | | | magazines. You may not face these bunker shots |
| (or left if you're left handed.) Spread your feet wider | | | | often, but mastering them is a good way to lower |
| than your shoulders and position the ball just inside | | | | your golf handicap. |