Bunker Tips

[ckermes]

Lately when I've gotten stuck in a bunker it has been a death wish. Yesterday I made a ten on a hole after I nailed a bunker shot 30 yards into another bunker which I then took 3 shots out of and then 3 putted. So what's the one thing someone has told you to think about in the bunker to get back out?

[TheLawFirm]

It's all about swinging fast and following through for me

[geauxforbroke]

1. Let the club do the work.

2. Just get it out, don't try to be a hero.

3. Watch a few videos on YouTube about bunker techniques, like this one .

Originally Posted by TheLawFirm

It's all about swinging fast and following through for me

It's not really about how fast you swing, but about accelerating through the sand. For a short bunker shot, the swing may be rather slow, but it must still be accelerating.

[concordeer]

Went to a clinic at The Greenbrier where Tom Watson the pro emeritus was giving a public lesson and he said take your setup and the #1 thought when hitting a bunker shot is keep the shaft BEHIND the ball from setup all the way through impact. Try it and you'll be amazed.

[Mr. Desmond]

I've always found Utley simple and effective:

[mdl]

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by mdl

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

Yes, I remember it.

I don't think it's too different from Utley

[Mr. Desmond]

FoUnD the Pete Cowen Bunker Butterfly Special

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

I've always found Utley simple and effective:

This ^^^^ Utley transformed my sand game, I have NO fear of bunkers now.

[stoverny]

Originally Posted by mdl

The video that changed my bunker game was one I saw on this site but I can't find.  The main takeaways from that video for me were:

1) what I think the guy called a "butterfly" grip.  Take your normal grip, then strengthen your left hand and weaken your right hand, sort of spinning the two hands towards each other so your bottom hand is sort of more on top of your left.

2) Can't remember the details, but basically play the shot really wristy. That could be interpreted very badly, but it made sense in the video.

Anyone know the video I'm talking about, post it?

Also, I'm not sure this is "correct", but one thing that really helped me was just thinking about the mechanics of the club head, face and bounce.  If you open the face but leave the handle where it is, just by physics you have to hit the ball the right with fade spin.  Of course you can open your stance, but then your only choice for bunker shots is one that will release pretty hard right on a flat green.  I open the face but then lower the handle so the ball will still fly straight instead of right.

You are talking about Pete Cowen, fantastic video and pretty much cured my bunker troubles.

[WUTiger]

Things to consider on bunker shot planning:

• In most cases, a short take-away and a full, smooth followthrough will give you a reliable normal sand shot
• If the sand is fairly hard, or scarce because rain has washed it around, consider hitting it as a short pitch shot. Pick it off the top rather than blasting (and possibly injuring yourself when you hit hard clay under a half-inch of sand)
• If you have an uphill bunker shot, remember to have an upright takeaway and skim the sand behind the ball (sand first). Let the club's loft pop the ball out. A flat, chipshot takeaway will give you a line drive into the trap's bank.
• If you play courses with a lot of bunkers, and sometimes have 40- and 70-yard sand shots, experiment with different clubs. A smooth, half-swing 9i or 8i may be better for these shots than a muscled SW. (For details, see Dave Pelz's Shortgame Bible , Chap. 9).