Ball position for a green-side bunker shot

[BigBaffy]

Hi. When setting up for a green-side bunker shot, should the ball be pretty much in the middle of my stance, a ball-width back, or a ball-width forward? Hitting a couple of inches behind the ball has me questioning where the ball should be, especially when I'm trying to hit a high, short shot. Please let me know. Thanks.

[MrGolfguy67]

I'd say a little forward; and open the blade of your wedge.

 

 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

Good advice. And look for a place that has bunker where you can practice sand shots. I know most amateurs live in fear of these shots, but they are really not that difficult if you learn how to do them and practice. My buddies compliment me all the time on my bunker play. I tell them to go practice. 

And I'm not saying you're going to get "pro style" results. For an amateur, all you want is to get the ball out of the bunker and onto the green so that you're putting! What you don't want to do is chunk it and leave it in the bunker or in the rough short of the green. Just get the ball on the green and consider it a success!

[iacas]

Well forward, with the weight forward as well.

[JonMA1]

Thanks for asking the question @BigBaffy. This is what I love about this site. I had no idea how to even practice these shots - which are one of the worse parts of my game when compared to others at my level.

When considering an approach shot, green side bunkers become a very dark shade of gray. I have more confidence chipping or flopping over a trap than I do hitting out of one.

@Buckeyebowman, for those of you who are good at hitting out of sand, how does it compare in difficulty to hitting from green side rough for example (typical lie, same distance for each)?

[The Hook Meister]

It depends on the sand trap, how much height you have to clear. Where the hole is,? What kind of shot you need to make? 

There is no one spot to place the  ball ion relation to your stance.

[allenc]

6 hours ago, JonMA1 said:

Thanks for asking the question @BigBaffy. This is what I love about this site. I had no idea how to even practice these shots - which are one of the worse parts of my game when compared to others at my level.

When considering an approach shot, green side bunkers become a very dark shade of gray. I have more confidence chipping or flopping over a trap than I do hitting out of one.

@Buckeyebowman, for those of you who are good at hitting out of sand, how does it compare in difficulty to hitting from green side rough for example (typical lie, same distance for each)?

I'm not an expert at hitting it out of the sand or anything but I make a half decent hit a nice majority of the time.  Sometimes pro style contact, sometimes a "chunk and run," sometimes a little thin to the back of the green.  And I find hitting out of green side rough MUCH easier.  Not even close on average.  In my opinion you'd have to be a tour pro with a great bunker lie to think otherwise.

[JonMA1]

5 minutes ago, allenc said:

In my opinion you'd have to be a tour pro with a great bunker lie to think otherwise.

Ok, so even for a pretty good player it isn't as easy as some other short game shots. I guess that's good to know. 

I finally bought a sand wedge last year and that has helped, but I didn't know to put the ball forward in my stance or to keep my weight forward. It's pretty common to take two strokes just to get out. On most other short game shots, I'm usually trying to get close to the pin.

[BigBaffy]

Thanks for all the responses, everybody.

Now, for swing style, I generally use more of a flop-shot style (the only one that I've had any success with, L to L, loose wrists), but I've seen a lot written about finishing high and swinging hard and fast (not giving up on the shot, etc.), but I've had no success doing that, I just bury the club head and watch my ball roll back to me.

Any tips on how to swing, grip-style to use, etc.?

I should add that the flop shot only works if it's a fairly flat lie, and the ball's not buried.

[Patch]

In soft sand, I play the ball forward, with my weight forward. The amount of sand I take, dictates the distance the ball will fly. More sand means less distance. Less sand means more distance in

Now, out here in the desert, sometimes the sand is pretty firm. The run the sprinklers over the sand, giving them a good soaking. Then the sun dries out the sand. Doing this every day, leaves something between soft sand, and hard pan to hit off of. My ball position with be in the center of my stance. My choice of club will be my lob wedge which has very little built in bounce. It takes alot of practice to figure out how to get the ball out, but short with this thin lie position.

My swing is pretty much the same as my flop shot for all lie situations. I will either let club dig in behind the ball, or I will throw the club behind the ball with a "splat" type  hit on the sand. Other times, if applicable, I might use my putter to get out of a firm lie. 

Next to putting, getting out of sand is the next easiest shot for me. It ties with chipping. 

Edited April 28, 2018 by Patch