Bunker problems - big ones

[AliB]

Am hitting ball really well right now, but get in a bunker and it's game over. Had 35 points yesterday adn carried our team but should have been a lot more. Had 4 blobs 2 of which were down to bunkers. In between had more pars than I have ever had on that course. It's becoming embarrassing. I do know the theory (I think) but making it happen - well it isn't.
Don't mind booking up for bunker lesson but the trouble is none of our bunkers is the same - some shallow and gritty others with deep soft sand.
Just a rant but any thoughts on the lesson, or any tips (other than open stance, open face, weight forward)?

AliB

 

[bobmac]

I feel your pain Ali but don't panic.
Other than as you say open stance, open face, your weight should be centre or even back a touch, ball well FORWARD in your stance and DO NOT QUIT on the shot.Think of the word EXPLOSION when you hit the shot and explode the sand out of the bunker. As long as you take enough sand before the ball, the ball will fly out on the cushion of sand.

HTH

 

[AliB]

thanks Bob but everyone has a different tip! I've been persuaded weight must be all on front foot (ball also forward).

Might get Mr B. to take me to local 'academy course' for an hour and just have a go.

AliB

 

[CrapHacker]

MINDSET !!

I'm no great shakes at bunker play. I have good days and bad days. When I went round Ascot a few weeks ago there was one green that I still shudder about. ( I won't bore you with it, but it was BAD )

But on my better days I know what I'm trying to do, and that is make sure I don't quit on it.

When I play the shot I don't rush it, and <u>I make sure I follow through.</u>
That way I'll either get the thing out onto the green, or it'll fire through the green and leave me in trouble elsewhere.

What it won't do is leave me in the same bunker.

And if I know that, that's half the doubt taken from my mind.

And as long as I try to take a decent amount of sand, the vast majority of shots don't fire through the green.

The trouble comes with those greens that don't have a lot of sand in them. But if I cock those up, it's the greenkeeper's fault, not mine.

Hope that makes some kind of sense.

 

[CrapHacker]

... your weight should be centre or even back a touch, ...

Strange.

I'd have thought that with the weight back it would encourage more quitting.

Is that just me being weird ?

Or is that just a tip for better players who are more capable than I ?

 

[freddielong]

I dont know if anyone on here saw it but the Shell WWof Golf between Trevino and Player, Trevino gave a little demonstration of how to get out of bunkers that was well worth seeing.

Basically he was repeating a lesson player gave him back in the day, you use the same speed smooth swing for every bunker shot with the distance being controled by how open the clubface is, It is a very good little tip and something all the best do without thinking about it.

 

[birdieman]

I found the fried egg analogy quite useful when learning i.e the ball is the yolk and the edge of the egg white is where the club enters the sand - gives you something to visualise. I like to hit quite hard and just take more sand for less distance, less sand for more distance.
As you say face open, stance open and I agree with Bob, ball forward in stance (for short bunker shots).

 

[CannyFifer]

i'm hellish at bunkers too but always been advised to have more weight on the front and to follow through all the way

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I feel your pain Ali but don't panic.
Other than as you say open stance, open face, your weight should be centre or even back a touch, ball well FORWARD in your stance and DO NOT QUIT on the shot.Think of the word EXPLOSION when you hit the shot and explode the sand out of the bunker. As long as you take enough sand before the ball, the ball will fly out on the cushion of sand.

Bob, far be it for me to argue when you usually provide such sound advice but I had a bunker lesson the other week and was told to put 60% of the weight on the front foot and keep it there throughout the swing and to hinge the wrists to hit into the sand to explode the ball out making sure I make a full follow through. Wouldn't having the ball forward and the weight back encourage a scoop and inconsistancy

 

[bobmac]

Wouldn't having the ball forward and the weight back encourage a scoop and inconsistancy

Only if you keep your weight on the back foot throughout the swing.
If you have your weight forward the tendancy would be to rock back on the downswing causing scooping.

This is assuming we're talking about greenside bunkers.

 

[Spoff]

Was in a fairly deep bunkerlast week, didn't get into the sand, drilled the ball against the lip of the bunker which returned the favour and drilled the ball into the lip on my face.

Oh how my 'friends' laughed...

 

[nowtfancy]

Played at Bondhay last week, which gave me plenty of bunker practice, but it was such a pleasure to play in bunkers that had lots of nice sand that the club could get through, as opposed to the usual risk of broken wrist.
Got out of every one in one, and even felt like I was having some control over distance, by varying how open the club was - me & trevino eh! can't go wrong!!

 

[AliB]

Wouldn't having the ball forward and the weight back encourage a scoop and inconsistancy

Only if you keep your weight on the back foot throughout the swing.
If you have your weight forward the tendancy would be to rock back on the downswing causing scooping.

This is assuming we're talking about greenside bunkers.

Interesting.
Was sure I had weight on front as advised but felt v. awkward as if reaching back for ball. I scooped it and was told off for weight not forward enough!
Will think on't.

AliB

 

[Leftie]

Ali.

Just a thought and perhaps something to try....

A couple of years ago I changed from a reasonably confident bunker player into one who kept hitting the ball into the face of the bunker. (I put this down to a knee ligament problem that subconsiously stopped me from taking a proper swing in the sand).

Had a lesson and the Pro thought that I was closing the face through impact even though my stance and swing plane were ok ish, etc, etc. As a drill, he suggested that I set up everything square but with my trailing foot about 6 - 12" behind the line. In this way I would find it virtually impossible to close the face through impact.

Worked a treat. OK, distance control may not be as good as it might otherwise be, but I generally get it out in one and on a reasonable line.

Others may mock (and probably will ) but my view now is that trying to work out whether to stand 25 or 30 or 35 degrees open and swing along a line that is not aimed at the target is just too complicated and difficult for us higher h/cappers to cope with.

At the end of the day, you have put yourself into a hazard, accept your punishment and make sure that you get out anywhere hopefully on the green by any means and get down in hopefully no more than 2 putts.

The tour guys and gals don't mind being in the sand as they know exactly how the ball will come out as the sand is prepared to be consistant for them. We don't have that luxury so just find a way to get it out in one

 

[nulassilb]

I went in 4 bunkers on Sunday and I only got out of one of them first time (skinned it miles over the green). I read this thread with interest. Last year, with similar problems, I had a lesson and my pro told me I was flexing my knees - but too much, opening the blade - but too open, hitting behind the ball - but too far etc etc. I was doing the right things, but needed to make sure I wasn't exaggerating them.

This afternoon, I bought a bucket of balls and threw them one at a time into the practice bunker. I was awful at first - but after about 6 balls was popping them out easily again. The test will be the 3 or 4 real goes that I usually get on the course, but I feel more confident now.

 

[AliB]

At the end of the day, you have put yourself into a hazard, accept your punishment and make sure that you get out anywhere hopefully on the green by any means and get down in hopefully no more than 2 putts.

Ta Leftie
Down in three is fine by me. Actually hit a very fine sand shot when playing in a foursome recently but then had really bad time in a club team comp and seem to have lost the faith. Plan to get to practice bunker and do some practicing this week until I can get some conifdence.

AliB

 

[19th]

My tuppence worth is - use the flagstick!

If you are close to the hole your club head MUST finish pointing near the top of the flag.

If the hole is further away your club head MUST now finish above the flag pole.

The enemy in this shot is quitting in the sand, get the club head through and up, stops that happening.