Part IV: Bunkers And Trouble Play
Lesson #68: Slash Your Way Out of Jail

When you're playing from a poor lie around the green, your first concern is usually to get the ball up and out, whether it's out of a divot, a depression, sand, or heavy grass. Fortunately, all of these jails can be escaped with the same shot - and that shot is an unlikely one - a slice.

Yes, the way out of trouble is similar to the way most golfers get into trouble. When your ball is sitting down, you need to cut it out, with the same out-to-in blow that causes a banana ball.

Open up your stance so that your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders are aligned at least 20 degrees left of your target, and position the ball a bit farther back than you usually do. For me, that's just in back of my left heel. The open stance will set up the outside-to-in swing, and the ball position will encourage the downward blow.

Illustration by Jim McQueen

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