Ask a room full of golfers which shot they fear most and the sand wins almost every time. The good news: the bunker shot is one of the few shots in golf where you do not have to hit the ball at all. You hit the sand, and the sand carries the ball out.
Set up for success
- Open the face first, then take your grip. If you grip and then turn the face, it will close again during the swing.
- Wiggle your feet in. A stable base keeps you from slipping and lowers the bottom of your swing just a little, which is exactly what you want.
- Ball forward, weight slightly left. Play the ball off your lead heel and keep a bit more pressure on your lead side.
The one thought
Pick a spot about two inches behind the ball and splash the sand onto the green. Think "throw the sand," not "hit the ball." Keep the club moving through to a full finish. Deceleration is the number one reason balls stay in the bunker.
Want reps with feedback?
That is exactly what the Swing Into Success Bunker Clinic at Magnolia Greens is built for. Small groups of four, lots of reps, and personal attention so you leave knowing what to do the next time you land in the sand.
Golf instructor in Wilmington and Leland, NC. Juniors, women and adults of every level.
