Equipment Needed
Step-by-Step Instructions
Find or create a plugged lie in a practice bunker: Push a ball into the sand so that it's partially buried, with only the top of the ball visible in the sand.
Set up a bit differently than a standard bunker shot: Play the ball center or slightly back in your stance (rather than forward), and square the clubface a bit (not as open as a normal bunker shot). You want the club to dig more. You might also grip the club a little tighter and use a tad more lofted wedge if available.
Aim a few inches behind the ball. You will need to swing harder than a normal bunker shot because a lot of sand must be moved. Take a steep backswing (pick the club up abruptly).
Swing down hard, driving the club into the sand behind the ball. It's okay for the club to basically "thud" deep into the sand – you're trying to pop the ball out on a cushion of exploding sand. There won't be much follow-through; the sand will absorb a lot of the energy.
The ball should come out lower and run more than a typical bunker shot (with minimal spin). Practice this multiple times with different amounts of buried depth. Getting comfortable with how hard you must swing and how the ball reacts will make you much more confident when you face a real buried lie on the course.
Professional Endorsement
Gary Player, one of the best bunker players ever, practiced all kinds of bunker lies, including plugged lies, to be prepared for anything. Modern pros like Phil Mickelson also work on these shots – Phil often says you must hit them much harder and let the sand do the work. Practicing plugged lies is a regular part of elite players' short game routines.