Green Side Bunkers Ruining Me

[sligoker]

I'm a 15 handicap golfer looking to go lower.  Unfortunately whenever I land in a green side bunker I lose a stroke or two.  I hit em long, I him em into the face of the bunker---in fact I can't pinpoint my problem to one thing.  I took a lesson where the instructor taught me the basics, and I have tried to practice but it doesn't seem to be helping. The funny thing is that all the rest of my short game is top-notch--in fact a 0 handicap player told me that I have the short game of a single digit player!

Does anybody have any helpful tips?  I mean something that helped them in the bunker game?  Any help would be appreciated.

[Mr. Desmond]

Have some Butch Harmon tips:

Set up with an open stance, you can flare the front foot a little.

Weight favoring front foot, position ball off front heel

Open the club face, then take your grip

Swing lazily (I think that means smooth tempo, not slowly) but all the way through impact and past, do not quit.

Use the right hand on the downswing so the bounce engages the turf and not the leading edge - this is called opening the bounce, using the bounce, etc.

Finish with the right palm to the sky so you don't turn the ball over.

I like to tell people that on the downswing, it's like snapping a towel at the ball - that hint helps to use the bounce.

There are also some videos here with a soft arms technique..

[sligoker]

Thanks so much.  I'll try your recommendations this week.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by sligoker

Thanks so much.  I'll try your recommendations this week.

Thank Butch Harmon.

Oh, and remember to cock your wrists more quickly in the sand.

I use a version of the above and  use it successfully. But I do notice that too many high cappers abandon their swing in the short game and start using their arms as their primary way of swinging - that spells doom.

Use your arm-body connection in the short game, or especially in the short game. Get away from your body and you will lose all rhythm.

Remember, if your club head is not gliding along the sand, you're using too much leading edge and digging. Shallow out and use the right hand to engage the bounce, like snapping a towel.

[sligoker]

How still should your lower body be?

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by sligoker

How still should your lower body be?

Well your feet aren't going to be moving around - and you keep your weight favoring the front. Other than that, see what works for you.