HOW TO HIT A FRIED EGG BUNKER SHOT
by Brian Hughes Program Director, Keiser University College of Golf PGA Master Professional
At various points in my life, I’ve briefly considered opening my own breakfast restaurant, as while my cooking skills are limited, I can be a wizard with preparing eggs. Unfortunately, the restaurant has never materialized (likely a good thing!), but in my teaching profession, I certainly have had considerable experience dealing with “fried egg” lies in the bunker.
A “fried egg” lie in a bunker is one of the most intimidating situations in golf. The ball appears half-buried in the sand, often with a crater-like depression around it, resembling a yolk sitting in the middle of an egg white, making it very difficult to get out of the bunker with any type of control. For many players, this lie triggers uncertainty and tension, but with the right technique and mindset, it becomes a manageable shot.
Proper Setup and Alignment
Adjusting your stance in the bunker is the first important step. Start by positioning your feet slightly more open than usual, with your body aligned a bit left of the target (for a right-handed golfer). This helps promote an out-to-in swing path, which is useful for cutting through the sand. Also, don’t forget to dig your feet into the sand to create a more stable base, as stability is essential because this swing will be more forceful and steep.
Ball position should be slightly back of center, rather than forward as in a standard bunker shot. This encourages a steeper angle of attack, helping the club move through the sand easier using the leading edge of the club more than normal. Your weight should favor your lead foot—about 60–70%—and remain there throughout the swing. This forward pressure ensures that the low point of your swing occurs in front of the ball, which is key to executing this shot cleanly.
Choosing the Right Club
Club selection also matters. A sand wedge is typically sufficient, but depending on the lip height and how buried the ball is, some players may opt for a lob wedge to generate more height. However, loft alone won’t do the job—you need the correct strike.
Executing the Swing
The swing itself is where the real adjustment happens. To help the club get through the sand more efficiently, the backswing should be steeper, with an equally steep downswing. The goal is not to pick the ball cleanly, but to strike the sand just behind the ball and drive the club through the sand with enough force to pop the ball out.
What Ball Flight to Expect
The ball will typically come out lower, with more roll and less spin than a standard bunker shot. Accepting this ball flight is part of executing the shot successfully.
Follow-through should not be overly long or soft. Instead, focus on maintaining speed through impact. Many golfers decelerate because they’re afraid of hitting the ball too far, but in a fried egg lie, deceleration is one of the biggest mistakes. The sand will absorb a significant amount of energy, so a committed swing is necessary to get the ball out at all.
The Primary Goal: Get it Out!
It’s important to manage expectations. Even professional golfers don’t always get this shot close to the hole. The primary objective is to escape the bunker and advance the ball onto the green. If you can give yourself a reasonable putt, that’s a success. Trying to be too precise often leads to poor contact and multiple shots to escape.
Practicing the Fried Egg Shot
Hopefully, this shot does not come up often, but practicing it once in a while is beneficial and can actually be fun! In a practice bunker, intentionally create fried egg lies by pressing the ball into the sand. Experiment with different degrees of burial and observe how the ball reacts. When developing this shot, pay attention to how varying your swing speed and entry point affects the outcome. Over time, you’ll develop a feel for how much force is needed and how the ball will release once it lands.
Get Over It!
One of the biggest hurdles in hitting this shot successfully is accepting a bad break. Make the proper pre-swing adjustments, understand how you need the club to move so that it works best coming into the sand, and trust that your practice will pay off. Golf will give you good breaks and bad breaks both, but having the confidence in yourself that you know how to hit the shot and that getting the ball on the green in one shot still gives you the chance to save your par, will make the frustrating outcome of the last shot far easier to swallow!
