Getting the ball up off of firm sand.

[microcrayfish]

Has anybody got and tips or techniques for getting the ball high when you're faced with a firm lie in a bunker. Today I needed to get the ball quite high to get out of a bunker but the sand was really firm, I ended up leaving it in the bunker twice before chipping out sideways .

I usually open the clubface and my stance and try to take sand when I have a normal bunker shot, and it works fine as long as I don't need to hit it too high, but this particular shot had me.

If it makes any difference, I was using a 56 degree wedge with 14 degrees of bounce but I also have a 60 degree with 8 degrees of bounce.

[David in FL]

Pretty much the same way. Choosing the club with less bounce and striking a bit closer to the ball will help avoid skipping the club and thinning or blading the ball. Good aggressive swing. You'll find that you can spin the ball much more and with practice, such a lie can become a real opportunity.

As with everything, the time to practice isn't on the course.....

[Zeph]

More force and more wrist cock to get the speed needed to explode the ball out of there.

[Leftygolfer]

I agree with the above. I think firm sand is much easier to control. Just use the 60 and be very aggressive through the ball and it should stop once it hits if you put a good strike on it.

[DavidFehertysBike]

These shots have become a problem for me since i switched to a wedge with more bounce. I often just open up my 52 now and take a short aggressive swing. Almost like a pitching motion instead of an explosion shot. You cant really push the ball out of of firm sand.

[mc0388]

Has anybody got and tips or techniques for getting the ball high when you're faced with a firm lie in a bunker. Today I needed to get the ball quite high to get out of a bunker but the sand was really firm, I ended up leaving it in the bunker twice before chipping out sideways

Some good advice here, but the terms more force and more wrist cocking probably will end up with bad results, especially if you are struggling to begin with. Simply put more weight over your front foot, it will steepen your angle of attack help get under the ball. Also buy a sand wedge, that's what there for. Every time I try to hit my 56* or 60* out of the sand I get horrible results. My sand wedge is like butter.

[Leftygolfer]

What do you think a 56 14 is? It is a SW.

I do agree about being steeper. You just have to be aggressive so the club doesn't bounce off the sand and into the ball and the blade occurs. My bad sand shots are from not being aggressive through the ball.

[Zeph]

My 58º has got 12º bounce, so it's my regular sand wedge. I have used the 52º with 8º bounce when having longer bunker shots, or with sand so packed that I'm afraid of skipping the bounce too much with the 58º.

The defining factor for me when in a bunker is point of impact on the sand, weight forward and aggressive wrist action. If I hit the perfect point with weight forward, but without cocked wrists, the ball never comes out of the bunker. You'll have to be analogue with it of course, practice makes perfect. I practice bunker shots during rain when they are packed as well as on nice days. The point is to be prepared for anything.

The variables from player to player will change how each may approach such a shot. Is your swing steep or flat? Do you have a wedge with 14º bounce or 8º? The type of sand your course has also is a factor here. Some courses have "bad" sand which gets really heavy during rain. Some have lighter and better sand which are easier to get the club into.

[ddalet]

Hit it harder and further back on the sand.

[mc0388]

What do you think a 56 14 is? It is a SW.

My sandwedge is my sandwedge and my 56* is for 110yds in and my 60* is for 60yds in.

[duffer888]

Use a lob wedge with no more than 8* of bounce.

[David in FL]

My sandwedge is my sandwedge and my 56* is for 110yds in and my 60* is for 60yds in.

I think what he meant was that no matter what it says on it, your "sand wedge" is probably 56* and 12-14 degrees of bounce. That's pretty standard. If you have another 56* wedge with 14* of loft, that's your choice. Just be aware that you have two clubs with very similar or identical playing characteristics.

[Leftygolfer]

My sandwedge is my sandwedge and my 56* is for 110yds in and my 60* is for 60yds in.

What?? So you essentially have 2 wedges with the same loft. There is nothing unique in regards to the wedge that says S. It could say '56' '58' '54'. A sand wedge could be used for alot more than just out of the sand. I have 5 wedges. I use my 60 out of firm and short shots. I use my 56 out of fluffy sand. I don't have a wedge that says 's'. But I have a wedge that works for any shot around the green.

[mc0388]

I think what he meant was that no matter what it says on it, your "sand wedge" is probably 56* and 12-14 degrees of bounce. That's pretty standard. If you have another 56* wedge with 14* of loft, that's your choice. Just be aware that you have two clubs with very similar or identical playing characteristics.

NO and Yes My sand wedge is 56* with (if I were to geuss) 2* of bounce and is much much more open than my 56* lob wedge which has 8* of bounce. But yes they both are 56* I have aPing eye 2 SW, so I haven't bought one in 15 years, I suppose I'm not sure if they even make just sand wedges anymore?

[JMReynolds]

I make sure also that I've got my weight distributed more towards my front foot as well, but that may be completely wrong, but it helps me get the ball up and out.

[microcrayfish]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Looks like I'll have to get out there and practice a bit and give the 60 degree wedge a try out of the bunkers.

[mc0388]

What?? So you essentially have 2 wedges with the same loft. There is nothing unique in regards to the wedge that says S. It could say '56' '58' '54'. A sand wedge could be used for alot more than just out of the sand. I have 5 wedges. I use my 60 out of firm and short shots. I use my 56 out of fluffy sand. I don't have a wedge that says 's'. But I have a wedge that works for any shot around the green.

Yes I do, The wedges have the same loft, but the bounce and set up are completely different. I am really comfortable with the one in the sand and feel I never played before with the others in teh sand. Definitely personal preference but Im sure not the strangest

[Dub]

My sandwedge is my sandwedge and my 56* is for 110yds in and my 60* is for 60yds in.

Very unique. I've never know anyone who games a sand wedge with that little bounce. Glad to hear it is working for you.

Good luck to the OP.....bunkers are an enemy to us all at some time or other. Even great bunker players have trouble sometimes. The varying sand conditions really change the shot options hugely. Was in three bunkers today (1 left fairway--4 hybrid--decent results), (1 left greenside/pin-high---58 degree LW w/14 deg. bounce----excellent results), (1 right greenside/ short sided---54 SW w/ 13 deg.bounce---out but left it on the fringe).