Bunker shots and practice areas

S70B wrote:

Went with the std sand club for me - LW. I just concentrated on standing slightly more square to the target and accelerating my body thru the shot more than a std distance bunker shot. Have more success with it than the 1st 2 shots. If the shot is around 50-60m, I will stand square and try and catch it clean.

Yep, great advise. Catching it clean is the way to go. Execute well and result is good. Take a little sand at least ball will come up short rather than over the green.

Great advise guys, thanks alot.

But how if the ball sunk 1/2 way or almost all in the bunker sand ? Play it safe to get it out of the bunker and lay the ball on the fairway or try to get it to the green ?

Technospaz wrote:

I would try and catch it clean too. But this one definitely scares me to bits. However, it's not as scary as those greenside bunkers One bad shot... and the ball can be at the next tee box.

Basics Mate!

Here is a quick list of what an amateur like me can offer.
Set-up:
- Open the clubface 1st then grip the club instead of gripping and opening it.
- Weight forward
- Hands forward
- Ball position is in relation to your feet. To simplify it for most people, just make sure it is centered.
- Think 'tempo' instead of 'gouging'
- Look at your impact point and NOT the ball (2 " behind the ball)

For the swing:
- Visualise how much strength is required for the shot (This can only be done when u know how far you will hit for a std length backswing and follow-thru on your bunker shot)
- Tempo!
- Don't gouge the sand. Its a splash.
- Follow Through! Don't stop at impact.

Ok, for your original question on Firm Sand V Fluffy Sand. I will give you some amatuer tips.
(I promised you more vids so here are a couple I uploaded. Ignore the talking cos my voice was drowned out by the wind so I cut short both videos)

Firm Sand

Like what JL has already mentioned, here are my swing thoughts:
- Open the clubface less than what I will do for a std bunker shot
- Stand more square to the target but still slightly open
- You will need less strength to hit it the same length as a fluffy lie so dun overpower the shot.
- Follow-through! It doesn't have to be full but make sure you are still accelerating after impact.


Fluffy Sand
- Because I open the clubface for the shot, I will have to turn my aim my body to the left so that my clubface will be perpendicular to the target.
- Don't dig. Think 'Splash'
- Tempo
- Follow-through!


Seriously, I rather be playing a bunker shot than be chipping from the rough (Not the plugged lie ones though). If you need the practice, I think the only public place you can do greenside work is MBGCC. TPY range has a bunker on the end where the pros teach but not sure if the public can use it.

Nothing short of brilliant! Thanks, Rex. Now, I need to download those videos and tips to my phone and replay them before I play the shot!!

Your suggestions re the firm sand makes sense but I'm not sure why you would opt for less strength? I guess it my newbieness talking but I would've expected that with firm sand, you need more inertia coming into the ball to power it out. I definitely agree that followthrough is key (i.e. accelerating after impact).

I have big problem with bunker shot as well.
Other than OBs, Bunker is my game killer...
I would spend 2 shots to get it out.

TS, date me for bunker practise eh.

Roystonnn wrote:

I have big problem with bunker shot as well.
Other than OBs, Bunker is my game killer...
I would spend 2 shots to get it out.

TS, date me for bunker practise eh.

We need to find a bunker spot first.

Technospaz wrote:

...Your suggestions re the firm sand makes sense but I'm not sure why you would opt for less strength? I guess it my newbieness talking but I would've expected that with firm sand, you need more inertia coming into the ball to power it out. I definitely agree that followthrough is key (i.e. accelerating after impact).

2 things I forgot to add:

- Firm footing: Dig in those feet! Any slipping and sliding will lower your chance of success.
- Choke down on the grip of the club. It helps with control.

TS, relate it to 'density'. Lets say you are hitting a std length bunker shot from both firm and soft sand. You will use the same amount of sand to 'throw' the ball out.

Firm sand is more 'dense' so you do not need to use so much strength to displace this amount of sand that throws the ball out.

Soft sand being less 'dense' will need more effort to get the same amount of sand to throw the ball out.

Thats how I will explain it in layman terms.

Ahhhh.... that makes good sense. Now, I need to practice practice practice.

Thanks for the awesome feedback and very helpful suggestions, Rex!!

Yes, practice bro!

I used to spend ~ 2hrs twice a week in the practice bunker when I was based in Aussieland for detachment. When you get more comfy with the std bunker shot, you will then have spare cap to practice more variety of shots to widen your repertoire.

Can try Laguna. Two areas to practice bunker shots....first come first serve basis. Parking is free. Range card can be purchased from the range office (as usual).

Thanks Christo72 for the suggestion.