Bunkers Bunkers Bunkers!

[wrx_junki]

Lately my sand saves have been pretty decent as long as the lips are not too high, meaning its no higher than waist-chest high. When the lips start to get higher than my chest, I've been quite frightened and usually end up taking 2 shots to get on the green. Any tips on playing high lip bunkers would be much appreciated.

Also, on fairway bunkers I seem to always take too much sand and have the ball go like 1/3 of the distance. I've tried putting the ball in the back of my stance, short gripping, or tried scooping the ball to no avail. Tips on getting better at fairway bunkers will be much appreciated.

[CG031]

Up in your stance more and open the club face more...

Or take a higher lofted club, such as a lob wedge instead of your sand wedge.

[wrx_junki]

Up in your stance more and open the club face more...

I've already tried opening the club face on a lob wedge and the ball near my forward foot.

I just can't get the ball to come out like a flop shot to clear the lip.

[CG031]

I've already tried opening the club face on a lob wedge and the ball near my forward foot.

Make sure to keep a strong left wrist to keep that club face open, also to have a steep angle of attack.

[brgolf]

Open the club face and stance and cut across the ball.

Look up deep bunker shot on youtube, its easily explained.

[michaeljames92]

instead of releasing your wrists, cup your left wrist at impact. this gets the ball up pretty quick.

[KwSipp]

One thing that works for me is to cup my lead wrist and have the shaft of the club leaning backwards. At my home course here in fl, bridgewater gc, all we have is deep traps for ex. our deepest is on our 4th hole a par 4 and the greenside trap from the sand to the putting surface is 14ft straight up and its all mental.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

Right or wrong, Im not sure, but in fairway bunkers I just try to play it like its not in sand. The crucial element as far as I'm concerned is striking the ball first, and if that occurs the sand shouldn't matter. Anything but perfect contact will take away from the shot alot more than it would from a clean fairway lie, but I don't knw how else to play these shots.

If I do anything different ever I maybe play it a touch back in my stance and play a smoother swing with one extra club. This will lessen any chance of hitting it fat and allow you to be more accurate through the zone. But think ball first, ball first, ball first.. thats what i think success hinges on there.

[Dub]

I suck at bunker play.

I avoid them like crazy.

Fairway bunkers:
My only advice is to keep your lower body quiet and grip up on the club an equal distance to your feet sinking into the sand....ensures clean contact.

Swing smooth and just strive for solid conact that's under control....take enough loft.

Greeside bunkers:
I warn everone as I step into the bunker...especially those that could find themselves in the path of the bladed beaners I may skull their way.

I'm good at raking the bunkers really well.

[DriverTees]

One thing that works for me is to cup my lead wrist and have the shaft of the club leaning backwards. At my home course here in fl, bridgewater gc, all we have is deep traps for ex. our deepest is on our 4th hole a par 4 and the greenside trap from the sand to the putting surface is 14ft straight up and its all mental.

How much bounce do you clubs have? And how much do you practice? And how much sand do you take? If you want a high ball, have a steeper swing with more sand. If you want roll, vice versa. If you think that a lot of bounce is for bad player, Phil Mickelson has like 10/12* on his SW I believe.

[CG031]

I suck at bunker play.

Just practice it. Bunkers (your average one's, not the REAL deep and pot bunkers or something crazy) are probably one of the easier shots in golf...especially greenside bunkers.

If your lie is fine, and you have green to work with, playing out of greenside bunkers is NOT hard at all. One thing you need to do is A. Practice with the correct technique. and B. Have EXTREME confidence. My last good round of golf was last week, I shot an 80 on a pretty course from the tips (6800 yards, like a 72.5/135 or something along those lines) and I got up and down from a greenside bunker FOUR times in that round out of FIVE attempts...Including nearly holing one but it stopped three inches from the cup. The biggest key was practicing these shots religiously...and once I practiced and mastered the technique, I have extreme confidence. As for fairway bunkers, eh, I've never been a great fairway bunker player...but being good out of greenside bunkers is far more important than fairway bunkers, at least in my opinion.

[SpringBokVol]

Two things that help me:

1. Keep your legs very still...turn with your arms...take them up at a steep angle.

2. Use the bounce of your club...splash it into the sand and accelerate through the shot. If you are using a 60* there is nothing too high to clear.

[kris]

I used to be completely scared to death of the sand. I couldn't get out AT ALL in one shot and maybe not even in two. I finally got fed up with this ridiculousness and decided to put a stop to it.

The answer (I'm sure you're looking for some exotic answer so sorry) is practice. I practiced a lot out of the sand trying to fiddle with my swing to see what I was doing wrong. I figured out that, while I was attempting to play with my clubface wide open, it was not even close to as far open as it should have been. Just opening the clubface way up helped me a lot and I'm proud to say that my bunker play has improved immensely.

[KwSipp]

How much bounce do you clubs have? And how much do you practice? And how much sand do you take? If you want a high ball, have a steeper swing with more sand. If you want roll, vice versa. If you think that a lot of bounce is for bad player, Phil Mickelson has like 10/12* on his SW I believe.

My 56 has 14, and my 60 has 4 lol. Honestly I feel that sand is more feel than technology. I always have a shallow path to the ball, and take little sand, sorry thats just me everyone else does the opposite, but this works well for me.

[Dub]

Played 27 holes today....irons, hybrids, 3wood and putter all very much to my liking.....driver was erratic (playing with a guy who bombs it...trying to keep up....foolish on my part).

I did hit into a three greenside bunkers. First two were costly. Last one was a sand save.

I walked right past the practice bunker beside the range on my way to hit balls.....shoulda....woulda......practiced a few.

I hope to play tomorrow....will get some bunker practice for sure.

[mc0388]

Lately my sand saves have been pretty decent as long as the lips are not too high, meaning its no higher than waist-chest high. When the lips start to get higher than my chest, I've been quite frightened and usually end up taking 2 shots to get on the green. Any tips on playing high lip bunkers would be much appreciated.

Fairway bunkers: Set your feet, during your backswing keep your feet very quiet and hit the ball as if it were in the fairway (hit one more club than usual). Its really not that bad, you need to relax.

High lipped bunkers: open stance, open your club face (reset your hands on the club*) aim 5-10ft left of your target and swing around your shoulders hitting 1-2 inches behind the ball, depending on the distance your hitting the ball. The ball should pop up instead of forward *most people open the club face by twisting there wrists, leading to a very uncomfortable swing. reset your hands, the swing will feel more natural hope this helps

[Sandwedge74]

also - you must believe... by that I mean - swing thru the ball with acceleration or your dead for sure.

[shankapotamus]

Tilt your spine to the left a little bit before swinging and put your weight on your front foot.