green-side bunker distances

[Bill926]

I'm looking for some tips for controlling distances out of green-side bunkers.  I have no problems getting out of bunkers most of the time, but I always play the same safe shot, enough to get it out and on the green no matter how close or how far away the flag is.  When I do get in trouble is when I'm in a larger bunker and have a longer carry.  A lot of times my "safe" shot wont be enough to get out or I'll swing harder and clip it, which ends up flying the green.

I practice my wedge distances using 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 swings and that works pretty good, just haven't found a good way to practice bunker shots.

Bill

[Dan42nepa]

I use everything from a 8 ironn to LW. The longer carry the lower the club. carrys about the same but runs more...

[SavvySwede]

Average bunker shot is 10 yards. Phil Mickelson practiced exclusively from that distance and led the Tour in sand saves for the season. Don't make it too complicated.

[saevel25]

16 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

Average bunker shot is 10 yards. Phil Mickelson practiced exclusively from that distance and led the Tour in sand saves for the season. Don't make it too complicated.

Yea I would agree with that. I would put it in the 10-20 yard range.

The odds of getting a long bunker shot is slim. If you need more distance then just club up a bit and hit a normal bunker shot. I've hit 9 iron bunker shots. 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

1 hour ago, SavvySwede said:

Average bunker shot is 10 yards. Phil Mickelson practiced exclusively from that distance and led the Tour in sand saves for the season. Don't make it too complicated.

I agree! And I think you are on the right track. If you're getting it out of the bunker and onto the green better than half the time, you're ahead of the game. From your post it sounds like you need a place with a practice bunker. The sand game is unique, but it's not that hard to learn if you have a place to practice it. Find a place that has such an amenity. If the practice bunker is hard by a green and your course calls for a little more distance, just practice by hitting bunker shots over the green if etiquette will allow.

[vangator]

Get into a bunker and do you normal swing.  Find out how far you hit that on average.  I then swing a little easier or harder if I need a different distance.  The big thing is to find out how far you hit your normal swing.  The more fried the lie, the steeper my swing.

Long bunker shots that you need to blast out are hard.  Like most amatuers, I tend to hit it a little fat.  However, if the lip isn't too big, I will chip the ball out of a bunker because my normal chip is a pick shot.  Fairways bunkers are a pick shot as well.  I would say I'm pretty good from fairway bunkers.  Mostly GIR.

I hit my bunkers shots with a quiet lower body because you don't need power.  You need a precision shot.  I don't believe I've left a shot in the bunker in years. 

I do remember in league a few years ago I forgot my "golf glasses" and had to use my progressive lenses.  It took me 4 to get out of one bunker that night.  I usually shoot around 1 or 2 over for 9 holes but that night I shot a 51.  Highest 9 hole round probably ever.  Doesn't even help the handicap because those  rounds are thrown out.

[Bill926]

Thanks, I will give these suggestions a try.  I never tried to hit anything other than a wedge out of a green-side bunker.  I'll find a place to experiment with the lower clubs.

9 hours ago, vangator said:

The more fried the lie, the steeper my swing.

Interesting, On fried lies I close the face and come in a little more shallow behind the ball.  I'm always amazed when it pops out of there.

[boogielicious]

35 minutes ago, Bill926 said:

Thanks, I will give these suggestions a try.  I never tried to hit anything other than a wedge out of a green-side bunker.  I'll find a place to experiment with the lower clubs.

Interesting, On fried lies I close the face and come in a little more shallow behind the ball.  I'm always amazed when it pops out of there.

If you can, work with a lower lofted irons, 8, 7 and even 6 iron. Using proper technique, you should be able to hit these out of a bunker. They will launch lower. It will improve your overall technique and you can use them for longer shots.

 

[Bill926]

12 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Using proper technique, you should be able to hit these out of a bunker.

Is the technique with the lower lofted clubs the same as with a wedge, i.e. same setup and swing with different club?

[boogielicious]

5 minutes ago, Bill926 said:

Is the technique with the lower lofted clubs the same as with a wedge, i.e. same setup and swing with different club?

Exactly the same. Seve Ballesteros used to practice with a 3 iron.

[vangator]

13 hours ago, Bill926 said:

Thanks, I will give these suggestions a try.  I never tried to hit anything other than a wedge out of a green-side bunker.  I'll find a place to experiment with the lower clubs.

Interesting, On fried lies I close the face and come in a little more shallow behind the ball.  I'm always amazed when it pops out of there.

If that works, keep doing it.

I've watched so many videos on bunker play and basically they say the more fried the lie, the steeper you have to be to dig it out.  If a ball is lying on top of the sand, open the face and slide the face under the ball.  If a ball is really buried, you go at it real steep and pop it out.  If it's real bad, I don't even follow thru as much.

If you have a bunker at your practice facility, it is well worth the time to practice your sand play.  You should never leave a ball in the sand.  In fact, the pros would much rather have a bunker shot than a ball in thick rough around the green.

[Buckeyebowman]

I once read an article by David Feherty where he claimed that Christy McAllister use to practice hitting drivers "off the deck" on the beaches of Ireland. So much so that you could take the sole plate off his driver and shave with it! Hyperbole yes, but you get the idea. When playing from sand there's a difference between a "blast" and a "pick".

Anyone remember Sandy Lyle's shot out of the fairway bunker on 18 in the 1988 Masters? It looked like he never moved a single grain of sand! You just have to practice enough, and have enough course sense, to know what shot to hit!

[Patch]

As posted above, keep it as simple as possible. I will go as high as 8i if the lip of the bunker will permit it. Set up the same, and swing the same. 

Every golfer would do well to practice with various clubs out of bunkers. Surprises are not good when playing for a score.