The Experience Insider

A lot of golfers struggle with hitting just the right shot to get their ball out of the bunker and onto safe ground to putt it in and get that par. The key to effective bunker play starts with the right club and more importantly, the right attitude. So get out your sand wedge and let’s get started.

Bunker Play Tip - Splash shot

The splash shot is used when the ball is sitting on top of the sand. All that is required is the displacement of the sand beneath the ball which will lift the ball in the air and out of the bunker. The swing itself is an upper-body oriented (shoulders and arms) swing, with the weight starting, staying and finishing on the left foot. Dig your feet into the sand to lower the bottom of the swing. For example, if you dig your feet in two inches you will be able to hit two inches behind the ball.

Tips for the perfect Splash Shot:

1.         Position the ball forward in your stance

2.         Open the clubface and then take grip

3.         Open your stance until the clubface aligns to the target

4.         Dig your feet into the sand to lower bottom of the arc

5.         Point the butt end of the club at the center line of the body

6.         To hit the ball shorter, open your stance and clubface a greater amount. Set up with more weight on left side

7.         To hit the ball farther, set-up must be squarer along with clubface, stance wider, feet dug in sand slightly

8.         Swing down your shoulder line with weight starting, staying and finishing on your left side

Buried Bunker Shot

The correct club for the buried bunker shot would be a sand wedge or lob wedge.

Playing from a buried lie is quite different than playing a ball that is sitting up on the sand. Since the ball is sitting below the surface, you will want to take a deeper cut of sand. To accomplish this, move the ball back and close the clubface. The club will now be used as a “digger”. Closing of the clubface will allow the club to dig into the sand more. Using a combination of both hands and arms, swing abruptly up and abruptly down creating a descending blow behind the ball. This descending blow along with the closed clubface will allow the club to dig deeply into the sand, thus popping the ball out. Leave the clubhead in the sand at the completion of the swing. Too often, golfers try to lift the ball out of this type of lie and end up blading it. This will eliminate the dreaded “scull shot”. You will get very little backspin, if any. The ball will come out on a lower trajectory and run. Even professionals have trouble with this shot so play within your boundaries.

Tips for a Perfect Buried Bunker Shot:

1.         Clubface should be slightly closed or square

2.         Ball position should be back in stance

3.         Drop your forward foot back to level with your hips and set your weight into the slope; your weight needs to start, stay and finishing on your forward side

4.         Using a combination of both arms and hands, strike a descending blow just behind the ball, leaving the clubhead buried in the sand

5.         Allow for very little backspin, lower trajectory and more roll

6.         Play within your boundaries