Stop Your Bunker Shot

photo credit: danperry.com   For a high bunker shot that stops quickly try the following:  A)  Set your blade of your Sand Wedge considerably open.  B)  Grip the club in a weak position (turn them counterclockwise – to the left).  C)  Play the ball well forward so that your hands are behind the clubhead.  D)  On the backswing, bring the club up quickly and fan it open by cocking your left wrist.  E)  Swing down into the sand as hard as you want, release your hands fully.  F)  Make sure the clubhead passes your hands through impact. 

With such an open clubface position at the top, the clubhead should not dig into the sand.  It will pass under the ball and your shot will be high, land soft and stop quickly.

Downhill Bunker Shot

photo credit: ultracuerpo   Facing a downhill bunker shot can be intimdating, to say the least.  Follow these tips:  1)  Tilt your shoulders to conform to the slope and swing with the slope.  2)  Open the clubface considerably,  in order to offset the decrease in the club’s loft from swinging down the slope.  3)  Accentuate your open stance to the left (right handers) to offset the open face to the right.

Many players feel the need to lift the ball out of the sand.  They end up “chunking” it and are faced with another sand shot in the same bunker.  Make sure that you force the clubhead down and under the ball.  You will find that with a little practice, you can master this type of golf shot.

The Long Bunker Shot

photo credit: bradleypjohnson   Almost every player fears  long bunker shots (50 yards or more).  Most sand shots are played from around the green, the swing routine is typical, hit an inch or two behind the ball and explode it out.  The long sand shot requires a much different approach.

As long as the lip is not too high, try playing this type of shot with a 9 iron.  Since the 9 iron has little bounce, the sharper sole of the club will clip the ball which, in most cases, will cause the ball to run when it hits the green.

Open your stance and the face of the club a little.  Make a three-quarter swing, contacting the sand and the ball together.  The length of your backswing and the quality of contact determines the success of this shot.

Raking a Bunker

photo credit: danperry.com   In many cases, after a bunker shot,  golfers simply try to cover over footprints or divots with their sand iron, this won’t cut it !  Raking a bunker after your shot is necessary and simply a matter of good etiquette.  The next time you hit out of bunker follow these steps:  1)  Use your foot to level out the club mark and footprints.  2)  Turn the rake upside down and push the sand forward.  3)  Turn the rake over once again and skim the top of the sand as you pull toward you.  Keep the rake handle low.  4)  Push the rake towards the hole.  5)  Rake your footprints on the way out of the bunker.  6)  When finished, place the rake behind the bunker.

Bunker Shot in Hard Sand

photo credit: nsaplayer   The flange, on the sole of the sand wedge, will tend to cause the club to bounce off of hard sand.  For this type of shot use your pitching wedge because there is not a significant amount of bounce on the sole.  A pitching wedge digs in the sand enough and won’t bounce off of the hard sand.  The pitching wedge will allow you to play a traditional bunker shot.  If you are concerned because you won’t get as much loft, just open the face a little more. 

Hit a little closer to the ball than normal and use a very upright swing for best results with this type of shot.

Fairway Bunker Shots

photo credit: danperry.com   Three bunker shot TIPS:  (1)  Make sure the club you use has enough loft to get the ball over the lip of the bunker.  Grip down on the club after twisting your shoes into the sand for good balance.  Be sure to play the ball about an inch behind your typical ball position.  (2)  Keep your lower body quiet in order to hit the ball solidly, doing so will also help you to maintain your balance.  Bring both knees in, ever so slightly, towards each other.  Always hit the ball first, then the sand.  (3)  Don’t quit on the shot which many people do.  Finish the swing with a full follow-through, club over your left shoulder.  Allow your belt buckle to face the target after your full followthrough.

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