| If you are hacking around in the bunker and | | | | downswing. |
| wondering how on earth to master this particular | | | | When it comes to your swing, shorten your |
| golfing problem then this article could just save | | | | backswing by about one quarter and mirror this |
| your bacon as we reveal the secret to getting | | | | three-quarter swing on your follow-through. In a |
| you out of the bunkers quickly and easily. | | | | bunker shot your aim is not to hit the ball with |
| A bunker, also known as a trap, is an area of | | | | the club head but, instead, to aim for a point |
| ground, often a small natural depression, from | | | | about two to three inches behind the ball so that |
| which the turf has been removed and replaced | | | | you scoop up some sand which, in turn, makes |
| with sand, water or tall grass. Where a bunker | | | | contact with the ball and shoots it up and out of |
| crosses the line of play it is often referred to as | | | | the bunker. |
| a cross bunker. | | | | If you're taking your shot on an uphill slope of the |
| The secret to tackling a bunker shot is to | | | | bunker be careful to keep your shoulders level |
| establish a solid base with a firm footing that will | | | | and avoid the tendency to tilt them with the |
| support your swing without slipping. In establishing | | | | slope. If you are taking a shot on a downhill slope |
| this firm base however you must be careful not | | | | of the bunker, open your stance a little, steepen |
| to dig your feet in too well or you will make your | | | | your backswing and swing slightly more |
| legs rigid and encourage too strong a shot. The | | | | aggressively. Be careful not to close the face of |
| essence lies in keeping your lower body still with | | | | the club and accelerate through the ball. |
| very little movement in your legs. | | | | If you're having trouble with bunker shots then he |
| You should stand with your weight favoring your | | | | are a couple of exercises to try. |
| left side (unless you're a left-hander in which case | | | | Put a tee in the sand so that just the top is |
| you should favor your right side) and your stance | | | | visible. Then put a ball on the tee and try hitting |
| should be opened and a little wider than normal to | | | | the tee about halfway down its length. This will |
| restrict your backswing and also to steepen your | | | | help you to focus on getting under the ball. |
| swing. You should also turn your knees in slightly, | | | | Next, draw a straight line in the sand with the |
| so that you have more weight on the inside of | | | | handle of the bunker rake and stand so that you |
| your feet. | | | | are straddling the line with it slightly left of center. |
| As with all golf shots you should have a firm, but | | | | Then practice making swings to splash the sand |
| light grip. If your grip is too tight your wrists will | | | | forward with your club head hitting the sand on |
| become rigid and you'll find it hard to slide the club | | | | the line. Once you are consistently hitting the line, |
| under the ball and into the sand. You should also | | | | put a ball down a couple of inches to the left of |
| move your grip slightly farther down the club | | | | the line and continue your practice. |
| shaft than normal, about half an inch will be | | | | As with everything else, the secret to a good |
| enough, as this will not only make it easier to hit | | | | bunker shot lies in a sound technique and plenty |
| the ball, but will also discourage you from burying | | | | of practice. If you spend a bit of time practicing |
| your feet in the sand. Finally, hinge your wrists | | | | bunker shots not only will you find that your |
| slightly earlier than you would normally to | | | | score goes down, but your level of frustration will |
| encourage a steeper angle of attack on your | | | | also go down. |