COMMUNITY

I do exactly what you said. Obviously it depends on how far I am from the flag, but typically I do it with the 56.

Remember the ball will come out with no backspin, so it will hit and roll a greater distance. Plan for the greater roll.Hit only a couple of inches behind the ball, and use minimum follow-through on your swing. Love this Shot!

I just try to avoid the bunker. A lot easier that way. ;)

Great Tip! Vince. when your hitting your 2nd or 3rd shot from the fairway ALL you see is the GREEN! GREAT TIP!

Depending on how the golf ball is sitting in the sand and the texture and the condition of the sand in the bunker.

Normally for a buried lie in the sand bunker, I would shut the face of the golf club, up right back swing and dig the golf ball out with the sand. You do not want to open the golf club face to glide on top of the sand as the bounce of the golf club is designed to do. With the buried lie, you wish to extricate the golf ball out with all the sand behind and around it.
The heavier the sand ( from moisture , or compacted down ) the more the POP action needed to elevate the golf ball out of the bunker. The most difficult lie in a bunker sunny side up, is with a down hill lie or ball position below feet.

Practice a little in that situation, so when it happens you won't be thrown off.

And buy the proper equipment.

I agree with the closed club concept especially a plugged lie near the lip of the bunker and an uphill lie. In this situation I will actually hit the ball with the tip of the iron, usually my 55. I turned the club head closed so the face is looking inside my left leg, hit steep down on it just behind the ball and it will pop out high and short.

Just Google Phil Mickleson's sand trap tips and you may want to re-think your next approach to a fried egg lie. I'm pretty sure you may want to follow thru on your swing.........

I use really heavy wedges (E 1.5 swingweight) with 14 degrees of bounce so my technique works just fine for me but I would not recommend it for low bounce wedges. With a "fried egg" lie I play it like a standard bunker shot with the exception of my attack. I like to hit about an inch behind the ball and drive the sole of my wedge down and under the ball. The bounce keeps it from getting stuck and the open club face angle that I use on virtually every bunker shot lets it slide through with ease.

Help us out a little Don. I googled "Phil Mickleson's sand trap tips" just like you suggested and two pages of results in didn't find one example of Mickleson demonstrating or talking about hitting out of a fried egg lie. I tried a variation "Phil Mickelson's fried egg lie tips" still no luck. Not doubting you. Just need some help.

I will check it out. I have Phils short game book at work so I wiil get back to you when I get there this morning.

I am look ing at Secrets of the Short Game by Phil right now. This is not word for word but this is how he explains to hi the shot.
Address: Ball forward of center, open the face at address, hands forward for shaft lean.
Moment of truth: weight forward on front foot, use the hinge and hold technique. Ball will come out with a layer if sand and almost zero spin. The club head should move forward even after the ball pops into the air.
Let the club dig: the club should penetrate the sand deeply but not so much that it brings the club to a stop.
Low finish is a sign of success: a low finish with your hands never coming above your waist means that the club had a descending blow into the ball.
Expect the ball to come out lower and with little spin(knuckleball)

At about 5:43 into the tape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v..

We need to understand Phil is a talented golfer with years of practice and experience; it's not a skill we could pick up with a few practice swing.
One would break his wrist trying the exact the same technique with the hard packed sand in the NW's Winter condition. Unless you are extraordinarily strong.

Maybe my comment about the "follow thru" was misleading. I meant to keep the hands moving. Not to stab the sand and quit on the shot.
Check out this video and pay attention to the 5:44 mark, and the 8:09 mark. Also he hits all lies with an open face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v..

Try checking the food networks website?