One of the biggest pains when playing a round of golf, is when your golf ball ends up in the sand. It matters not what type of ball you use, even those who play with Srixon golf balls or any other top brand will suffer in the same way as those with less quality balls when they inadvertently hit them into a sand trap. There are three variations of sand that your ball could find itself landing in; hard packed sand, dry sand, and wet sand.
Hard packed sand can be found on golf courses that have a low quality system set up. A decent drainage system is essential in keeping all of the course at a playable level, especially the sand areas, such as bunkers. With hard packed sand, the poor drainage system has allowed water to hang around, and as it dries the sand becomes sticks together and becomes denser. Sand in this sort of environment will also easily attract all manner of grime, dirt, stones and pebbles, thus making a very unpleasant place to have to play from. In order to test a sand area for its state; hard packed, wet, or dry, you must walk into the bunker and test the ground with your feet, by subtly digging around. The rules of golf say that you are not allowed to enter a sand area with a golf club of any sort and test the ground or make practice swings with the club, as this will incur a penalty. Subtlety and craftiness is the name of the game here.
With wet sand, yet again we have a poorly set up or maintained drainage system. Water has been allowed to settle within the sand areas, thus again creating an unfavourable location to have to play your golf ball from.
When faced with a shot to be taken from an area of sand you must run through the pre-shot routine which consists of; positioning yourself outside the bunker, off the sand, and from here evaluate your distance and alignment of the ball with its target, the condition of the ball and its position in the sand, then decide on how your will play the shot and finally choose the golf club you wish to use to make the shot. Before taking the shot, make sure you take a practice shot or two outside the bunker, and in line with the ball and its target, if at all possible.
Once ready to take the shot, go into the bunker and take an open stance next the the ball. Use a smooth and relaxing swing and aim approximately one inch behind the ball with an objective of making contact with as little of the sand as is possible, but still making enough contact with the ball to be able to lift it out and towards its objective. Take a slow swing out and back, then accelerate the club towards the ball, faster then for other shots, and follow through. The swing needs to be faster than usual, because we are dealing with wet impacted sand, which will provide much more resistance than dry sand.
Having to play your golf ball from dry sand, you are now dealing with a sand that is like dry fluffy powder. Again, go through the pre shot routine (see above), and take an open stance to the left of the target, but this time when making contact with the golf ball, make this time you do not want to dislodge as little sand as possible, you need to take more sand this time, because the sand is soft. The club should have a loft of about 58 degrees, thus greater angle than for wet sand. This angle combined with a good swing and high finish will result in an explosion of sand and your golf ball heading out and away from the bunker.
Charles Edwards academic, sportsman, and entrepreneur. Visit his site for more information on the golf and deals on srixon golf balls
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