Bunker Shots
The key to being a great bunker player is to make no ball contact!
To achieve this you have to do a few things:
[if !supportLists]1. [endif]Never let the leading edge of your sand iron or lob wedge hit the sand first. The flange or the back of the club should be the first thing to hit;
[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Keep an open stance (for a right handed golfer your feet should be aiming left and vice versa);
[if !supportLists]3. [endif]Let the club follow the line of your feet going back and through the ball;
[if !supportLists]4. [endif]Lean slightly onto your front foot;
[if !supportLists]5. [endif]Make a full swing at the sand, there should be very little body movement through the swing.
In teaching bunker shots, I get many of my students in the bunker with a piece of plywood. This way, they learn to hit the wood or the sand rather than focusing on hitting the ball. You may try this next time you practice playing out of the bunker. It reduces the anxiety about not having ball contact…
Great Golfing! See you next month!
Richard
