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 I’ve
been told bunker play is the easiest shot in golf – it’s the only time you
can miss the ball and look like a genius.
I know players who approach this shot with an uncalculated swing, hoping
they'll be lucky enough to catapult the ball out of the bunker.
But more often than not, this doesn’t work. And if you’re lucky
enough to hit the ball, you may hit a bladed shot that costs you extra
strokes as well as expensive golf balls.
Bunker
play requires a precise foundation and setup in order to bring your ball out
of the sand on a consistent basis.
Here’s how I teach players how to hit a consistent bunker shot.
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Step
1:
Open your body about 30° in relation to your target, or just turn the
body until your sternum points toward your target. |
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Step
2: Take your grip with the club face already open. You can use your normal
grip, but make sure you open the clubface.
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Step
3: I
like to sit the ball in the middle of my stance or just a few inches
forward of center, depending on the texture of the sand. In soft sand, I
play forward of center for a bigger sand splash and a higher shot. In
firmer sand packed down after a good rain or when there is less sand in
the bunker, I play the ball from the center.
Step 4: I
dig my feet into the sand to help form a solid base with a slight
flex in my knees. |
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Step 5: I take the club back, making sure to keep the golf club
going back up my shoulder line and that it stays in front of my
shoulders. |
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Step
6: As I start down, I focus on hitting a few inches behind the golf ball.
If my body wants to move, that’s fine, but I make no conscious effort to
force the action one way or another. |
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Step 7:
As the club goes through impact, it picks up speed and continues up the
shoulder line to a high finish. It’s important to make sure you swing
the club in front of your shoulder.
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Mental Tip
Say
you have a good lie in the bunker. Inevitably, your first thought is to get
the ball out to have a chance to save par. Take a different approach,
however. Think only of getting your ball out rather than what your score
will be. You’ll be amazed at how this mental trick will help your bunker
play.
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