by Denny Walters, Jr
TPI Certified Golf Coach
Head Teaching Professional
Bogey Hills Golf Academy and Performance Institute
Golf academy
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the golf season.
The weather will hopefully turn for the better this month. For June’s tip I will be discussing green side sand shots with the new sand in the bunkers. A proper sand shot is important to get the ball out and onto the green.
The new sand is more forgiving and allows the club to travel underneath the ball. How do we produce a good bunker shot? Below are some good tips to help get you out.
Stance:
• Your body should be faced slightly open to the target
• You will want to dig into the sand for stability. This will bring the center of your swing below the ball.
• Apply a little more weight onto the front (lead) leg. This will help produce a steeper swing.
• The ball should be located a little forward in the stance.
• The clubface should be slightly open as well (open the clubface first then grip the club). This will determine ball trajectory and spin. You can keep the clubface square if you would like. Play with this and see how the ball reacts for you.
Swing:
• The backswing should be longer than a normal pitch shot (you need to create acceleration in the swing). There should be minimal weight shift (you are not trying to hit it far) this will also promote a steeper downswing into the sand.
• You want to hit about 2-3 inches behind the ball and allow the sand to push the ball out and onto the green.
• Take Sand! Don’t be afraid to take sand out of the bunker. You don’t want to pick the ball out, you want to splash the ball out! Release your hands so that at the finish the clubface is pointing back at you. If you rotate your hands while in the bunker the club will dig, and the ball will come out way left. (Feel like you are throwing a frisbee or skipping a rock).
• Complete the swing with a full rotation to finish. Do not stop the swing short as this will cause you to slow your swing down and the ball will stay in the bunker. Accelerate to your finish and finish high.
With correct practice you will be getting out of the new bunkers with ease. If you have any questions with bunker shots, come see me and we can get you dancing on the green.