I have already discussed awkward shots and lies. I would like to continue this theme as I feel the only way instructional advice in written form can help your game is by helping you around the a golf course by giving adaptive methods for the shots you face.

It is pointless for me to write about the mechanics of a golf swing as this should be an individual creation and obviously very personal to different body shapes and talents. I hope that you just might pick up something from this article that may help you when you are faced with a lob shot or bunker shot.

When playing these shots our goal is to strike with maximum loft on the clubface to get the ball up and out of the hazard (bunker) or over it (lob) so it will fly high and stop on the green on landing.

With regard to bunkers I am writing specifically about greenside bunkers; the ones that have high faces. Usually from these bunkers we do not have far to go to the hole especially on a course with smaller greens such as Harewood Downs.

The Clubs

It is necessary to have a lofted wedge (with some degree of bounce) to play these shots. Typically a sand wedge would have 56º of loft angle and a lob wedge 60º plus but most manufacturers produce variants of these classics - possibly 58º to achieve both needs. Bounce angle is the angle at which the trailing sole edge of your club sits below the leading edge. The bigger the bounce angle the easier it is to get the club through long grass or soft sand. The wide sole acting as a rudder through sand and grass with the bounce making sure the club does not dig down and decelerate. However a large bounce angle can it make it difficult from tight summer lies or wet sand, this is why the lob wedge is becoming much more popular in the modern game as these typically have a smaller bounce angle than a sand wedge.

The Shot

When playing these types of shot your technique has to assist the goal of keeping the clubface lofted or open at impact. The points below will help the desired outcome.

The grip needs to be taken after you have opened the clubface (turn the club clockwise in your hand slightly). Do not grip and then turn your club as this will just rotate the clubface back to the shut position in the downswing (de-lofting the club - not our goal) Grip pressure needs to reflect the type of swing. A tight hold will stop the wrists cocking. Wrist cock will allow an opening of the clubface even more in the back swing.

Ball position should be left of centre so towards the left heel for a right handed golfer. A wide stance should also be taken to provide a stable base. These two points will assist in making sure your body weight is predominantly right sided. This is imperative for the magic secret to work.

Aim your body left of target into an open position (about 20º to 30º). This will counter the right biased clubface angle and enable your swing to follow your shoulder direction. If your shoulders are aiming left of the target you will encourage an out to in swing pattern. This is brilliant as you will slice under the ball more easily and impart more spin. This leads to the ball travelling higher and stopping more quickly.

See if you can take the club away wide with the arms yet still cock the wrists so that they create a 90º angle with the club and your arm (this will form an "L" shape)

Feel as though the clubface will catch up with you in the downswing and pass the ball once you have hit it. This will make sure that you do not stab or chop down. It is important that you keep a rhythm that is unhurried yet does not slow down.

Specific to bunker shots is that we are not trying to hit the ball at all. We want the ball to ride out on a cushion of sand. Aim to hit the sand 2 - 5 inches behind the ball. In the address position focus your eyes on that entry point and not on the ball. You will also be able to wiggle your feet into the sand. This obviously makes it easier for us to go under the ball as we will be lower; you will also be able to test the sand conditions without breaking the rules of golf. Never build a stance.

Here it is then - the secret of a successful lob shot or bunker shot, make sure the club head is travelling on a shallow angle of attack into the ball. Do not be confused that I have already mentioned you need to pick the club up with a lot of wrist action in a steep fashion. This comment refers to the angle of the plain around your body. We need a steep plane but with a shallow angle of attack. 

To help this shallow angle of attack do not try to dig into the ball and take a divot or lead with your hands as you would in a pitch or a chip shot. Let the club head catch up and pass your hands in the downswing. Imagine scything the grass under the ball as much as you can for as long as you can without getting to the earth below the grass.

If you are in a bunker imagine that you want to take a long thin patch of sand under the ball but not too deep. The size and thickness of a rasher of bacon could help. It sounds silly but a lob shot or bunker shot is similar to hitting a driver in terms of set up. You want to position your feet wider with the ball closer to your left foot. This will aid a shallower angle of attack and allow your body weight to stay behind the ball thus causing the ball to go higher. A steep swing and impact will cause the ball to go forward and fly lower in a punch-shot like fashion - not what we want. Your ability to control the acceleration speed and therefore distance control can only be learned through practice.

Hopefully you will be able to practice in the correct way.