Escaping the "Fried Egg"

by Jim Mancill, PGA Head Professional, Port Ludlow GC

This month, we are tackling one of the most intimidating shots in golf – the buried bunker shot, or "fried egg." We’ve all been there: you catch a greenside bunker, only to find your ball plugged deep into the sand, leaving you with a nightmare lie. Many golfers panic, resulting in a swing that barely moves the ball, or worse, leaving it in the bunker entirely. But fear not! With the right setup and a commitment to added speed, you can get out of this situation and onto the green.

Jim Mancill demonstrating the "Line-in-the-sand" drill

First things first, let’s look at the setup. The key to getting out of a buried lie is making a couple adjustments prior to the swing.

• Square up the Clubface: Take your Sand Wedge or Lob Wedge and shut the clubface down so it is square to your target. This helps the club to “dig”, allowing it to cut through the sand rather than bounce off it.

• Narrow and Steep: Use a slightly narrower stance to allow for a steeper attack angle. Position the ball in the middle of your stance.

• Weight Forward: Put 60% of your weight on your lead foot and keep it there, just like a pitch shot, to ensure a downward blow.

How to play the shot. The secret to escaping a plugged lie is "speed, power, and commitment."

• The takeaway: Think of the letter V, take the club back steeper, more "up" than "around," to encourage a steep downward angle.

• The impact: Think "chop wood!" You need to strike the sand about two inches behind the ball and continue downward. Do not try to “lift” the ball.

• The follow-through: You must accelerate through the sand. If you slow down, trusting that the explosion of sand will carry the ball up and out, even with a square clubface, you’ll likely fail. Play for extra roll and remember that getting out is our goal here.

Try this simple "Line-in-the-Sand" drill the next time you are practicing bunker shots. Draw a straight line in the sand behind where your ball is located. Take a few practice swings trying to hit just behind that line and move a consistent, large amount of sand. Once you are comfortable, place the ball on that line (and push it down halfway, "fried egg" style) and make the same aggressive strike.

Golf is all about managing our misses and having fun, so in this instance, keep that club square and swinging hard, and I’ll see you on the green!