Making a Splash-2

A sharp play There isn't a player in the world who can put backspin on a ball that is plugged in the sand. It's just not possible. So first and foremost you have to be realistic in this situation: the ball is going to pop out with over-spin and will want to run on the green, so take a good look at the shot and identify the safest landing area. If there's trouble beyond the flag, that may be to a wider, safe area of the green. Once you have the shot in your mind, take a fairly 'square' set-up, your weight favouring your left side, and visualise a fairly steep up-and-down swing that enables you to dig the leading edge into the sand behind the ball. Only with practice will you learn how to regulate your effort to have the ball fly a certain distance. But as long as you strike down into the sand, the ball will come out.