The 5 Keys To Great Bunker Play

Bunkers have always added a little spice to a round of golf. They force a golfer to think a little bit more about the type of shot they should take. There is no doubt that you'd rather avoid hitting the sand as it can result in some pretty difficult shots. If you've gone through the nightmare (and embarassment) of taking a number of shots to get out of a bunker then you will be aware of this. However, with the right technique the bunker shot should not be as fearsome as you think. Follow these 5 keys and you will instantly see an improvement in your play.

1) It should go without saying but you'll need to use your sand wedge for this shot. It is specially designed to be used to cut through the sand but you will need to open the club face out as much as possible. This increases the loft of the club face to give you the best chance of getting the golf ball up and out of the sand trap.

2) Set up with an open stance to the target - you want your feet and shoulders aiming to the left of where you want the golf ball to end up. The ball should be toward the back of your stance somewhere in line with the inside of your back heel. If you really need to generate extra height from your shot then the ball needs to be further forward than this default position. To ensure that you have enough stability - remember, you're standing on sand so you could easily slip a little durng the swing - wriggle your feet right into the sand. The clubface should be aiming directly toward your target - imagine you're hittng to just beyond the flag. You should do this because in general mis-hit bunker shots tend to fall very short so this is a risk reduction tactic. Consider using a weak grip - you should not be able to see your knuckles on your left hand (right hand if you're left handed). This helps prevent the hands from rotating round during your swing - you want the club face to stay open throughout.

3) Use your shoulders to rotate into the backswing and hinge your wrists early. This is advisable because releasing your wrists on the downswing is going to generate most of your clubhead speed.

4) You are tryng to hit down on the ball. However, this next point is central to bunker play and will vastly improve your technique. You want to hit the sand 2 inches behind the ball and try to get right under it as you hit through. Imagine that you are 'splashing' the ball out. This will give the golf ball enough height to get out and will stop it quickly when it lands. You can get less backspin and more roll if you aim to hit further behind the ball - say 3-4 inches. You are not looking to clip the ball off the sand. This only becomes the case when you are playing out of a fairway bunker and need to play a long shot with a full swing. Even then you require a decent lie on the sand.

5) Almost as important as hitting the sand before the ball is that you concentrate on accelerating your swing right the way through. Too many amateurs let their swing die as they make contact. This is usually because the bunker is near the green and the golfer fears that they will overhit the ball. By hitting the sand behind the ball you are converting the momentum into height and back spin. You should only fear accelerating through the ball if you are trying to get a clean contact as this will send it flying.

To better understand these techniques practise in a bunker by placing your ball on a scorecard and trying to get your sand wedge underneath it. This will encourage the right fundamentals. In no time at all you will wow your golf buddies with your new found ability in the bunker and easily shave a few shots off your round. Who knows you may even hole a couple!

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