You may snicker at the title of this tip as a buried lie shot the bunker can be intimidating and just getting out could seem impossible. I would like to show you a technique to not only hit the shot, but to be able to hit the shot with some height to it so that you can clear a high lip if necessary.
The reality of it all is that this is really a pretty easy shot, if you understand the proper technique. In fact, most of our fear is a result of a lack of knowledge. If we have the proper knowledge on how to execute, our confidence increases. So let’s increase your knowledge and confidence so that you have a positive attitude in approaching this shot.
Select a sand wedge with a 56 degree or 60 degree loft. Take a stance that is slightly open to the target and open the clubface more than normal.
With a very open clubface, you will actually try to hit the ball with the hosel of the club. Your goal is to swing the hosel slightly behind the ball into the sand and let the club dig. This is the first part to the secret of hitting this shot high.
The second part has to do with your finish. The finish should be very short; you want to actually want to feel like you are leaving the clubhead in the sand. Trying to make a long high finish will not elevate the ball out of the buried bunker situation and will actually have an adverse affect. A common fault with most golfers is that they will try to help the ball out of the sand. So to execute this properly, you will have the sensation that your club will remain in the sand or you will try to bury your clubhead, hosel first into the sand.
When done correctly, the ball will come out of the sand higher with no spin or a knuckle ball. So you have to play for the fact that when the ball hits the ground it will roll a good 10 to 15 feet on a normal length shot.
This can be a difficult concept to understand and execute, but with a little practice time you will be amazed at how well the ball will come out.
