Comments on: Controlling the Distance of Your Greenside Bunker Shots

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:50:18 +0000

Andy I like this info on the bunker, but my need is a the tee box, i have a hard time with my move from back swing, to down swing. is there a slow motion drill I can use, to get my hips to start, without moving my arms first? thanks I appreciate all your tips.

Bob

By: Alan

Alan — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:38:50 +0000

Hi Andy,

This is an excellent description of the use of the sand wedge in bunkers.
It explains all aspects of bunker play in a way that is technical but easy to understand. For instance I had not realised that the more bounce you present to the ball, the shallower the divot in the sand.I have learned a lot from this article and will certainly be spending more time in the practice bunker at my course in the near future trying different bounce angles by varying how much to open the club and also working on the differing lengths of follow through. Thank you for passing this information on to me.

By: Rob Southey

Rob Southey — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:35:36 +0000

Hi Andy, this seems very good advice and I am going to try it immed. One question that somebody else has asked is about wet/hard bunkers? You can’t get the 2 inch entry right with the soft lift. What do you do then? Cheers for now
Rob

By: shawn

shawn — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:56:26 +0000

David, here is a tip my instructor gave me for packed or hard surface sand. You should use your sand or pitch depending on the lip height of the bunker, do not open the face. instead strike 2 inches behind the ball like a normal shot. We did this for about 15 mins and it works great. The reason is the bounce will dig deep into the hard packed sand and slow your impact speed to the ball. This is the same method to use for a barried lie or fried egg in the bunker.

By: David

David — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:03:49 +0000

Because the bunkers at ou course are traditionally damp and packed our club pro advocates using a lob wedge instead of a sand wedge.

By: romzira

romzira — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:01:57 +0000

I’m 14 handicapp. Still struggling on the bunker shot using 60 deg bounce 8. Club tendency to dig and sometime topped. Still struggling on the shot. Try to open the clubface but still having the same problem.

By: Najib

Najib — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:24:51 +0000

Hi Andy:

Thanks a lot! I do my bunker out pretty well-controlled but you have provided some valuable info.

Allow me to add at a tip as at one time despite all the techi info, I used to struggle with my address in the bunker. I could not fix my right hip correctly bcoz my right toe to ball distance varied as I never concentrated on it. Despite my best effort when I was under pressure I swayed a little thus messing up the wedge’s entry point into sand.

Now to keep my final swing thought simple (i.e. after I’ve decided on the club face angle & bounce I fix my hip and right toe 4-5 in. from the ball and must pick the club up before the clubface crosses my right toe. If I am close to a cliffy bunker face I can even reduce it to 2-3in. with excellent results. Imp point is to pick the clubface before the right toe.

By: George

George — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:57:08 +0000

For Jan

Jan,

When the bunker is hard from rain, you want to feel more of a thump as your club enters the sand. Get aggressive with it and feel like your club is staying in the sand. By that I mean — more of a punch shot feel. So a very short follow though — but with speed. Also, the ball will come out a little quicker because the sand is wet but should spin a little more.

Good luck

By: George

George — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:53:28 +0000

For John Hill,

John, your stance should be about shoulder width apart, as it’s okay to go a little wider in the bunker than other short game shots. Also, have a little more knee flex when you set up to the ball.

Goos luck

By: Theo

Theo — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:20:37 +0000

Reading all you the good info there’s something that’s not clear. How does a pro hit 146 yards with 6 iron. I am 64 years old and hit the same shot with 8 icon am I doing something wrong. Iam using your good advice on how to use you body to get distance and it working so good that I surprise myself.

Keep up the good work it’s great to get the correct info and it works

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:28:58 +0000

Greetings Andy

Very good article. What does one do in a bunker that has got hard after rain and one can’t take an easy divot?

By: Gaudencio

Gaudencio — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:32:51 +0000

That was really nice, but l already been doing the two fundamentals that you have recommended, but l am very inconsistent in the distance where you enter the club behind the ball. Your recommendation about the practice drill without a ball is what l think l need to do. Thank you very much.

By: Ray O Mahony

Ray O Mahony — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:07:53 +0000

Hi Andy,

I’m a Seven Handicapper and would consider myself a reasonably strong bunker player but I would still take plenty information from the advice given and as in previous articles it is concise and never too convaluted,

Thanks again.
Best Regards,
Ray

By: Les

Les — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:26:53 +0000

Good clear instruction, anybody who follows this method will not only improve their bunker play but their whole game as consistency and purpose will become part of it.
Keep up the good work.

By: John Hill

John Hill — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:13:25 +0000

If your left heel is two inches in front of the line,how far behind the line, is your right foot. You say “straddle the line”, is the right foot two inches behind the line,or are the toes of your right foot touching the line?