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Bunker Tips

ckermes

By ckermes,
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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ckermes Member

ckermes

Lately when I've gotten stuck in a bunker it has been a death wish. Yesterday I made a ten on a hole after I nailed a bunker shot 30 yards into another bunker which I then took 3 shots out of and then 3 putted. So what's the one thing someone has told you to think about in the bunker to get back out?

Driver: TBD

Irons: Taylormade MC 3-PW Steel

Wedges: Cleveland CG-15 56° and 60° 

Putter: Ping Karsten with Super Stroke grip

Ball: Callway Hex Chrome

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geauxforbroke Great Member

geauxforbroke

1. Let the club do the work.

2. Just get it out, don't try to be a hero.

3. Watch a few videos on YouTube about bunker techniques, like this one .

Originally Posted by TheLawFirm

It's all about swinging fast and following through for me

It's not really about how fast you swing, but about accelerating through the sand. For a short bunker shot, the swing may be rather slow, but it must still be accelerating.

Tyler Martin

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concordeer Member

concordeer

Went to a clinic at The Greenbrier where Tom Watson the pro emeritus was giving a public lesson and he said take your setup and the #1 thought when hitting a bunker shot is keep the shaft BEHIND the ball from setup all the way through impact. Try it and you'll be amazed.
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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

I've always found Utley simple and effective:

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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mdl Great Member

mdl

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

Matt

Mid-Weight Heavy Putter
Cleveland Tour Action 60˚
Cleveland CG15 54˚
Nike Vapor Pro Combo, 4i-GW
Titleist 585h 19˚
Tour Edge Exotics XCG 15˚ 3 Wood
Taylormade R7 Quad 9.5˚

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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

Originally Posted by mdl

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

Yes, I remember it.

I don't think it's too different from Utley

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Mr. Desmond Super Member

Mr. Desmond

FoUnD the Pete Cowen Bunker Butterfly Special

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Ernest Jones Incredible Member

Ernest Jones

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

I've always found Utley simple and effective:

This ^^^^ Utley transformed my sand game, I have NO fear of bunkers now.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

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stoverny Established Member

stoverny

Originally Posted by mdl

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

You are talking about Pete Cowen, fantastic video and pretty much cured my bunker troubles.

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WUTiger Incredible Member

WUTiger

Things to consider on bunker shot planning:

  • In most cases, a short take-away and a full, smooth followthrough will give you a reliable normal sand shot
  • If the sand is fairly hard, or scarce because rain has washed it around, consider hitting it as a short pitch shot. Pick it off the top rather than blasting (and possibly injuring yourself when you hit hard clay under a half-inch of sand)
  • If you have an uphill bunker shot, remember to have an upright takeaway and skim the sand behind the ball (sand first). Let the club's loft pop the ball out. A flat, chipshot takeaway will give you a line drive into the trap's bank.
  • If you play courses with a lot of bunkers, and sometimes have 40- and 70-yard sand shots, experiment with different clubs. A smooth, half-swing 9i or 8i may be better for these shots than a muscled SW. (For details, see Dave Pelz's Shortgame Bible , Chap. 9).

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking Academy: Fitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
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Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

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Note: This thread is 3913 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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      Honestly, unless there's something about that rough there that makes it abnormally penal or a lost ball likely, this might be the play. I don't know how the mystrategy cone works, but per LSW, you don't use every shot for your shot zones. In that scatter plot, you have no balls in the bunker, and 1 in the penalty area. The median outcome seems to be a 50 yard pitch. Even if you aren't great from 50 yards, you're better off there than in a fairway bunker or the penalty area on the right of the fairway. It could also be a strategy you keep in your back pocket if you need to make up ground. Maybe this is a higher average score with driver, but better chance at a birdie. Maybe you are hitting your driver well and feel comfortable with letting one rip.  I get not wanting to wait and not wanting to endanger people on the tee, but in a tournament, I think I value playing for score more than waiting. I don't value that over hurting people, but you can always yell fore 😆 Only thing I would say is I'm not sure whether that cone is the best representation of the strategy (see my comment above about LSW's shot zones). To me, it looks like a 4 iron where you're aiming closer to the bunker might be the play. You have a lot of shots out to the right and only a few to the left. Obviously, I don't know where you are aiming (and this is a limitation of MyStrategy), but it seems like most of your 4 iron shots are right. You have 2 in the bunker but aiming a bit closer to the bunker won't bring more of your shots into the bunker. It does bring a few away from the penalty area on the right.  This could also depend on how severe the penalties are for missing the green. Do you need to be closer to avoid issues around the green?  It's not a bad strategy to hit 6 iron off the tee, be in the fairway, and have 150ish in. I'm probably overthinking this.
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