20-30 yards to the green from the sand

[grahamlee]

I've been having trouble with this shot lately. I can't seem to carry it that far from the sand. I only own a 52 wedge as a golf pro told be that it's better to master all different kinds of shots with one wedge than it is to be mediocre with a 52, 56 and 60... anyway, greenside I'm fine. It's a floppy shot that sticks. I open the club face, open my stance and hit about an inch behind the ball with a tall follow through. Any suggestions for the longer bunker shot from 20-30 yards?

[m11]

Have you tried the same shot with a longer club? From 20 or 30 yards i'd personally hit like an 8 or 9 iron.

[Dent]

I wouldnt maybe go as far as hitting an 8... but a 9 iron or pitching wedge, take sand about an inch behind like a greenside bunker should do the trick.

A 52 or 54 wont go very far in the sand.

[Bourbon and Coke]

I would use a 9 iron and take at least an inch of sand. If the lie is that bad, I'd use an 8 iron to try to dig it out.

[Gerry18]

Have you try without opne the face of the club? if the bunker is just next to the green you can make it rool long way. But if you are looking for a bunker shot from the fairway and land into the green, I probably switch for a PW.

[m11]

I wouldnt maybe go as far as hitting an 8... but a 9 iron or pitching wedge, take sand about an inch behind like a greenside bunker should do the trick.

yea i agree..i'd 8 iron it closer to the 30-35yard range

[Chief Broom]

For longer sand shots I try to pick the ball up clean with very little sand. For a shot like that I would base the distance with the club used. A 20-30yd sand shot would be with my sand wedge picked as clean as possible. A long fairway bunker shot would be the same but with a club or two more than I'd usually use for the distance.

It strikes me that sometimes people make sand shots a lot harder than they have to be. I use full swing explosion shots, but more often than not I prefer using a more delicate touch in traps when possible.

[joseywales]

Use a pw and choke down a little. Close the face a little and take somewhat of an abbreviated swing to control your trajectory.

[Lange]

I'd use my PW in that situation, and align the club bout 3/4 of a inch to an inch behind the ball.

[Uthinkso]

My pitch/chip/sand is my strongest part of my game by far. I have a PW, SW, and a 56. I use my PW from 75-125, my SW I play in the sand and the surrounding rough, and my 56 I use inside 75yds on the fairway.

In this instance I choke up on my SW, and make sure to hit the ball an inch behind with a downward stroke. The ball flys out well, but only carries if I complete the follow through. If I fall short on that the ball flies 20-25 yds and dies.

My .02 of what works for me.