Plugged Bunker Lie

Video Transcript

The dreaded plugged lie in the bunker. It is a greenside shot, with not that far to go to the pin, but with this lie there is one way that you can play the ball that gets it out every time but it is going to run once it hits the green. The common way to play this shot is to close the clubface, play the ball back in your stance and then swing down into the stand. This will get the ball to pop out every time, but it does tend to run well past the hole. Over the years the Tour Pros have not been happy with this method, they have a 30-foot putt, but you can’t really save par with those so they developed another way. Take the clubface and open it a ridiculous amount, put the top of the blade on the ball making sure you do not touch it though, and aim way left. Now the trick to this shot is to pick the club up very vertically and drive the open clubface into the back ball. There is not going to be a follow-through, the ball should pop up and stop quickly. Now you have a chance to save par and go on with a smile on your face. There is another way to play this shot which I learned in Italy when I was a coach to the pros over there. I am not even sure if it is legal or not but you can have a little fun with this. Open the clubface and play everything like I just mentioned but on this occasion let go of the club. For some reason the ball always comes out with spin. But the club could hit your playing partner in the knee and if he breaks his leg and sues you don’t tell them you learned it from Denis Pugh. I don’t want any part of that one!

Denis Pugh
The Wisley
Ripley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QU
United Kingdom
Tel: 01483 211213

Denis Pugh is creator of "The Swing Map" Teaching Theory and is Europe's most prominent golf instructor. He also taught Greg Turner, Peter O'Malley, and European PGA Tour Player of the Year Colin Montgomerie.

• Instructor Overview
• Videos
• Biography
• Client List
• School Info
• Philosophy