8 Steps To Perfect Greenside Bunker
Shots!
|
|
|
Step 1 -
Establish A Firm Footing:
To ensure that you can
support your bunker shot swing and avoid slipping, it is important to
establish a firm footing in the sand. Try not to dig in too much, as
this will only make your swing more rigid and you will lose feel.
The
idea is to give your lower body a solid base from which to make a
controlled bunker shot, that has reduced lateral leg action (as this
will only lead to inconsistency). By nestling you feet into the sand,
you will also get a feel for the texture of the sand which will help
you to identify how heavy or light it is.
Step 2 -
Slightly Open Stance:
By opening your stance up a
little (making sure you feet, hips and shoulder lines are parallel),
you will be gaining more feel and control over the shot.
|
Firstly
this will help to restrict your backswing length and steepen the angle
of approach which will result in a more elevated bunker shot and
secondly your swing plane will be from more outside to in, so you will
be cutting across the target line and so creating side spin (you will
need to open the club face a little, as per below), which will help to
stop the ball quicker on the green.
Step 3 -
Open Club Face A Little:
Now
that you have set up with a slightly open stance you will need to open
the golf
club face up a little, so that it is facing just to the right
of
the target line (the imaginary line running through the ball to the
target). This will ensure that the ball will splash out of the bunker
in the desired direction, with higher elevation and side spin, to give
you that controlled bunker shot that you are looking for.
Step 4 -
Weight Favoring Your Left Side:
By
favoring your weight on the left side (for right handed players) you
are not only preventing yourself from swaying in the backswing, which
will cause inconsistency and a loss of control, but also ensuring that
you are accelerating positively through the bunker shot so that you
finish in the correct position.
Step 5 -
More Upright Swing Plane:
To
help create that elevation and control we mentioned earlier you want to
play the sand shot with a more upright swing plan. This means that your
backswing will start off outside the target line and return along the
same path, which will give you that side spin and elevation required.
Step 6 -
Strike Sand A Couple Of Inches Behind Ball:
Unlike
other golf shots, when playing bunker shots you are looking to strike
the sand first. As a rough guide you should be looking to hit the sand
roughly 2 inches behind the golf
ball (a little more will not be the end of
the world!). So when you set up to play your next bunker shot, adjust
your target spot to a grain of sand or small stone that is roughly 2
inches behind the ball and aim to strike that.
Step 7 -
Keep club face open until after impact:
It
is vital to make sure that the club face remains open until after
impact, so make sure that you left wrist stays firm through the contact
area. Collapsing the left wrist during impact area is one of the most
common mistakes the average golfer makes, especially when playing
bunker shots.
Final
Step - Accelerate Through The Ball:
I
have mentioned this briefly above, but it is crucial during a bunker
shot that you continue to accelerate through the ball during and after
contact is made. Quitting on the bunker shot will only leave you
scratching your head and still in the sand, lining up another bunker
shot!
Bunker
Play Books:
|
|
Golf
Bunker Shots Instruction, Tips & Drills:
|
8
Steps To Perfect Greenside Bunker Shots
To ensure that you can
support your bunker shot swing and avoid slipping, it is important to
establish a firm footing in the sand. Try not to dig in too much, as
this will only make your swing more rigid and you will lose feel...
How
To Play Fairway Bunker Shots
The first thing you should understand about the fairway bunker shot is
that you will need to take a different approach to that of your regular
greenside sand shots! Unlike greenside bunker shots where you are
trying to strike the sand...
|
|
|
|
|
