How to hit Sand/Bunker Shots

Excellent info and video. May I trouble you for some downslope/upslope bunker shot modifications? Thanks.

good stuff, thanks. I like simple.

Good thread Mac.
A few things that made a big impact on my bunker game. I used to be terrible from the bunkers. Hitting it fat or knocking the ball over the entire green.

• "Releasing" the clubhead. This discovery came when I learned how to properly use the bounce on a pitch shot (thank you Erik). It made me think about how the bounce works and how you use it from the bunker. After I started releasing the clubhead, I've become a much better bunker player. On most shots from the fairway you want to hit the ball first with the hands leading the clubhead. In the bunker, it's the other way around. If the hands lead too much, you'll bring the leading edge into play and risk all sorts of trouble.
• Where the eyes focus. I used to look at the ball. Now I look at the spot in the sand where I want the club to hit first. I also make an effort to keep that focus through the swing and not peek too soon.

When I get these things working, I can swing at full speed with great confidence and hit some great bunker shots.

Thanks for the post Mike.

Very good video. I now know how to hit a soft shot out of a buried lie. I didn't think it was possible.

 

I usually play for roll out of a buried lie by aiming right, closing the clubface, hands forward and chopping down on the ball leaving the clubhead in the sand.

I went and practiced this technique yesterday and had as much success as I've ever had out of the sand. It'll obviously take more practice to refine distance and accuracy, but hitting solid shots over and over again felt so good after I had been having a lot of issues with hitting them over the green.

 

Thanks for the help!

Great instructions and video. more please!

Bumping an old thread...what are your backswing thoughts? Do you take it very inside? back on plane? I've returned to not having much bunker luck anymore...

Left arm should slide around the ribcage in the follow through. Hands finish low and club head high, so the left wrist flexes faster through impact, exposing more bounce.

 

Good way to get the feeling is to practice with a 6 iron in the bunker.

;)

 

I wanted to give people a CHANCE first LOL. But yes, this would be to the EXTREME. Then can start dialing it back, so the hands wouldn't be AS low, the face not AS open, but the same concepts with the wrists flexing faster into the follow through and the elbow flexion rates.

Whoa!  Very Seve-like!

Thanks for reviving this old thread.  I had not seen it.  Going to work on the bunker play this afternoon, with your thoughts in mind.  Very nice post.

Ok, so yesterday I was playing a quick 9 with my wife and hit it into the trap on the first hole.  I had about a 20 yard sand shot with mostly carry over the bunker.  So I asked myself, "What would Mikey do?"  I took my 54.11 out, did my best MVMAC impression and "thump" the ball went to within 2 feet of the pin.  Sand Save!

 

Thanks Mike!!

 

Disclaimer:  I've actually worked on bunkers with Evolvr lessons last season (Mike, James and Erik).  I've struggled the last few sand shots before today, so I went back and reviewed the lessons and the videos above.  I went back to basics and it made it easy.  I think I was moving my lower body too much, so I calmed that down.  Notice how little Mike's lower body moves in the video above.  Thanks again.