BUNKERS
Getting up and down from a greenside bunker can be very rewarding. As with putting, chipping and pitching, bunker play is an element of the game that can save you many shots if practised correctly. The Pro’s make it look very easy and on many occasions are looking to hole out from the bunker, let alone just get it out. However, for most handicap players finding their ball in a bunker can be a daunting sight.
There are two types of bunker shot, a greenside bunker shot and a fairway bunker shot. Both of which are played quite differently.
GREENSIDE BUNKER
This is the only time your sand iron should not make contact with the ball. The clubhead should contact the sand about 2.5 inches before the ball continuing down and through the sand, exiting about 4 inches to the left of where the ball originally lay. When the club contacts the sand it causes an explosion effect which forces the sand upwards and forwards, the ball therefore, comes out on a cushion of sand. Remember, you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club until you actually play the shot. The penalty for grounding your club in a bunker prior to playing the shot is a two shot penalty.
Lets start with the club itself; the sand iron. When you grip your sand iron normally the grooves on the clubface point out at twelve o’clock which is directly away from you as you look down. What you need to do before you grip the club, is to turn the club so that the grooves on the clubface now point off to the right at one o’clock in an open position. Once you have done this place your normal grip onto the club without moving the club back from the one o’clock position. As you look down you should see your normal grip on the club but the clubface should now be open at the one o’clock position. Your now ready to walk into the bunker. When you take aim you will feel like your club is pointing to the right of target, you now need to counteract this by positioning your feet and body to the left of the target until your clubface is pointing at the flag. So, you open your clubface and aim left with your feet and body, remembering to twist your feet into the sand until both feet are approximately two inches below the surface. The ball position is played inside your left heel. Your now ready to make your swing. Try to make your backswing to ten o’clock and your follow through to two o’clock and then stop. Remember to focus your eyes on the impact point with the sand and not on the ball (about 2.5 inches before the ball) Try to keep the rhythm of your swing a little slower and accelerate though the sand to your finish.
EXECUTION
1. Assess the shot in hand
2. Set your club position and grip
3. Take aim
4. Twist your feet into the sand
5. Take another look or two at the shot
6. Focus your eyes on the impact point (2.5 inches right of the ball)
7. 50/50 stop (recommend 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock)
8. Hold your finish
FAIRWAY BUNKER
Playing a shot from a fairway bunker can be intimidating. However, with the correct understanding it can be quite straight forward.
The first thing you must do in a fairway bunker is to decide which club to choose in order to clear the lip of the bunker. I see a lot of golfers trying to force the ball to the green with a straight faced club, with no chance of clearing the lip of the bunker. So firstly make sure you can clear the lip of the bunker with your chosen club, if you can't reach the green then so be it, simply advance it up the fairway and take your medicine.
The execution of a fairway bunker shot is exactly the same as playing from the fairway. You must hit the ball first and continue down and contact the sand second. Try not to twist your feet into the sand too much because your trying to hit the ball first so you don't want to lower your centre of gravity too much. Your ball position should be played towards the middle of your stance and your eyes should be focused on the ball not on the sand.
There are two types of bunker shot, a greenside bunker shot and a fairway bunker shot. Both of which are played quite differently.
GREENSIDE BUNKER
This is the only time your sand iron should not make contact with the ball. The clubhead should contact the sand about 2.5 inches before the ball continuing down and through the sand, exiting about 4 inches to the left of where the ball originally lay. When the club contacts the sand it causes an explosion effect which forces the sand upwards and forwards, the ball therefore, comes out on a cushion of sand. Remember, you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club until you actually play the shot. The penalty for grounding your club in a bunker prior to playing the shot is a two shot penalty.
Lets start with the club itself; the sand iron. When you grip your sand iron normally the grooves on the clubface point out at twelve o’clock which is directly away from you as you look down. What you need to do before you grip the club, is to turn the club so that the grooves on the clubface now point off to the right at one o’clock in an open position. Once you have done this place your normal grip onto the club without moving the club back from the one o’clock position. As you look down you should see your normal grip on the club but the clubface should now be open at the one o’clock position. Your now ready to walk into the bunker. When you take aim you will feel like your club is pointing to the right of target, you now need to counteract this by positioning your feet and body to the left of the target until your clubface is pointing at the flag. So, you open your clubface and aim left with your feet and body, remembering to twist your feet into the sand until both feet are approximately two inches below the surface. The ball position is played inside your left heel. Your now ready to make your swing. Try to make your backswing to ten o’clock and your follow through to two o’clock and then stop. Remember to focus your eyes on the impact point with the sand and not on the ball (about 2.5 inches before the ball) Try to keep the rhythm of your swing a little slower and accelerate though the sand to your finish.
EXECUTION
1. Assess the shot in hand
2. Set your club position and grip
3. Take aim
4. Twist your feet into the sand
5. Take another look or two at the shot
6. Focus your eyes on the impact point (2.5 inches right of the ball)
7. 50/50 stop (recommend 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock)
8. Hold your finish
FAIRWAY BUNKER
Playing a shot from a fairway bunker can be intimidating. However, with the correct understanding it can be quite straight forward.
The first thing you must do in a fairway bunker is to decide which club to choose in order to clear the lip of the bunker. I see a lot of golfers trying to force the ball to the green with a straight faced club, with no chance of clearing the lip of the bunker. So firstly make sure you can clear the lip of the bunker with your chosen club, if you can't reach the green then so be it, simply advance it up the fairway and take your medicine.
The execution of a fairway bunker shot is exactly the same as playing from the fairway. You must hit the ball first and continue down and contact the sand second. Try not to twist your feet into the sand too much because your trying to hit the ball first so you don't want to lower your centre of gravity too much. Your ball position should be played towards the middle of your stance and your eyes should be focused on the ball not on the sand.