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
embarrassment) 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 clubface out as much as
possible. This increases the loft of the golf club hamburg face to
give you the best chance of getting the golf ball up and out of the
sand trap.
2) 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 during the swing – wriggle your feet right
into the sand. The clubface should be aiming directly toward your
target – imagine you’re hitting 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 around during your swing – you want the clubface to stay
open throughout.
3) Use your shoulders to rotate into the backswing and hinge yo