So, grab your sand wedge and stick your . Here's a tip I got from our pro. He left a bunker shot in the sand on the sixth hole and . Bounce is whatever part of the sole of the club that sits lower than the leading edge. I get it, the initial wave of depression that hits after we fail to reach one of our goals really sucks. Be patient, this will not happen overnight! Here's how you can do it: Set up slightly open to the target. With the tournaments result still hanging in the balance, players are fully aware that they must avoid the pond that runs along the left-hand side of the greens surface in order to remain in contention. Some golfers have perfected putting out of a bunker, but that is not conventional. Then set a . This is a good idea as it will help give you some stability and control as you swing through your shot. Prior to Augusta, Brooks played really well at the LIV Golf event. After a heavy rain, bunkers will often be packed down and youll struggle to play a traditional explosion shot. If your kids have a sandbox, that could be an option! Also, check your trail foot. After hitting my shot out of the bunker on the first try, I might add McLachlin reassured me that the main reason was due to my setup and my . Is it thick or soft sand? Wedges: Understanding Bounce - Plugged In Golf You want a wide stance when in the sand for better balance. With more loft on the clubface when it slides under the ball, you get more height and more spin to keep the ball on the green. Playing not so well isnt so fun. The previous points only dealt with the specific challenges of a short bunker shot. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'sxB0VfKgRyRlHBwDqDTwjA',sig:'igfJFD2-EyHNoBofQzjv5KgrDHkojiDPQ-Br8uLF4X8=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'941130414',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Most obviously, Tigers body is situated in a very angular fashion and not straight up and down in relation to the ground. Without the bounce you'd have to be much more precise. If you hit the ball first in the bunker, expect your shot to fly over the green. Bunker Tips: How to Hit a Shot Out of Hard Sand - YouTube If that doesnt do the trick, evaluate how level your shoulders are in relation to one another. 5. The next time you play a bad hole/round, try not to overreact to its existence by making a physical swing change. Before Sunday, Brooks Koepka did everything right at Augusta National. Or, theyll make the above change/changes and still struggle. As managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brands e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. Golfers tend to have fewer issues with fairway bunkers than greenside bunkers. Now with this type of a shot, you want to make sure that you have the face really open. Will provide exactly the movement you need through the sand to take out that 'divot' that the golf ball is moved out of the sand trap on. Maintenance. Bunkers look much scarier than they are. Square the clubface to hit a better shot out of a bunker with hard sand (or if there's not much sand in the bunker). Often, Ill witness amateurs spending loads of time on the practice green trying to reinvent their putting stroke after one bad round. At this point, you should have your clubface slightly open yet aimed at the pin, your stance aimed somewhat left of the pin, and your feet slightly dug into the bunker. Chances are, youll be best served by alerting your mental approach. I sculled them all. How to Hit ANY Bunker Shot - Nextgengolf Using a weak grip allows an earlier release of the wrist hinge. The good news is that if you have a practice mat, you can still practice the motions, setup, and overall technique of what a bunker shot takes before heading out to the course. Best Lessons Ever: Phil Mickelson tips firm bunker lies Over time, youll realize that one, two, or even three bad rounds in an inexplicably short period of time is no longer that unreasonable. You cannot paste images directly. I treat hard sand mostly the same as soft sand, I simply get a little more weight forward and get steeper and a little faster while trying to hit slightly closer to the ball, otherwise the club face is still open and i'm still using tons of bounce. If you slide excessively toward the target on the downswing or swing by demonstrating a reverse pivot (back foot finish), this drill is ideal for you. I treat it like a chip from a really tight lie. This shot is more forgiving using the low-bounce wedge because it doesn't tend to bounce up into the ball. On holes like the dogleg-left par 5 13th at Augusta National, righties hoping for a shorter approach into the green will opt for a draw-biased swing/setup off the tee. One of the best things to do when overthinking your golf swing is to come up with a simple tip, swing thought, or trick to help you get out of the sand trap. Viewers and amateurs alike are always looking for ways to get inside the minds of professional golfers. Sometimes, thats just the nature of this crazy game. Instead of trying to address the mechanical or technical aspects of your swing/stroke/game, commit to a mental change. If you exhibit solid fundamentals with respect to both ball position/shoulder tilt, and youre still not neutralizing the flight of your ball/hitting a draw, its time to keep digging. Instead of using a sand wedge as you normally would use a lob wedge when the sand is wet (if you have one). Think of your wedge as carrying the ball out of the bunker, and it will help you finish high. Golf Podcast 474: The Most Anticipated Masters Tournament Ever? Golf tip: Different wedges needed for softer or harder sand traps Can You Teach Golf Without Certification? Darin de Lelys Golf on Instagram: "Better Out Of The Bunker!!! Based on I would open the face a lot less, otherwise you will bounce into the ball. With the bounce on your wedge and the grooves on the club face, you will be able to launch the ball out of the bunker when you have a more steep swing. Feel your core stretching or working as you get your upper body more over the ball. You can't hit a standard bunker shot here. ago. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'EEPAamLWSi1jfjUyrDgcYg',sig:'sOzvCMUzSRltc8jigTsiaz-xAXvOFYoHVVJ1G2x8xzI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1251616690',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); To hit a draw, get your weight behind the golf ball. Approach your shot with soft arms and a weak grip. Use a sand wedge; Grip down on the club slightly, Open the clubface, Open your stance, Position the ball slightly forward in your stance; Widen your stance; Dig your feet in The more open you play the blade, the more you need to aim to the left. In other words, a bad round can quickly follow a good round and vice versa. If you can remember your steps and the checkpoints, you will be able to repeat the shot. Can I cherry pick loft? 11 in the world. Prepare to be BLOWN AWAY by this Course! If the intention is to still keep sand between the club and ball like a normal bunker shot then you need the club moving quickly and smoothly through the sand. So far, Paddy has dished out quality lessons on chipping, breaking 80, and incorporating your hands, arms and wrist into your swing (although that one went haywire). If you find yourself playing well during the week and struggling during your weekend matches, dont go to the club pro for a swing change. Opening the face and exposing the bounce just skips the club into the ball. Tour players don't fear bunker shots the way most amateurs do, but only a handful of the pros get up and down from the sand more than 60 percent of the time. Cafe Locked. However, you will typically have a much more open club face and stance with a flop shot. if it rolled in, drop it front a low height. Step 6: Use plenty of speed and keep your clubface open. The fairway bunker shots will play differently than the how to hit a greenside bunker shot. It helps the club glide through or on top of whatever you're hitting from (turf, sand, hardpan, a mat or whatever). Its possible to hit good shots in both situations, but youll need to use the right method to make that happen. Knowing how to hit out of a bunker is important. You dont need to transfer quite as much of your weight back to your right side on this shot. Its a good idea to pay attention to the normal sand conditions on your home course. You want the leading edge to dig a bit. Most of the time in golf, we want to hit the ball first and then take a bit of grass with us. In other words, Tigers upper body is too far ahead of his arms/hands and, ultimately, the golf ball at the point of attack. Failure sucks, and pressure is virtually unavoidable once were willing to accept the terms of our individual goals. When you get these basic tips down, you can make great strides towards becoming a better player. How to Play Bunkers - Hard or Soft Sand - Top Speed Golf If the sand is soft, your club is almost certainly going to sink down into that sand as you swing through the ball. Pasted as rich text. Its as simple as that, make bunker shots routine, and you can pull it off every time. Our bunkers all but lose their sand in the winter with all the rain. In bunkers, you cannot test the surface, however, you can use your feet to feel the density of the sand. The big key during the swing is to follow through, and turn your body to the target. Check out Monte's "Use the Bounce" video series for some great info on this technique. You should also dig your feet into the sand to make sure your base is set. Clear editor. Roger's tip is "You won't have to hit is as hard and stay close to the ball so that you can get under it at impact. A club without any bounce would act like a shovel when it hit the dirt. I didnt look at bounce when i grabbed my wedges. If you want high and spinny, you have to open the face and hit close to the ball. You may need to adjust your body to avoid bottoming out before hitting the ball. Rotating the trail foot open will help you get your weight where it needs to be in order to deliver a more powerful punch at impact. In order to execute a wise game plan that reflects sound course-management reasoning, players often utilize a right-to-left ball flight on the 16th tee. On other courses often municipal courses or other facilities with modest budgets there may be very little sand, and the bottom of the trap may look like little more than dirt. I know youve heard this line before, but have you really approached your game in this manner in all environments? Pick a target, pick a ball flight, step in, and fire. As weve discussed, its best to strike a balance between the use of bigger muscles and the use of ones arms/hands in a manner thats effective for you. Is the sand going to be packed firm with the ball sitting up on top? 2I: TourModel III True Temper S You have to get your weight behind the golf ball in relation to your target in order to optimize distance. Some golfers tend to have better luck with the higher lofted lob wedge in play. Additionally, keep your hands ahead of the ball at impact to help deloft the clubface and keep the ball low. Heres the easiest way to stay behind the ball more effectively with your upper body: FEEL as if your hands and arms are outracing your upper body on the downswing. Review the general bunker shot guidelines below in order to correctly execute the shot. 1,036 likes, 2 comments - Darin de Lelys Golf (@darins_wedge_work) on Instagram: "Better Out Of The Bunker!!! If this is you, crack that beer and accept that you can birdie the next hole rather than hopping aboard the bogey train. If your toes are pointed in too much, as if youre pigeon-toed, allow yourself more freedom by opening it up. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SW: TourModel III True Temper S If the club face is square to your stance line the club will often dig into the sand resulting in a shot that does not travel far enough or fly high enough to exit the bunker. That's why I use the most lofted club I have, and then I pray it's enough to get over the lip! Golf Tips And Advice! on Instagram: "Here's a great look at Tiger Ball pops clean out of the bunker with height. I like my lo. Bunker shots are some of the most difficult in golf. You want the leading edge to dig a bit. You should feel your feet pushing off the ground as you simulate the downswing with your arms and hands, as Tiger is doing here.