Simple Sand

[mferraguti]

I have always had trouble getting out of the sand. I have practiced to no avail. Playing ball forward. Open stance. I open club face then grip it so face is square to target. Weight forward and swing along line of stance. Usually I scull it or leave it in sand. Is there a better way to get out and be consistent for short shots and longer greenside bunker play? Thank you! This site has been a tremendous help!

[BrianW]

Re: Simple Sand

I have suggested this before, it simplfies the shot.

Use a lob or sand wedge with some bounce, say around 10 deg. Line up pointing the club directly at the flag and your feet parallel as in a normal fairway shot. Ball forward in your stance, weight very forward but clubshaft straight up and down. Take your arms back with an immediate wrist hinge, hit down into the sand behind the ball without uncocking your wrists and follow through to a fairly high position, do not allow your wrists to turn over as you will need to maintain the clubs loft. To vary the carry distance change the distance you hit behind the ball, just behind for a longer hit and progressively further back for shorter distances.

You will need to practice this first but it should allow you to get out every time.

[mferraguti]

Re: Simple Sand

So in this method, there is no opening of club face which so many teachers recommend, right? Just address ball normally.

[BrianW]

Re: Simple Sand

So in this method, there is no opening of club face which so many teachers recommend, right? Just address ball normally.

Thats right, opening the face only acts to create loft to the clubface but if the club turns over it will remove it again. Hitting to the left of target makes a shot to pin more difficult.

I use a 60 deg lob wedge which already has a lot of loft, if you keep the shaft vertical at address and do not release the wrist hinge into the shot you will create suitable loft to get the ball up. Make sure you keep your body steep into the ball and your hands shallow.

If you look at many tour pros these days you will see them using this method with good results. I use it and rarely make a bad greenside sand shot.

Practice it and I think you will be a better sand player.

[bill reed]

Re: Simple Sand

hi
i use to be very poor out of sand and i went to my pro and asked for a lesson, in 2 hours i was playing all kinds of sand shots and my confedence went right up (one hour lesson and one hour trying out what i had been shown). i think i'm a very good sand player now and it was the best £35 i have spent, i was not only shown how to do it but shown what i was doing wrong. i had tried using books before that but never managed to be good till i got a lesson.
my advice is go see your pro and ask how much for a lesson on playing out of sand. could be the best money you have spent.
cheers
Bill

[LowPost42]

Re: Simple Sand

I'm with Brian - if you haven't taken the time to work out the blast, keep the blade square and just chunk it out.

The other thing to take into consideration is your sand.

If it's not like sugar, keep that blade closer to square than wide open.

[mferraguti]

Re: Simple Sand

I'll give it a try and let you know. Thanks for the advice!

[mferraguti]

Re: Simple Sand

Thanks guys. This works! I'll need more practice to get it down but, initially, had success!! My pitching wedge worked best for me. It does feel quite different than opening stance and using an open club face, but can't beat success!

[achandl1]

Re: Simple Sand

I have suggested this before, it simplfies the shot.

Use a lob or sand wedge with some bounce, say around 10 deg. Line up pointing the club directly at the flag and your feet parallel as in a normal fairway shot. Ball forward in your stance, weight very forward but clubshaft straight up and down. Take your arms back with an immediate wrist hinge, hit down into the sand behind the ball without uncocking your wrists and follow through to a fairly high position, do not allow your wrists to turn over as you will need to maintain the clubs loft. To vary the carry distance change the distance you hit behind the ball, just behind for a longer hit and progressively further back for shorter distances.

You will need to practice this first but it should allow you to get out every time.

Hi Brian,

Do you have a video example of your sand technique? I am much better seeing something than just going by a description.

Andy

[KrudlerAce]

Interesting

Good advice Brian, I must give that a try. Different from the conventional way of what you hear about bunkers. Conventional is not always the best, so it's good to know there are other ways of getting the job done.

Cheers

[KrudlerAce]

Video

I was wondering Brian or any other members if there was a good video online they shows you this method. It was mentioned that a lot of pro's are playing sand shots like this now.

Would be great to have a look at a few videos to show visually what it looks like.

Thanks