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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2008 - 12:32:05 PM |
Hitting shots out of the sand is not as difficult as it seems. Most people are terrified of hitting shots out of the sand because they make one fundamental mistake: they try to hit the ball. I know this doesn’t seem to make sense, but bear with me for a minute. On a properly struck greenside bunker shot, the club will never touch the ball. The club will move the sand, which will move the ball.
First of all, remember one very important thing. A bunker is a hazard, so you can’t ground your club before the shot. If you do touch the sand, you will be assessed a two-stroke penalty. This means that your club can’t touch the sand until you make your swing. Elevating the club is usually what scares people, because they know the club has to move down to the ball in the shot.
What will actually happen in the shot is the club will enter the sand behind the ball and exit the sand in front of where the ball was. Strange, I know, but try this. Take your normal stance with your sand wedge, keeping the club elevated. You will then open the club face by turning the club in your hands, not by turning your hands. You will now see that the club appears to be aiming to the right for right-handed players or to the left for left-handed players. To compensate for this, you will need to open your stance a bit by dropping your front foot back and opening your hips. You should feel like your body is aiming left of the target if you are right-handed or right of the target if you are left-handed.
Now the object of the shot is to hit the sand about an inch or two behind the ball and swinging through the sand. To make it easier to hit behind the ball, move the ball toward your front foot about a ball and flex your knees a little bit more. When you swing, try to keep your knees still. Be sure to follow through! Don’t just stick the club in the sand. If you don’t follow through, the shot won’t work. A good picture is to think about hitting the sand onto the green. Think about where you want to have the sand land on the green and the ball will follow. Try different swing speeds and have the sand move the ball. With some trial and error, you won’t be afraid of the sand and realize why the pros aim for the bunkers when they can’t hit the green.
Remember, when you’re not afraid, it really is a nice shot, right on the beach.
PGA Professionals: The Experts in the Game and Business of Golf
tclark@ironbridgesportspark.com | 748-7770
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