steve7
Head Pro
Afternoon all,I really dread going into bunkers as I struggle to get the ball out of them.Any tips or any good dvd's that have helped anyone please.
bunkers
- Thread starter steve7
- Start date
Spear-Chucker
Tour Rookie
Check out Luke Donald's lessons on YouTube. He presents things simply and clearly which i liked loads. Bunkers are the worst part of my game by a country mile and LD's stuff has helped me turn them into something which, while not brilliant, are no longer embarrassing...
Dan2501
Tour Winner
I used to have big problems out of bunkers too, but a combination of a lot of practice, and the following videos really helped me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBvC48vzBMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Ce9IkEv6M
Good luck!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBvC48vzBMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Ce9IkEv6M
Good luck!
D
Deleted member 18121
Guest
Greenside or fairway?
I'm lucky enough to be good out of greenside.....lay the club flat (like a flop shot) and smash the life out of it. Works 9/10.
Fairway however are another beast.... I nearly always take too much sand and just get out, instead of the 100-150 yard shot I need.
I'm lucky enough to be good out of greenside.....lay the club flat (like a flop shot) and smash the life out of it. Works 9/10.
Fairway however are another beast.... I nearly always take too much sand and just get out, instead of the 100-150 yard shot I need.
MC72
Assistant Pro
Hi there,
I tend to keep it pretty simple and hit 2-3 inches behind the ball with the clubface open and my weight on my left side. Bear in mind for green side bunker shots it's the momentum of the moving sand that takes the ball out and not the club hitting the ball. You must accelerate through the ball and finish high with the club. Phil Michelson has some great shirt videos on youtube, just search for Phil Michelson short game.
hope that helps.
I tend to keep it pretty simple and hit 2-3 inches behind the ball with the clubface open and my weight on my left side. Bear in mind for green side bunker shots it's the momentum of the moving sand that takes the ball out and not the club hitting the ball. You must accelerate through the ball and finish high with the club. Phil Michelson has some great shirt videos on youtube, just search for Phil Michelson short game.
hope that helps.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
^^^This - I've watched the LD bunker shot vids and they have helped my bunker play hugely. Still total rubbish out of fairway bunkers though - possibly worst aspect of my game bar none.
the_coach
Journeyman Pro
As with all golf shots, you got to make sure you're set up properly at address from the get-go.
Second of, that you have the right intent for the stroke. You aiming (for normal greenside flat-ish lie) to take a banknote size divot of shallow sand out that the ball's sitting on, aim to splash that sand out, one of the few times golfer doesn't even have to hit the ball at all. So shallow swing back & through governed by the rotation of your chest, not a pick up arm swing that will just dump the club a ways to steep into the sand.
To do that you have to use the 'bounce' of the sand wedge, so open it up a little ways (but do that properly, open the face a little first then take your grip. Not take your grip then just turn the hands clockwise as in the swing this will mean the club will return square & you'll dig the leading edge in the sand & the ball won't come out.
[video=youtube_share;vmVfAH9Xhh8]http://youtu.be/vmVfAH9Xhh8[/video]
Second of, that you have the right intent for the stroke. You aiming (for normal greenside flat-ish lie) to take a banknote size divot of shallow sand out that the ball's sitting on, aim to splash that sand out, one of the few times golfer doesn't even have to hit the ball at all. So shallow swing back & through governed by the rotation of your chest, not a pick up arm swing that will just dump the club a ways to steep into the sand.
To do that you have to use the 'bounce' of the sand wedge, so open it up a little ways (but do that properly, open the face a little first then take your grip. Not take your grip then just turn the hands clockwise as in the swing this will mean the club will return square & you'll dig the leading edge in the sand & the ball won't come out.
[video=youtube_share;vmVfAH9Xhh8]http://youtu.be/vmVfAH9Xhh8[/video]
the_coach
Journeyman Pro
[video=youtube_share;b8XJWjUOY6Y]http://youtu.be/b8XJWjUOY6Y[/video]
the_coach
Journeyman Pro
Key again is set-up, here you want ball first sand second, so ball a ball back of the center, of your sternum, then you want the hands to get there first so forward leaning shaft, to do that you need weight left prior to impact to make sure you contact ball first.
It's about accuracy of strike so you want quiet legs, choke down some on whichever club (as better to hit this thin not fat!) these couple of things make it essential you pretty much always club up in a fairway bunker.
So say someone hits a PW 110 carry & this is the distance from the sand, take a 9i choke down, quieter legs, weight on leading leg prior to impact, got to make sure you rotate, turn, not sway back, sway & you're hit sand first all day.
Better because you want control, only take whatever club back to 3/4's, most folks that take the club all the ways back to the top, full swing, will nearly always come down a ways to steep, so fat shot again.
So with a 3/4 swing motion another reason along with the choke down on the handle some & the more solid quieter legs, that you need to club up, whatever distance, oft times might even need to club up two clubs not one.
Always assuming you checked that you can get the shot over the face & lip of bunker with the club your thinking of taking as with ball a ball back from center it will come out a ways lower. So sometimes because of distance to get there & depending on depth of bunker face you will just have to take the medicine as you won't be able to take enough club to reach the green, just make sure you lay up to leave you a good shot in & don't compound the mistake.
the_coach
Journeyman Pro
[video=youtube_share;7qppx49qxXA]http://youtu.be/7qppx49qxXA[/video]
palindromicbob
Tour Winner
My bunker play leads a lot to be desired but the one quick fix I found was ball just of the front foot and keep the legs quiet using only the arms and upper body in the swing.
Been working on my bunker pay tonight. I play it just in front of centre and have my hands behind the ball to utilise the bounce. Fullish swing, commit to hitting the sand 2-3 inches behind the ball and commit
steve7
Head Pro
Thanks for all replies.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
I played mossock a couple of weeks ago. some pretty deep bunkers around there! plenty of sand too so you can splash them out just fine!
the par 3 10th hole is superb!
the par 3 10th hole is superb!
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
dont you just love the pristine sand in those videos,well raked and not a stone, shell, clump of clay in sight,wonder how the would fair on the builders sand full of the mentioned that is either 6 inch deep or just covering the base layer we have to contend with on our travels.
lex!
Challenge Tour Pro
Always had a terrible time in the greenside ones too. Does take a lot of practice time to improve.
Normal stance with weight on LHS having built firm base with spikes, use slightly open club face to engage bounce of SW, then use body turn to swing and feel weight of club through the sand. Forget about the ball and concentrate like mad on a spot an inch behind it. Nice smooth swing right through, don't hit, and take out a five pound note size clump of sand.
Normal stance with weight on LHS having built firm base with spikes, use slightly open club face to engage bounce of SW, then use body turn to swing and feel weight of club through the sand. Forget about the ball and concentrate like mad on a spot an inch behind it. Nice smooth swing right through, don't hit, and take out a five pound note size clump of sand.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Unless you really sink into the sand then I'd suggest a square stance & square club face... until you learn how to consistently open a club face properly (I cant yet)
All square for me with plenty follow through and I rarely take more than one onto the green and they usually head in the right direction even from bunkers so deep my head is below the level of the hole
All square for me with plenty follow through and I rarely take more than one onto the green and they usually head in the right direction even from bunkers so deep my head is below the level of the hole
davidy233
Tour Rookie
Best bit of my game - practiced a lot and found a method that works - after taking four to get out of one on the New Course in April at the KOKS
steve7
Head Pro
hi garyinderry,yes plenty of deep bunkers,you would have birdied the 10th as this par 4(ha,ha,ha),it is the 11th par 3 and yes it is a superb hole,hope you enjoyed your game.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
ah, the 11th. such a great hole! enjoyed my game with scouser. the fairways there are very forgiving. I was still all over the place and couldn't hit them. it has given me a kick up the backside to get it sorted!
