bunker

This Article is for those of you that avoid bunkers like the plague. Those of you who immediately spiral into a deep questioning of life when you enter the bunker. If you think bunkers are difficult to hit out of, I will provide you with 3 things you must do in the bunker to ensure you will exit the bunker the first attempt. The reality of it is that if you are capable of chunking the golf ball you are capable of splashing a high and soft shot from a greenside bunker. Let’s get started…

1. Open the Face and Stance is a must, there are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. I understand it looks strange and doesn’t feel correct, but it IS. Open the clubface all the way open until you can lay the club flat on its backside. You want to aim the leading edge of the club head at your target… Now align your body about 45 degrees to that target line. Weird Feeling… I know… just trust me.
   
2. Front of the Stance is where the ball needs to be. You are destined for failure if you place the ball anywhere other than the front of your stance. Front of the stance means just inside your front foot heel… Perfect!
3. Think and Feel Splash, greenside bunker shots are like no other shot on the golf course. You must splash the bunker shots out. Remember when you were a kid and you’d run out in the rain puddle and jump up and down? Think about the water around your feet as you broke through the surface of the water to the ground… the water splashed up. Now take the club back normally and swing through normally with the thought in mind “splash it out”. Your body will automatically gauge how much sand to splash out with the ball.

There is a common myth that is associated with bunker shots. The myth is that you should hit bunker shots good within 3-5ft of the hole like a chip shot. No, No, No! For a tough bunker shot, a good outcome is out and into the fat part of the green. For a standard bunker shot, a good outcome is within 10ft of the hole. Within 10ft of any golf hole is very makeable putts, which can turn a round of 85 into a 75 fast! Forget what some instructors will tell you about how to hit a bunker shot. The explanation that some instructors give is too perfect for such an unpredictable shot. Just go out to the practice bunker at least once this week and try this method out. It takes at-least 5 repetitions for your mind and body to sync together and like magic you will never have trouble with green bunker shots again.

Pro Tip** before you hit any balls in your practice bunker shots, go into the bunker without any balls and practice the stance and splashes. At least 5 good swings where you feel like the club is almost bouncing off the sand and splashing like a puddle.