The Fried Egg in Golf
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
The so-called “fried egg” laying in the bunker is always challenging because it involves a very aggressive swing that’s so full of force that it can go haywire at any point, especially when you’re in a deep bunker, and you have to carry a tall lip, as in the troubled shot below.
How to Hit Out of the Fried Egg Lie in Golf
I’m playing this shot from an open stance (toe line pointing well left of target), and, after I aim my club face at the target, my goal on the back swing is to swing my left arm along my toe line. Since the arms swing on the body line, my club head path will be across the ball producing a cut-across swing that, if I do one very important thing, will carve the ball out of its crater. What do I have to do to make this work? I must keep my right forearm looking at the sky all the way through the swing. This keeps my club face from turning over and allows me to start the ball at the target.
Notice that my club is swinging way to the left of where it would for a normal shot. If my club face were square to the path of the long arrow, the ball would shoot too far to the left of my target, but by keeping my forearms from rotating, the club face stays looking at the target. It’s this combination, a club path that goes left and a face that points straight, that provides the height I need to clear this lip.
Forearm to the Sky
The other factor is that I’m going to give this a good whack, so it’s all too easy to turn the forearms over as I would in a normal, full power swing. Fortunately, I’ve hit enough of these to know that speed plus rotation spells disaster, so I’m focused on keeping my right forearm from turning over – a thought I would encourage you to try the next time your bunker menu includes a fried egg.
Soft, Straight and High
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