Don't just get out, get close
Bunker instruction from Alex Nicolson PGA
Bunker play is often the most under-practised skill in golf, yet if this skill gets rusty it can halt a good round right in it's tracks. This article reminds you of some useful tips to remember when playing from sand. With practice, you can develop the confidence to do much more with the ball than just escape.
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| Open the face, open the body | Swing along your body line, not the target line | Commit to a good thump of the sand |
Good geometry
The key to bunker play is the geometry. To create bounce (i.e. using the sole of your sand wedge to splash through the sand without digging) the first step is this. Open the clubface in your hands by twisting the handle clockwise (opposite for left handed) and then take your grip. A common mistake is to open the club face simply by fanning the club open without changing the grip - the problem this creates is that when the the hands return to impact, the clubface rolls square again, causing the ball to fly too low.
So with the correct grip, hover the club over the sand, 2 inches behind the ball. Aiming the club face at or slightly right of the target, align your body left. The amount you open the body will be affected by how much you have opened the clubface in your hands.
Swing
With a clear picture of your a) your target line and b) your body line, picture the swing travelling along the line of the body. In the second picture the club appears to have swung "outside" but in fact it has simply travelled along the body. From here the club can swing across the ball, rather like it does in a slice shot.
Strike
The bounce created by the open club face enables the club to splash through the sand, starting two inches behind the ball, and coming out two inches after. In a correct strike, the ball does not actually make contact with the club, rather it rides out on a wave of sand. As a result of both the weak club face creating loft and the sand absorbing alot of the power, you can actually make a positive three-quarter swing for even a relatively short greenside bunker shot.
Practice
As with all short game shots, the secret behind developing good feel, is to first get a consistently good strike. The first part of your practice should be aimed to get the splash strike relatively consistent, so the ball is coming out at a similar speed and height. Only then can you start applying distance control.