GM Voodoo 'Rakes in Bunker' Hex

[Tiger]

I read the debate column in this month's mag and didn't get it. Rakes in or out of bunkers what are you on about GM. Never had a problem with that. Then I played on Sunday. Bloody rakes in bunkers!!! !!!Just like a London bus you wait an age for one and then three come a long at once. Three times, three times my ball struck a rake in the back of a bunker and left me a tricky lie against the back lip.

That said I still think they should be left in as it's my own fault for hitting a poor shot and if my ball had stopped outside the bunker by a rake, well that just wouldn't be cricket would it.

Anyway, cutting to the point of this meandering non sensical post, the moral of the story is learn how to play a shot from the back edge of a bunker - any tips greatly appreciated!!!

Oh and Imurg did cover this two years ago

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=50494

 

[patricks148]

We keep the Rakes in the middle of the bunker, it stops this happening.

And my tip if you do get stuck at the back, take your medicine and play out backwards.

 

[John_Findlay]

Yip. I always put them in the middle (flat part usually) of a bunker. That way no-one can complain when their ball rests against one. Just remove the rake and the balls lying in a lovely flat lie.

If you leave it outside and to the side then by definition it's usually on a downhill lie pointing into the bunker. Removing it when your ball rests against it usually causes problems (either the ball moves or you're left with a stinker of a tricky lie) and it may have stopped the ball going into the bunker in the first place which I think is unfair.

In not out. It's fairer. That's my view.

 

[Tiger]

We keep the Rakes in the middle of the bunker, it stops this happening.

And my tip if you do get stuck at the back, take your medicine and play out backwards.

To be honest that's what I should have done on at least one occassion. But on another one it was a greenside bunker. Behind me was gorse, to the left another bunker and to the right was a trickier shot than going at the green. What do I do then?

 

[John_Findlay]

Were you able to take a penalty drop for an unplayable?

 

[patricks148]

You have to play every shot on its own merit. If the ball is up against the back lip you play out backwards or sideways. If there is trouble behind and sideways I would take the safest option available. On Saturday I found myself against the back right hand lip if a big greenside pot bunker and all I could do was play back onto the fairway over another bunker. If I had not made it over the other bunker I still would have had a better lie than to start with.

 

[bobmac]

Why didn't you try the shot?
If the worst happened, you will catch the lip or move it more towards the middle of the bunker which leaves you with an easy shot.

 

[Tiger]

Why didn't you try the shot?
If the worst happened, you will catch the lip or move it more towards the middle of the bunker which leaves you with an easy shot.

That's what I did. I had a few inches to play with each time and had a go.

First one greenside I duffed it into the middle of the bunker, hit the second sand shot close and putted for a bogey.

Second one was a fairway bunker and I managed to get out albeit without much distance.

Third one I had a mare, caught it too well cleared the green and ended up in gorse the other side, took a drop then overhit my chip which rolled off, chipped back on and two putted for an 8!

Just wondered if you are at the back of a bunker and have a little bit of space to play with if there is a certain way top setup or execute the shot different from a normal bunker shot. Or whether I should just take my medicine

 

[patricks148]

The course i play is links so we only have rather deep pot bunkers and getting it out is the order of the day. I would make sure you can just get it out to start with once you have mastered this then if the lie is good and you are not right under the lip or up against the face then start trying to go for distance.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's a problem I've encountered and usually only occurs when you are already having a really bad day anyway. Personall I'd prefer rakes out of bunkers as the likelihood is that with momentum the vast majority will still find the hazard anyway. Those that don't count as a rub of the green. You know full well any credits will be reconciled with several doses of misfortune