Sand traps are a part of golf that even the pros have to deal with. They are on every course from coast to coast. Getting the ball up and down from the greenside bunkers is essential if you expect to get a low score.
For many players, the greenside bunkers are the bane of their existence, simply because they are unaware of the best way to dig themselves out. They create inconsistent set-up and awkward ball positioning. In addition, they often have incorrect swing paths.
If you want to play with consistency in any aspect of your golf game, you need to play with confidence. If you start to worry about playing up or down, you can take yourself out of the game, and that’s where players get stuck. To be confident in your play, you must practice the most effective strategy to hit the ball close out of greenside traps.
Golf is one of the most popular things to do in Scottsdale, AZ. If you follow these tips, you will be a bunker shot pro in no time.
Know Your Clubs
If you are in a position where you don’t have a lot of green to play with, you will want to choose your best high-lofted wedge. Something like a 60-degree lob wedge will do just fine. With this angle, the ball will not roll as much on the green.
If you have more green to work with, you should go with a lower lofted wedge. Sand wedges or gap wedges are the best choices. This will give the ball a little more carry and a more extended flight.
Set Up Correctly
Approaching the bunker with the correct set-up is key. The first thing you need to do is get a solid stance and dig your feet into the sand. This not only gives you an excellent base to place your shot but also gives you a sense of the sand depth.
In most cases, it is best to play a sand shot off your front most foot. If you move the ball back, it will take a low trajectory and run out. This can be handy in some situations, but generally, play the ball off of your front. Keep in mind; this shot is going to give the ball a lot of backspin.
The next step is to open both your stance as well as the clubface. This step is critical. Opening up will give you a higher, softer shot, which creates a better angle for the face of the club to slip under the ball.
Lastly, shift your weight to your front foot. The general idea here is to have about 80% of your weight on your front and 20% on your back foot. This creates the sand splash and backspin that you are looking for in a solid bunker shot.
Swing Away
After you have dig in properly, swing with confidence. You are looking for an outside-in swing path, using a slight wrist hinge. The farther back you go, the farther the ball will fly. Practice this often to get a feel for how to judge the yardage of your shot.
Don’t Neglect the Follow Through
It is crucial to follow through and stay down for a successful bunker shot. If you are shooting from a greenside bunker, you will want a steep swing with a high follow-through. It is okay to take a bigger than average swing since it is a sand shot and won’t have as much carry.
Bunker shots are some of the most challenging shots in golf, but if you practice this technique and swing with confidence, you will be back under par in no time.
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