| A very frequently asked question indeed; how to | | | | However, the first and primary goal is to gain a |
| play the sand shot or the bunker shot. | | | | consistency with your swing tempo and your |
| Before we get to the bunker play tips, I have to | | | | entry point. For the beginning sand player, gaining |
| preface what you are about to read with but one | | | | confidence in getting the ball consistently out of |
| word... practice. Once you get the basics (which | | | | the bunker and putting is the first goal and the |
| are forthcoming) you've got to take the time to | | | | first building block. Just getting this first basic skill |
| practice and gain confidence in the execution. | | | | established fluently will save you strokes |
| Believe me; getting your sand play up to a decent | | | | immediately. Don't worry so much about |
| level is well worth the time spent on it. With a | | | | variations to your bunker play... these can come |
| decent sand game, it is actually more | | | | later... just get comfortable and confident with |
| advantageous to be in a bunker around many | | | | that fact that you'll be out and putting. Rome |
| greens than it is to be buried in the rough just a | | | | wasn't built in a day... or something like that. |
| few yards away! And you'll score better as a | | | | I touched on this earlier and now I want to give |
| result. | | | | you a bit more detail on your bunker equipment |
| For good bunker play you need to understand | | | | (sand wedge) and why you must have one. |
| some basic techniques. Actually, before we | | | | First of all, believe it or not, the sand wedge is |
| discuss technique, you need to have a sand | | | | designed for sand play. |
| wedge in your bag... not a pitching wedge... I'll tell | | | | Bounce - the sand wedge has a rounded sole that |
| you why in a moment. | | | | actually sits lower in comparison to the blade of |
| First all, with your set up you want to open you | | | | the club. This feature allows the club to glide |
| stance, hips, and shoulders to the left of the | | | | through the sand rather than dig into it. |
| target (right handed golfers) and the ball | | | | Loft - greater loft that the pitching wedge - 55-60 |
| positioned slightly forward in your stance. Establish | | | | degrees as opposed to 48-52 degrees. This gets |
| solid footing by digging into the sand just a bit. | | | | you ball up and over the lips of the bunkers more |
| With your setup to the left of the target, you | | | | readily rather than trying to 'manufacture' a shot |
| now want to open the clubface (rotate the sand | | | | with your pitching wedge. |
| wedge so the more of the clubface is exposed). | | | | Toe to Heel Design - this what gives the sand |
| As far as the swing path goes, you want your | | | | wedge the oval appearance - but more than this - |
| swing path to follow the alignment of your body | | | | it is what keeps the sand wedge from digging in |
| just like you other shots. | | | | and allows you to 'splash' the ball out of the |
| With a sand shot you want you club to enter the | | | | bunker. |
| sand a couple of inches behind the ball. I like to | | | | Bottom line - if you're not using a sand wedge for |
| have people imagine that just underneath the ball | | | | your sand shots; you're making things much more |
| in the sand, the golf ball is sitting on a tee; and | | | | difficult than they need be. |
| what you are trying to do is clip the tee out from | | | | Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds |
| under the ball without disturbing the ball itself. | | | | relaxation over a shot. Particularly the sand shot. |
| Keep your wrists firm until well after impact. You | | | | Tension and nervousness are shot killers. The |
| don't want get 'flippy' with your hands when it | | | | basic sand shot is not at all a difficult shot to |
| comes to sand shots. | | | | extract, it's just that those who fear them are |
| When you are first learning to play a bunker shot, | | | | those who don't take the time to practice them... |
| strive to gain consistency with your entry point | | | | think about it this way... it's the only shot where |
| behind the ball and consistently extracting the ball | | | | you are going to actually purposely miss the ball! |
| onto a putt-able position on the green. | | | | So get out there and find a place to practice and |
| The next step for you will be to alter the | | | | get better. Remember first things first... just work |
| distance of your bunker shot using your swing | | | | to gain consistency and you'll start improving your |
| speed with you 'basic' bunker swing and shot. | | | | game. |