40 Learn a new shot

Learn a new shot...

How to play the soft-landing plugged bunker shot.

When your ball fails to escape its own impact crater in the sand, there appears to be only one option – hood the face and chop down behind it, taking half the bunker with you. While you can get the ball out this way, the delofted face and downward attack angle see the ball shoot out low and running, with little or no control. That’s of limited use to you when you need height to escape the lip, or when the pin is cut close to you. But there is a way of playing the plugged bunker shot that sees the ball rise quickly and land softly. Here’s how you do it.