With half a dozen clubs and more than 3,000 regular golfers within a drive, chip and a put from Leighton town centre, the Observer has signed on Leighton Buzzard Golf Club's PGA Advanced Professional coach Maurice Campbell to provide a monthly tip on how to improve your game and reduce that handicap.

Here is the second of golf doctor Maurice's tips for a healthier game:

How To Escape From A Buried Lie In A Bunker

Many amateur golfers are uncomfortable when they hit their ball into a bunker – and hit the panic button if they find their ball buried in soft sand. But there's no need to get alarmed – here's the solution:
Getting a plugged ball out of soft sand requires a totally different technique to normal bunker shots.

Set up with the ball in the centre of your stance and have your body parallel to the target.

Before you take your grip close the clubface.

Place most of your weight on the foot nearest to the target.
Setting up in this manner will help you to swing steeply into the sand.

Make sure you have a firm grip so the clubface does not turn during impact.

Now make an aggressive swing.

If you hit the ball out of a buried lie in this manner the ball will pop out. This shot will not have any backspin on it, so be careful to aim at the largest part of the green because the ball will roll an excessive amount when it lands.

Email me at golfmachine@instructor.net to ask any golfing questions.
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Good Golfing – Maurice Campbell, PGA Advanced Golf Professional, Golfing Machine Authorised Instructor, Sports NLP Master Practitioner, 01525 244815.