Bunker Play

Buried-lie practice

Intentionally pressing balls into the sand to create fried-egg lies lets you rehearse the specialised, steep technique a plugged lie demands.

advanced10 reps per session, weeklySand or gap wedgePractice bunkerBalls

How to perform it

  1. 1.Press several balls into the bunker sand by hand or foot to simulate a buried lie.
  2. 2.Set up with the ball slightly back of centre, close the clubface to reduce bounce, and lean the shaft forward.
  3. 3.Shift your weight toward the lead leg and swing steeply, driving the club down and through the sand behind the ball.
  4. 4.Expect little spin or release — the goal is simply to dig the ball out safely.

What you should learn

  • That a plugged lie needs a completely different technique from a standard splash shot.
  • How a steeper, more aggressive strike gets a buried ball moving.

After a few weeks of practice

You'll have a genuine, rehearsed plan for buried lies instead of guessing, and your escape rate from plugged bunker shots improves.