Ball Position from Bunker?

[mazza78]

Can anyone advise me where in my stance the ball should be while playing a bunker shot? Also does my weight need to favour my left leg?

[klaymon]

I play the ball well forward of center with a wide, even weight distribution.

[mdvaldosta]

Near the back of my stance, and I lean about 60% of my weight foward to encourage hitting down on the ball. If you've got a good lie and it's struck clean, you'll get good spin and nearly the same distance out of the shot as normal.

[Fourputt]

Can anyone advise me where in my stance the ball should be while playing a bunker shot? Also does my weight need to favour my left leg?

Fairway bunker or greenside?

[trjohnson2]

Depends on the type of shot and lie. I tend to play greenside bunkers with a decent lie in the middle of my stance, maybe a few balls back, and with the weight slightly forward. Really my key is to keep my shoulders on a similar angle as my lie (if its uphill, make sure my soulders align with the slope with lead up and trail down). Some people prefer a wider than normal stance, but Ive always been more comfortable with a regualr stance and sure footing. DOnt be afraid to dig in.
For fairway bunkers I play it just like a regular shot, plus one club for the distance.

[iacas]

Stan Utley says in the middle of your stance, I believe. Has been working well for me - my bunker play this year has been pretty good.

And I'm assuming greenside, of course.

[iWALK18]

I play the ball well forward of center with a wide, even weight distribution.

+1 for this. I'm also finding that pointing my toes out helps quiet my lower body. Corey Pavin tip I believe.

[klaymon]

+1 for this. I'm also finding that pointing my toes out helps quiet my lower body. Corey Pavin tip I believe.

My feet are flared slightly and I do keep my lower body far more quiet than a regular shot, but not "cemented".

[Cooker]

Funny... I was working on this at the range yesterday trying different ball positions in the sand, I found right in the middle of my stance... ball to far back couldn't get the loft, too far forward, not enough distance...

[laxbballgolf]

Same, I agree with middle of stance so that the swing bottoms out properly underneath the ball.

I also remember a tip I saw from a Mickelson video clip. He says to test how firm or fluffy the sand is with your feet and other senses. The firmer the sand is, the more you should lean your weight forward, and the more fluffy it is, the more you should lean back to prevent the club from digging. Nothing extreme, of course, but a minor adjustment to plan for how the club will react when it hits the sand. Works for me.

[n8ron]

I always play a greenside bunker shot as an intentional miss. Open stance and club face, ball 1-2 inches forward. Take a 3/4 swing. Nothing special. Fairway bunkers...

[Leftygolfer]

I play the ball 2 inches inside front heel. A normal lie, I try to hit about 2 inches behind it with a nice 3/4 swing.

A test for you would be get in a bunker draw a line in the sand. Make swings and look at where the club enters the sand. Play the ball about 2 inches ahead of that so you get sand then ball.

I use pelz's method and consider myself a good bunker player besides my occassional blade over the green when I don't commit or loose focus.

[mdvaldosta]

Near the back of my stance, and I lean about 60% of my weight foward to encourage hitting down on the ball. If you've got a good lie and it's struck clean, you'll get good spin and nearly the same distance out of the shot as normal.

I should clarify... that's for a fairway bunker.

I play the ball well forward of center with a wide, even weight distribution.

For greenside bunkers.

[$2 Nassau]

Center of stance. maybe half a ball forward.

if there's no green to work with and I just need to get it out and make it trickle onto the green, I'll play it a little further up in my stance and take more sand.