Tackling different lies
1Often, you’ll face a bunker shot from more compacted sand, as on the right. It’s a skill to be able to correctly read the lie and make the adjustments required, but if you don’t alter your technique and approach it like a standard splash from fluffy sand (left), you’re likely to catch it thin. Read on to learn how to play from compacted sand.
2
From a compacted lie, keep your stance the same – weight forward on the left side – but get your left shoulder more over your left foot. This steepens your angle of attack. The club will come down into the sand more with the leading edge than the trailing edge of the bounce, so it digs down a bit more.
3
Move the ball back a little at address and add a bit more forward lean in the shaft to promote a different follow-through. It should be a lot shorter than on a standard splash to help get the leading edge travelling down more into the sand. Again, this will help to guard against thin contact.