3 Actions for Correctly Hitting Sand Shots

It really is interesting to observe skilled golfers play shots from sand. Provided they have a reasonably decent lie, that consistency and precision is remarkable. When a professional golfer isn't on the golf green it seems like just where he would rather be is in a bunker. Contrast that with amateur golfers who would rather be just about any place on the golf course except a bunker. That should tell us that these shots shouldn't be as hard as high handicap golfers cause them to become.

I have always thought that the real key to hitting effective sand golf shots is self-confidence. Because striking shots from greenside sand traps requires you don't actually hit the golf ball but the sand, any uncertainty or not enough pace throughout the shot will likely result in the shot will stay in that same bunker. Yet to reach that position in which you boldly come through the ball, there are three sections that have to be dealt with, and they will be as shown below:

1. Setting up on the ball. It is necessary that the ball is placed off of the front left foot. By swinging your club the right way this ought to be the base of the golf swing. Positioning it way back within the stance can result in the blade of the sand wedge to go in the sand first. Exceedingly far frontward and the blade of the wedge is going to be on the rise, creating a sculled golf shot. Setup ought to be open plus the weight needs to be evenly distributed on each foot.

2. Swing sequence for the shot. You don't want an inside-out swing action for this shot. Take the golf club straight back or a little outside the swing path, and you should have a quick wrist break which should create a steeper swing plane. When making contact with the sand consider cupping the left wrist, which suggests the back of your left hand accelerates in the direction of your left forearm. This helps prevent your face of the club from closing.

3. Finding the point of entrance. This can actually be a rather hard concept, because we have been so programmed to create solid golf ball contact for any one of our other shots. For this one though, we aren't hitting the ball, we're hitting the sand about 2 inches behind the golf ball. Hitting the sand behind the golf ball means that your club in effect isn't taking the ball out of the sand, the sand is. Consequently, if you don't hit the shot assertively and attempt to launch it out with sufficient force to take sand and golf ball to the golf green, you'll typically fail. When the shot is hit with sufficient force as well as confidence and you utilize a good follow through, your golf ball should come out each time.