Bunker Shots

Bunker shots can be some of the most difficult shots in golf and with good technique and strategy it can just be another part of your game instead of a headache. We are going to go over a little bit some techniques to get out of the sand and stay there. For the bunker shot make sure to open your stance, make sure everything is aligned to the left of the target, then open the club face to the right of the target. Your body should be about 30 degrees angle from your target and the ball should be just forward of center when setting up the shot.

When swinging, remember that this is not going to be a distance swing so there is no real need to make this a full body swing so try to keep your swing shorter and precise. Cock your wrists fully on the back swing, ready to release the club head into the sand behind the ball. As your body rotates the upper body should keep its posture and balance on a constant axis. Many pro players control the swing with the rotary motion of their stomach winding and unwinding. the amount of sand you take depends on how much spin you want to putt on the ball.

If you want the ball to run when it hits the green then try to hit about three inches behind the ball, but if you want it to go high up but stop quickly when it hits the ground then your going to want to hit about an inch behind the ball. Make sure you accelerate your putt through the sand because the sand is going to absorb a lot of the energy that you put on the putt so make sure you are aggressive and follow through with your swing. One of the thing that sets good bunker players apart from great players is decelerating during the shot.

A sand wedge might be a reasonable investment if you find yourself stuck in the sand a good amount of time. It has the most unique qualities that you would find in a club. The great thing about this wedge is that it prevents the club from digging too deep which would ruin the shot. The club's flange extends lower than the leading edge which helps the club skid through the sand instead of penetrating it. A sand wedge is shorter than a putter and heavier than any other club to help it get through the sand and transfer the energy properly. This wedge also has the most loft out of club ranging from anywhere from 52 to more than 60 degrees. Most club heads are made of steel to make them a little but more durable for the long haul.

If your ball is buried in the sand then you must formulate a new strategy to deal with it. This doesn't have to mean the end of the world because a ball buried in sand when hit with the proper technique can still land close to the hole. First start off by digging t little hole behind the ball about 2 inches. First we want to address the ball with an open stance for a steep out-to-in swing path, then lean to your left to make sure your spine is more vertical, and open the club face and get your hands ahead of the ball because we have to enter the sand at a steep angle. Don't worry about looking pretty with this swing, you have enough to worry about so just focus on the swing.