Bunker shot -- Do you all encounter this?

I used to be afraid when my ball lands in a bunker. For fairway bunkers, I will take 1 iron more ie. if your distance is 150m, i will use 6 iron instead of 7 iron.

For bunkers around green, i will choose either 56 or 52 wedge, depending on distance. I will dig my feet into sand (stay low). Wide stance (being stable). Ball position towards left leg, open club face and REMEMBER to FOLLOW THROUGH. Worst case scenarion is that your golf mate would be hit by your ball ! No worries as he's covered by insurance....... ha ha ha. Best case scenario, your ball is near the pin ! Normal circumstances, your ball lands onto the green.

I'd like to find out more on how to handle those bunker shots where the ball is below your feet or above your feet (on slope). I suspect that the angle of the ball flight will be different depending on the situation. Another thing that I've struggled with is those shots where you have 1 or even 2 legs outside the bunker and have to get the ball out.

Thanks for your guidance.

musashi75 wrote:

I'd like to find out more on how to handle those bunker shots where the ball is below your feet or above your feet (on slope). I suspect that the angle of the ball flight will be different depending on the situation. Another thing that I've struggled with is those shots where you have 1 or even 2 legs outside the bunker and have to get the ball out.

Thanks for your guidance.

Musashi75,

If the ball is above your feet, stand taller and grip down on the club, even down the steel shaft if need be. Who says you must keep your hands on the grip? It's a short swing right? The ball will tend to fly left.

Ball below your feet, open your legs as wide as you can and bend your knees. Again, grip down for control as much as your position will allow, better than standing taller and gripping the club to the end of the grip. Of utmost importance is to stay down through the shot since the reflex is to straighten up on the downswing. The ball will tend to fly right with right sidespin so aim left.

1 or 2 legs outside of bunker, same as ball below your feet, open wide for stability and stay down through the shot. I've ever had to attempt a bunker shot by kneeling down on the grass outside of the bunker, same principle of stability.

It's important to not expect too much out of each of these positions, just get the ball out. Stay stable, stay down through the shot, and follow through.

or

u can declare yr shot unplayable and take a stroke and distance penalty.

Birdman wrote:

musashi75 wrote:

I'd like to find out more on how to handle those bunker shots where the ball is below your feet or above your feet (on slope). I suspect that the angle of the ball flight will be different depending on the situation. Another thing that I've struggled with is those shots where you have 1 or even 2 legs outside the bunker and have to get the ball out.

Thanks for your guidance.

Musashi75,

If the ball is above your feet, stand taller and grip down on the club, even down the steel shaft if need be. Who says you must keep your hands on the grip? It's a short swing right? The ball will tend to fly left.

Ball below your feet, open your legs as wide as you can and bend your knees. Again, grip down for control as much as your position will allow, better than standing taller and gripping the club to the end of the grip. Of utmost importance is to stay down through the shot since the reflex is to straighten up on the downswing. The ball will tend to fly right with right sidespin so aim left.

1 or 2 legs outside of bunker, same as ball below your feet, open wide for stability and stay down through the shot. I've ever had to attempt a bunker shot by kneeling down on the grass outside of the bunker, same principle of stability.

It's important to not expect too much out of each of these positions, just get the ball out. Stay stable, stay down through the shot, and follow through.

Thanks very much for your tips, Birdman! I will try this out the next time I'm at the course. You are quite right, I'll make a conscious effort to resist straightening up when playing that shot.

Ur most welcome Musashi75, hope it all works out.

Try this...

Align stance slightly left.....club face facing the direction you wanna aim at (Particularly towards the hole). Weight on the left foot. Ball can be on the left for near approach and centre for further ones.

Aim and hit 1 degree behind the ball. Meaning hit the sand...(wet textured)
Aim and hit 2 degree behind the ball. Meaning hit the sand...(soft textured)

It works for me......

Bro Sly, I think you mean 1 inch behind the ball for wet and 2 inches behind for soft textured sand.

Yepppp...Engrish no good. Thanks!

No worries, just wanted to clarify so others reading it are not confused by the mention of degrees.