25-40 yard bunker shots

[deason]

I know this has been discussed, you can either go with a 8-9 iron and splash it...or go with direct contact with a wedge and make sure you don't dig to get that spin and stop.

I tried the Iron option yesterday and was god dam awful...both attempts (under pressure) I hit the ball way behind just getting the ball out the bunker...I tried opening the face a bit...

What's the required ball position and body in relation to path you need to use the iron dump and run?

[boogielicious]

Check out this thread.  Mike shows the different techniques.

[deason]

They seem to be splash short shots...i'm talking bunkers that are out of splash shot distance and 25-50 yards back.

[Grave]

They seem to be splash short shots...i'm talking bunkers that are out of splash shot distance and 25-50 yards back.

... Hate that distance as well :~( I see two options: either classic splash and hard swing with a lower lofted wedge, e.g. Gap wedge or direct contact and partial swing / steady and balanced lower body for which you could use any club dependent on the distance... I tend to go for the first option and with that technique i manage to hit up to 30 / 35 yds. roughly

[dkolo]

... Hate that distance as well

I see two options: either classic splash and hard swing with a lower lofted wedge, e.g. Gap wedge or direct contact and partial swing / steady and balanced lower body for which you could use any club dependent on the distance...

I tend to go for the first option and with that technique i manage to hit up to 30 / 35 yds. roughly

Most of the courses I play have bunkers greenside or farther back, around 70, 80 yards. The one time I happened to be in one at 40 yards, I hit a wide open sand wedge, swung pretty hard, and tried not to get into the sand too far behind the ball, so the ball went up really high and with a ton of spin (I had a lip and ditch to get over). I got lucky and holed it. I would do something like that again even without the need to go super high, but I'm really comfortable opening the face all the way (it's a fun shot to practice in and out of the sand, so I practice it a lot, haha). I hate trying to hit softer shots with lower lofted clubs out of the sand; brings a fat shot too much into play for me.

[vangator]

I have no problems with fairway bunkers unless they are like British Open pits, then who doesn't. Keep your head still and lower body still. Take a smooth swing. You'll need to know how hard to swing for certain distances. Much like the thread on 1/2 and 3/4 swings with wedges. From 70-80 yards, I'd take my 52* which I normally hit up to 100 yards. I take a little easier swing to control the distance. Normally half or 3/4 swings from shorter yardage. You'd be surprised how far a half swing goes. I keep my wrists quieter also. More akin to a punch shot. I play all the balls in my normal position just in front of center or center. For longer bunker shots I still keep my lower body quiet and take a couple of extra clubs. For a 150 yd shot, I'd hit a 5 or 6 iron. It's all about picking the ball. Whatever you have to do to pick the ball. We have fairly soft sand here which makes the shot a little tougher. Less margin of error.

[deason]

Maybe i've posted the wrong yardage, the bunker in question is 72 yards to the middle, this is the example type of bunkering I mean. With a 10 yard incline.

http://www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk/hole_18_-_old_course

[boogielicious]

Maybe i've posted the wrong yardage, the bunker in question is 72 yards to the middle, this is the example type of bunkering I mean. With a 10 yard incline.

http://www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk/hole_18_-_old_course

That is a big difference.  I would treat it like a fairway bunker shot and use my 52 deg wedge.  I would assume it won't spin as much an do more of a 3/4 swing while choking up.

[Golfingdad]

Maybe i've posted the wrong yardage, the bunker in question is 72 yards to the middle, this is the example type of bunkering I mean. With a 10 yard incline.

http://www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk/hole_18_-_old_course

That is a big difference.  I would treat it like a fairway bunker shot and use my 52 deg wedge.  I would assume it won't spin as much an do more of a 3/4 swing while choking up.

Yeah, I'd basically do the same.  For the shots in the OP, I'd simply hit them like normal bunker shots with extra club..  For a 75 yard bunker shot, I would hit it like a fairway bunker shot, which is basically the same as a regular shot but with the ball a bit back in my stance to help make sure I get it first.  For 75 yards, It'd have to be about a 3/4 SW or so.

[David in FL]

Yeah, I'd basically do the same.  For the shots in the OP, I'd simply hit them like normal bunker shots with extra club..  For a 75 yard bunker shot, I would hit it like a fairway bunker shot, which is basically the same as a regular shot but with the ball a bit back in my stance to help make sure I get it first.  For 75 yards, It'd have to be about a 3/4 SW or so.

Yep, but it's a 52* gap wedge for me. Will fly 75-80 yards and spin hard if it's struck well.

[mdl]

Yeah, I'd basically do the same.  For the shots in the OP, I'd simply hit them like normal bunker shots with extra club..  For a 75 yard bunker shot, I would hit it like a fairway bunker shot, which is basically the same as a regular shot but with the ball a bit back in my stance to help make sure I get it first.  For 75 yards, It'd have to be about a 3/4 SW or so.

Exactly the same for me.  25-40 yard bunker shot I'm hitting a green side splash shot with PW-8i.  Out to 70-80 yards and I'm treating it as a fairway bunker and hitting a full/near full 60˚.