The Simple Bunker Method — Tested on Every Horrible Lie
PGA-certified golf instructor James Ridyard tests his simple bunker method—pushing sand into the back of the ball with a square clubface—across difficult lies including downhill slopes, fluffy sand, fried eggs, and hard pan. He demonstrates how simple setup adjustments make difficult bunker shots easy without requiring a high-skill open-face swing.
Keep bunker play simple: keep the clubface square and focus on pushing sand into the back of the golf ball.
On downhill lies, shift your sternum forward ahead of the ball and swing softer to account for lower launch and extra roll.
For fried egg or plugged lies, move the ball back in your stance (inside back chest) with forward shaft lean to steepen the entry.
On hard pan or bare sand lies, stick to the same square-face pushing technique rather than altering your stroke.
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