PHOTO PROVIDED The deeper the embedded ball, the more you close the clubface at the address position.

A plugged lie — or a fried egg — requires a special technique. Most golfers are taught to open the clubface and splash the ball from its resting place, try closing the clubface, and allow the club to extract the ball from the sand.

The deeper the ball is in the sand, the more you hood the face. The club’s toe will dig the ball out with ease, set up slightly right of the hole, left of the hole for a left-hand golfer.

The club will not touch the ball, and the sand will soften the blow. Swing more aggressively and trust the club to dig the ball out; the ball will come out low and land softly.

Don’t forget to enjoy this great game called golf.

Rick Musselman, a golf author and professional, owns Musselman’s Golf in Williamsport.