There are different situations in the bunker, such as uphill and downhill lies. You have to treat these in the same way you would do on the fairway. Get your shoulders and hips parallel with the slope.
On an uphill lie there is less need to open the face as you are already adding loft. On a downhill lie the ball will come out lower, do not try to lift the ball out, simply open the face a little more to counteract the steep angle of attack you will be forced to play. Plugged lies are a relatively easy shot to play. Hood the face a little by getting the hands in front of the ball. This allows the club to cut rather than bounce in the sand, and be aware that there will be no back spin on the shot. If there is no lip in front of you I would advise you use a pitching wedge.
Wide soled wedges are a great benefit, as these have a lot more bounce and are a lot more forgiving in sand. Go and see your pro to get advice on selecting the right sand wedge for your game.
If you need any more reason to practice your bunker shots, believe me when I tell you that regular bunker practice can also improve the strength and timing of your left side, as the sand acts as resistance to the swing. Stepping out onto the course after a lengthy session in the bunker will see you hitting much crisper, straighter and longer golf shots with every club in your bag.
