Bunker shots

[golfshooter]

Hi all, I am having major problems getting out of bunkers around the greens.Fairway, I find no problem picking the ball off the sand but put me greenside and I am screwed. Don't get me wrong I think I have the theory right but fail in the execution. I am sick of people telling me it's the easiest shot in golf because you don't have to hit the ball.If it is so easy why is the bunker considered a hazard. Tell me if this is right, select a club( not always a sand wedge according to some). Take a slightly open stance open the face of the club, try to impact the sand about 2 inches behind the ball, take a full swing lifting the sand and ball cleanly out of the sand,watch it slowly trickle to the hole. Yeah right. Maybe I just need lots more practice.I watched a piece on u tube where the instructor was faced with a steep bank and chose a 9 iron because of this position, which just confused me more. Help!
Regards Peter.

[bill reed]

Re: Bunker shots

hi Peter
i use to be so bad out the sand. the bunkers here on links golf are so deep and most times just getting out was an achivement.
i went for a 1 hour lesson with my club pro and it was the best money i have ever spent.
bunkers no longer fill me with fear and i'm quite good out of sand now.
my idea of getting out the bunkers was right but i just had to be shown the right way to do it and also taught me much more in a hour than i ever thought it could.
all the best
Bill

[GregJWillis]

Re: Bunker shots

...Take a slightly open stance open the face of the club, try to impact the sand about 2 inches behind the ball, take a full swing ...

You forgot ball position. Because you are trying to hit about 2 inches behind the ball, you need to move the ball forward. In your explanation, I suspect you are reaching back and trying to bottom out early. This will hood the club closed and cause the club to dig in...bad stuff in the sand. So move the ball forward 2 inches or more, and put your "center of the swing" 2 inches or more behind.
Then there is the statement "take a full swing". This is never always the case. You do need to take a bit more then what would be for the same flop-shot style in shorter grass (not the heavy stuff...that you usually do need a full), because you are taking a bit of sand with you and you are not actually hitting the club onto the ball creating solid impact...you are playing the sand shot like a glancing blow and that looses impact power but not always a full-shot's worth...maybe an extra 5-10 yards and most. WHen you are looking at playing the short sand bunker shot to a close hole position, the solution is interestingly different. You swing with soft hands, letting them set and release more and this imparts more vertical angles on the ball making it fly out higher. If you get better at this, you can now start to sneak the ball impact position closer to the ball and this will cause more impact direct on the ball causing more spin, but you have to actually be easier on the swing power as this closeness will cause the ball to fly out farther.

The next really important part is that because you have the club face open at setup, there is a natural tendency to try to close the face down and square it up. It also depends on "how" you opened the face. You must spin the face open in the hands as the hand/arms position in your setup stay fixed. Never grip the club first THEN roll open the face. You have to setup open with the ball position and center of your swing already established, THEN spin the face open in the hands to compensate the openness in the stance, THEN grip it.

Lastly, is the natural arm rotation through the swing is essential. It is common to forget that this action creates a dynamic opening/closing of the face through the swing...and is essential to all good ball striking. Flipping the hands open and closed (horizontal wrist action) is bad, but keeping the wrists in the vertical hing AND allowing the natural arm rotation through the swing is going to get you the ease of getting the ball out withing having the worry about "scooping under", or "lifting it out"...here all you have to do it release the hands through the impact with acceleration.

Hope this will help...I know there is a lot there, so take it in pieces where I bet some items you already do well, but there is one or two there that you are missing that might be the "ah" moment.

------

As for the 9i from a steep incline, this is the correct club (or the generally correct compensation to this shot). Because the hill creates a launching angle you have to swing on, this will already create a higher then normal shot. If you play a SW out, this has the highest angle to get the ball out and you will end up going almost straight up...you need to reduce the angle going out so you can get the ball going forward enough. Don't worry about the style of the club's bounce angle (as in a SW), this is meant to help the club not dig in and the 9i may tend to do this, so here you would take the approach where you have to hit it maybe 1 inch behind the ball, not 2.

[rotator]

Re: Bunker shots

Great advice by Greg.

One other key point in bunker play. The weight should be forward, well forward. You will see this in all instruction and also when you look at the great bunker players.

Here is a good video showing Gary Player, one of the best in bunker play. Nothing better than pictures. You can look for other you tube videos of Lee Trevino, Chi Chi and other players by naming and adding the suffix of "bunker shots" and see they are all consistent in their techniques.

I, as Bill, was rotten when I started out. I worked on it and have become very proficient. It's something you can learn, but follow the fundamentals.

Ted

[BrianW]

Re: Bunker shots

Some good advice here.

I find that I need to concentrate on the divot and not the ball. I set my mind totally on throwing the divot of sand out and onto the green and just let the ball go with it. Make sure you dont get too close to the ball either, many of the shots that scream the ball into the bunker lip or over into another bunker are caused by the shaft hitting the ball.

A great practice drill is to draw two horizontal lines around six inches apart and ten feet long, dont use a ball just move up the lines and work on making the divot start on the back line and finish on the front line. When you get proficient at this then rake the bunker draw the lines again and place 10 balls down the middle of the two lines and repeat the drill again. Make sure your focus is still on the divot though.

Just one more point: for a high shorter flight have the ball forward in your stance, for a longer and lower flight move it progressively back.

[rotator]

Re: Bunker shots

Sorry,

Here's the Player video.

While I'm here, another point. For regular bunker shots, take a wider lower stance. You can actually bow your legs, so you are stable over the ball. There is not much leg movement in bunker shots. There can be a normal "release" of the knees caused by the followthrough.

Ted

[golfshooter]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi guys, there is more to it than many people will admit. Thank you all for your great responses, I loved that video clip both for the humour and information. From what I see so far I am guilty of having incorrect ball position,holding the club then opening the face(sounds like a silly mistake but I am pretty sure I am doing it) and I am definitely going in too deep. So there is plenty to work on.I thank you all again and I will keep you posted
Regards Peter.

[ReefBoy]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi Peter,

There is one more thing I would like to add to all the great suggestions made so far.

The visual I use for this shot is skipping flat stones on water, but skipping the club head instead of a stone. It is the same long, flat kind of feel at the bottom of the throw. When this is done right there is a really satisfying easy thumping sound of the head passing through the sand(similar to the sound you may hear with someone thumping their 3 wood into the ground before a tee shot) and the ball just floats out of the bunker.

I know it all sounds easy and like all shots in golf, it is when you know what you are doing. The trick is to remember to have fun while you are fluffing the shot and then smugness once you have learnt it.

Christopher

[golfshooter]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi guys I put in some practice time this morning and didn't quit until I had 25 in a row out of the sand so it seems the help you all gave payed off. Now, if I can just do it in a game......
I will keep you posted
Regards Peter

[golfshooter]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi guys, well I could not repeat it in a game. I can only assume that the fear of screwing up took over my thinking and it all unraveled I could have shaved at least 6 strokes off my round had I played with the same confidence as I did in practice. You have all been so generous with your time in trying to help me and I just don't know what to do next except practice practice practice until the shots become a natural part of my game. At the moment even the setup fells all wrong and unnatural. I have just read a segment after googling it and "they" recommend setting up for the shot with the ball back from center, however I am choosing to ignore this as it goes against everything you guys have told me Anyway as I said I will just keep practicing until it becomes secound nature. I may even lash out for a lesson although money is tight at the moment. Thanks again for your help and if anyone can think of any thing else that may help please don't hesitate to comment. Basicly I am taking out a large divot and the ball gets very little lift and just comes rolling back to me. I swear I am going to do a "happy gilmore" on it soon LOL.
Regards Peter

[ReefBoy]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi Peter,

Bad luck on it not being a natural shot for you, so now you have to practice, practice, practice like the rest of us.

If the ball isn't getting out of the bunker it sounds like you are decelerating the club just before impact(assuming your set up is right). One thing you can do in your practice is to draw a line in the sand and place the ball on it. Then take a few practice swings to make sure you're impacting in the right spot behind the ball. Then hit your ball while the memory is still fresh, and give it at least 2-3 times as much as you would for a non bunker shot of the same distance. This should do the trick to embed the feeling of what you should be doing.

Christopher

[rotator]

Re: Bunker shots

In regard to what Christopher says, which is a Class A advice, you have to know that you are swinging to move the sand onto the green. The sand moves the ball. You can't do that by decelerating.

When you swing through with the face of the sand wedge open, the bounce will stop the leading edge from digging in and the head will slide through the sand proving a cushion of sand under the ball. You have to trust that the equipment was ingeniously designed to work that way. You can swing aggressively, and the force will be directed upward more than forward, so you don't have to be concerned about rocketing the ball into the clubhouse window.

Here's a drill. Put a paper currency on the sand. Put your golf ball in the middle of that bill. Take your stance and follow the recommended routine for the bunker shot trying to hit at the front of the bill and such that you are trying to slice under it and exit at the far end. Don't try to lift or scoop. Hit down as if you are striking the entry point with the bounce, not the leading edge. Of course, you are swing the club forward and around, as in your normal swing as well.

Your problem, with good practice and poor execution in play on the course is normal. It's the pressure when it means something and your friends are looking. Relax and take a purposeful swing.

Happy practicing.

Ted

[BrianW]

Re: Bunker shots

Sorry,

Here's the Player video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr4sPrTeXMw

While I'm here, another point. For regular bunker shots, take a wider lower stance. You can actually bow your legs, so you are stable over the ball. There is not much leg movement in bunker shots. There can be a normal "release" of the knees caused by the followthrough.

Ted

That's a good video that Ted posted, it shows exactly how to consider bunker shots.

[golfshooter]

Re: Bunker shots

Yeah it's a great video. I think I am somewhat tentative when exposed to a game situation or being watched.This I suspect is causing me to decelerate through the shot. I was doing pretty well yesterday in practice until a mate turned up to watch me and the wheels came off again. I think also that I am coming in to steep in an attempt to hit down on the ball and not scoop it. The $5 bill trick should expose this if I am right. The ah ha moment will come eventually I suppose. At least you all have given me correct advice so I am not ingraining bad techniqe I just have to put it all together with enough practice to become confident. I will report back when I get it as it may help some other demonized soul.
Regards Peter

[golfshooter]

Re: Bunker shots

Hi guys, still trying with some success. Just one query though , should I be playing the shot with the ball in front of center or back? Greg has said a little in front, but for most shots in the video they are playing them a little to quite a bit back of center with just the up hill shot forward of center. I have to say the shots forward of center for me feel really awkward. If that is the way it is then I will practice until it feels right but I really need clarification on this one
Regards Peter