Master the Bunker!

BigForeGolf

Bunker shots are not difficult to the low handicap player, so why does it give the average golfer so much trouble? Most golfers are not sure how to play a shot out of a greenside bunker. They don't know how the clubface should be or how they should set-up to the ball. The biggest mistake is when I see golfers trying to chip the ball out the same way they would hit a pitch shot out of grass. The goal is not to have the clubface hit the ball before the sand but rather to hit the sand first and let the sand splash the ball out and on to the green. Here is a great drill you can practice in a bunker that will teach you the feel of the proper bunker shot.

 

  • All you need is a piece of wood (like a 2X4 board). Bury it in the sand and cover it with an inch and a half of sand. Then place a ball top of the sand where the piece of wood is buried directly underneath it. Do this in a practice bunker so you are not digging up one on the course.
  • What I want you to do is do the same thing that most people do in a bunker. Open up the clubface and your body slightly. Then I want you to make a swing. Just hit the sand directly behind the ball and let the club slide and bounce off the wood.
  • If you repeat this drill a few times, you will start to learn how the back of the club works and feels in the sand. You will experience the feeling of the club bouncing off the sand. But more importantly, it will help develop confidence that you can take directly to the course!