Pro Tips by Courtney Mahon , LPGA
How to Recover From
The Fried Egg !
You hit your approach shot fully confident that it would drop straight down the flag stick , until a small gust of wind knocks your ball down and it plugs in the front bunker . Most golfers dread a normal bunker shot , let alone the dreaded “ Fried Egg .”
Here are a couple key points to pop that fried egg out of the bunker and get up and down for par .
HOW To MASTER THE GREENSIDE
Chip and Run Shot ...
by Robert Wilson , PGA Professional
The chip and run shot is one of the easiest , but one of the most underutilized shots in an amateur ’ s golf game . Everyone likes to try the flop shots like Phil and company , but it takes hours upon hours of practice to execute shots like that time after time , and most amateurs do not have that practice time .
Chip and run shots can be played with many different clubs , anything from a 5-iron to a pitching wedge . The objective of this shot is to have the least amount of airtime possible . The longer the ball is on the ground , the better chance we have to get it close .
Many amateurs have very similar putting strokes , so that ’ s a good starting point . The only difference between the chip and run shot and a putt is that you will play the ball towards the toe of the club and hold your hands high so the heal of the club is off the ground . The reason for playing the ball off the toe is it creates less spin and more roll on the golf ball .
1 ) Address the ball just like you would a putt . 2 ) Position the ball in the center of your stance or a slightly ahead of center . 3 ) Make sure to keep your eyes over the ball . 4 ) Have a slight shaft lean towards the target ; this can be a forward press before starting the swing . 5 ) Make sure your weight favors your left-side .
When making the stroke , just like a putt , there is no wrist hinge — no extra motion in the swing . If you have 20 feet to your target , swing the club as if it were a 20-foot putt . Remember , we are only trying to get the ball on the green and rolling . The less green you have to work with to the pin , use a higher lofted club . The more green you have to work with , use a club with less loft .
• Start by creating a wide stance , with the majority of your weight toward your front foot . A strong base will make it easier for your upper body to aggressively rotate around your lower body .
• The ball position should favor the middle of your stance with the clubface square to slightly closed .
• Start by making a full backswing , incorporating a slightly steeper angle of approach in your downswing , and finishing the swing with an abbreviated follow-through .
• The goal is to hit about an inch behind the ball , using the leading edge of your wedge to pop the ball out of the buried lie .
Eyes over ball like putt stance .
Slightly Forward Shaft Angle
Hit this shot with confidence — you can do it !
It ’ s always best to avoid the “ Fried Egg ,” so next time , use a club that will carry your shot well over that bunker and safely on the green . �
Courtney ( Mahon ) Gildea is a LPGA Class A professional and Director of Instruction at Tour Striker Golf Academy Midwest at Falcon Ridge Golf Club . Awarded a Top 50 U . S . Kids Tour teacher for 2017 . For questions or help , contact her at
Courtney @ TourStriker . com or call 913.393.4653 . Scan the QR Code for direct link to lesson videos and review them while you are on the range . Lesson videos at www . youtube . com / courtneymahongolf .
In the photos above , on the left you can see my eyes are over the ball like a putt and the shaft is more upright . In the photo on the right , you see the ball is positioned in the center of my stance , and my hands are set slightly ahead of the ball .
Practice with different lofted clubs to get the desired results , and you ’ ll stop hitting those heavy or thin sand-wedge shots and shave strokes off your game .
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Robert Wilson the PGA Professional at Lake Valley Golf Club . For more information , contact him at 573.346.7218 .
30 March 2023 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE