How open do you set up to green side bunker shot

[yamhang]

For me, I would set up square to the target line.
open my wedge (wide open).
open my stance until the line of groove on my wedge is prependicular to target line.
Focus behind the ball and swing away.

It works most of time but really like to find out the right way to do it consistently

[tm22721]

For me, I would set up square to the target line.

I think that you just described the 'explosion' shot popularized by Gary player. Not very accurate but better for beginners since it gets the ball out more reliably.

I have gravitated to the 'splash' shot which is more accurate since you are taking dead aim at the target rather than oblique to it, using a shallow arc taking out less sand. Clubhead is not open unless you are in a deep bunker, ie have a high lip to go over.

[JaY_B]

All sounds pretty solid to me, my advise would be don't open the blade of the wedge to much, IMO too much loft increases the chance of 'duffing' the shot, 56 degrees of loft is plenty to get out of a bunker, remember opening the club face wide open probably gives you the equivalent of 70+ degrees of loft, which is not necessary when playing a normal splash/explosion shot from the sand.

[jc21539]

The most efficient way to do anything is always going to be the simplest.

However, the simplest way to effectively hit a bunker shot depends a great deal on the consistency of the sand. If you are in shallow, coarse sand, setting up square will help to take bounce off of your wedge so the leading edge can cut into the sand more easily. In beach sand, playing the shot from an open stance will help use the bounce to pop the ball out - this type of sand was what bounce was created for.

In general, it is simpler for most people to always set up square for every shot. But the best way for you is the simplest way for you.

[907golfer12]

For me, I would set up square to the target line.

I am just curious, but out of bunkers where do you usually miss, short, long, right, left? If you are missing to the right, then you might want to open up your stance. There is no right answer to this, everyone is different, so just play with it and see what works, hey if you miss left then by all means, close your stance.

[TourSpoon]

I am in my office setting up in my imaginary bunker.

My stance is set near 11:00 and my club face about 1:00 and I swing along the line of my feet. If the sand is tight or compact, I will use my 60 with less bounce and square it up a little, if it is fluffy then the 54 gets the call with more bounce or I may lay the 60 wide open to increase the bounce for a really short explosion. My misses lately have been just a little long, but on target.

[FortAsel]

If the pin is very close, I would take a 60º wedge (if I had it) and I would swing the club really steep, catching the sand 1-3'' behind the ball so it would drop and stop.
SInce I only have a 56º wedge, I would onlytake a normal stance, grip the club near the shaft and make 1/2 swing, catching almost no sand.

[neudi]

I use my 58 degree wedge, open it all the way up to about 70 degrees, and my stance is at a 45 degree angle to my target ( so my face is just left of the pin because it spins right for me), and then just take a full swing and dig in.

[Ben]

For me, I would set up square to the target line.

Sounds about right to me. I like the focus on a spot behind the ball part. I don't even look at the ball when I hit bunker shots. The only thing I'd change is how your build the shot. I start by aiming the clubface at my target. Then I build my stance around that, especially if I'm trying a high flop from the sand. It's a lot more comfortable for me. And my stance is wide WIDE open. The more you can pull your shot across the target the higher you can get it to go. Open that stance! For real consistency I practice practice practice my bunker shots.

[samsquanch]

I open my stance up, aim my clubface square to the target, aim like 4 inches behind the ball and rip it. Comes out really high and soft.

On longer shots I just don't take as much sand, and square up to the target a bit more.