Bunker advice, why is it differant.

Tashyboy

Tashyboy

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Seeing as I am now laid up with my back, ave been doin a fair bit of reading.
It goes without saying I am probably the worst bunker player on this forum so it is one of the areas I need to improve on massively.
looking at the video on this site re bunker play. It shows two lines in the sand, first line slightly open to the flag where feet go and one parallel to flag. So club is slightly open.
Club lines up to flag and you take about an inch behind ball (which is slightly forward of stance) when playin said ball. hey presto.

However on the advice of someone on here I bought a rival mag that gave advice on courses in Northumberland, and as a bonus for me, on basic bunker play. Sorted. However there advice states.
Two lines in the sand parallel to one another pointing towards the flag, ball forward in stance take a longer divot, expect ball to go slightly right of target. Eh?
if that is the case why are we not lining up, left of target, why are there two sets of basic bunker plays, ( and probably more ) that contradict one another.
At the moment I am spending more time in the sand than a snotty nosed toddler at nursery and two differing "opinions" ain't helpin.
Thoughts please.
 
Last edited:
If you watch the masterclass given by Padraig Harrington at the British masters he does it differently again. And he knows a thing or two about bunker play.

I am also rubbish in the sand. Fortunately I don't go in there much.
 
same with chipping differing views of coaches, you can get it a right pickle if you read to much technical stuff.
Reading this months mag a similar thing occurs with ball position where 1 coach says keep in same place and move stance wider and westy says as is tradition move ball position to suit club.
 
Stuey01 said:
If you watch the masterclass given by Padraig Harrington at the British masters he does it differently again. And he knows a thing or two about bunker play.

I am also rubbish in the sand. Fortunately I don't go in there much.
Click to expand...

Joking aside " a pal" asked at the master class how a fossil (me) could get extra distance off the tee. I was advised to quit the game. I am made of sterner stuff though.
 
To hit the ball out of a bunker you need to get the ball high quickly. Use SW.
The deeper the bunker the more height you need. Add loft to SW by turning it to the right. Aim your body left to counter this.
The further back in your stance you have the ball, the lower it will go.
As this is a high shot you want the opposite so ball forward in your stance.

Then comes the bit about the club head entering the sand.
The nearer the ball, the further the ball will travel so a softer swing required.
3-4in behind and you can hit it as hard as you want and the ball will come out softly

So, ball forward
clubface aimed at the target
body aimed left
hit the sand 3-4in with a big swing
A bit like this old guy

[video=youtube;c11XYrHSEII]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c11XYrHSEII&index=24&list=PL7Uf2W3sfvqYBJ3 OUldKvQT7ZWYEmPOyW[/video]
 
Duckster said:
Padraig is pretty close to the linear method. I saw Gary Smith doing this at the Manchester golf show last year (only decent thing I took from it). He showed it and explained it in a way I understood and I've been using it since, done my short game a world of good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xeADahxxrE
Click to expand...
I enjoyed this simple and well explained video.
I do not usually have trouble getting out of bunkers but accuracy and consistency are variable to say the least.
Not playing a lot at the moment, dodgy hip replacement but I will be able to practise this drill, thanks.
Dewsweeper
 
I can also recommend the Harrington master class at Woburn. It was on Sky Sports catch up fairly recently, hopefully it's still there.

You have to use a SW, open the face to enable the bounce on the club, but the key for me is to lean towards where you want the ball to go, put your weight on your left side and keep it there. So DON'T try and lift it, or help it out. The lip of the bunker can trick you into wanting to lift it over. Harrington emphasises keeping weight on left side on the vid.
 
The first thing you have to do is think about the lie you have. use your judgement and work out if there is actually any sand under the ball. if there has been a load of rain and the sand is tightly packed this will also influence the type of shot you should play.

Dry deep sand you can open the wedge and use the bounce. Hit a couple of inches behind the ball.

Hard packed or no sand you might want the club to dig in slightly. Opening the blade in this instance brings in the possibly of thinning the ball. square or even slightly closed face will work when the sand is like this.

Think about the conditions before you think technique. Loads of videos. Watch a few, try them out in different conditions and you will soon find one or two that works best for you.

I got up and down 3 from 4 on Saturday. Tight packed wet sand. 3 played with my 56 closed slightly to dig into the wet sand. If I had laid that club open I would have sent the ball miles over the green. One the ball was sitting up on the corner of an upslope. I just clipped it off the top to lift it over the low lip. It was an upward blow with a PW. It rolled out and crashed into the flag and sat dead. Think conditions before technique.
 
garyinderry said:
The first thing you have to do is think about the lie you have. use your judgement and work out if there is actually any sand under the ball. if there has been a load of rain and the sand is tightly packed this will also influence the type of shot you should play.

Dry deep sand you can open the wedge and use the bounce. Hit a couple of inches behind the ball.

Hard packed or no sand you might want the club to dig in slightly. Opening the blade in this instance brings in the possibly of thinning the ball. square or even slightly closed face will work when the sand is like this.

Think about the conditions before you think technique. Loads of videos. Watch a few, try them out in different conditions and you will soon find one or two that works best for you.

I got up and down 3 from 4 on Saturday. Tight packed wet sand. 3 played with my 56 closed slightly to dig into the wet sand. If I had laid that club open I would have sent the ball miles over the green. One the ball was sitting up on the corner of an upslope. I just clipped it off the top to lift it over the low lip. It was an upward blow with a PW. It rolled out and crashed into the flag and sat dead. Think conditions before technique.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gary - this is good advice - for me in any case. I tend to walk into a bunker worrying about technique, when I should be thinking lie, sand conditions and what I want to achieve. And I keep thinking technique - and often muck up - especially on fairway bunker shots.
 
The Stan Utley method works well for me. Square stance, very wide with knees bent so much your bum is almost touching the sand. Ball a little forward, face square with upper body bent towards target. Splash the club down about an inch before the ball. Use a wedge with lots of loft & bounce & this setup will give a nice shallow approach to the ball & it comes out really well. Only need to open the face if the loft won't get you over the lip.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Thanks Gary - this is good advice - for me in any case. I tend to walk into a bunker worrying about technique, when I should be thinking lie, sand conditions and what I want to achieve. And I keep thinking technique - and often muck up - especially on fairway bunker shots.
Click to expand...

All I think about with fairway bunkers is ensuring I have enough loft to get it out, but as far as possible and play it like any other shot, i.e. ball first and clip it off the sand. I'll only take sand first if all I can do is get it out, steep bunker etc.
 
A couple of you have said turn the wedge open or open the face. I was told years ago to open the face by turning the club within your hands I.e.spinning the club an then re-grip rather than opening the face by holding the club as normal and turning my wrists to open the face. Am I correct or am I doing it all wrong?
 
Duckster said:
Padraig is pretty close to the linear method. I saw Gary Smith doing this at the Manchester golf show last year (only decent thing I took from it). He showed it and explained it in a way I understood and I've been using it since, done my short game a world of good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xeADahxxrE
Click to expand...

Beat me to it. Very simple process and has really helped my game. Sand saves at 24% (not bad for a 12 handicapper) so I'm sticking with it
 
I think the bit that got my goat was two pros/ trainers give differant thoughts on how to play the same simple and basic bunker shot.
Is there not a PGA pro standard format of how to play a shot, or that shot.
When people train to get there coaching badge, surely they are all taught the same basics, so at what point does that change.
I can understand that the better you get your expectations change from getting out in three, to getting within 3ft of the hole.
But is it the norm to have differing views on what should be so basic.
 
If you want hit a shot out of a shallow bunker, stand square. If you want more height, aim left and open the face..........as I said in post no. 6
 
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