out of bunkers

[d1217]

hi,
i am currently not using my 56* wedge very well out of bunkers, i have one of those dunlop 64* wedges in my garage, is it worth me trying that from bunkers because i feel i need a little bit more height, and i like to have a good swing at the ball to get out of a bunker, so i sometimes over hit it. what do you guys reckon?

thanks in advance.

 

[GB72]

I have tried a 64 degree wedge twice, and both times the ball nearly hit me in the nose. I do, however, use my 60 degree wedge to pretty decent effect out of green side bunkers as it pops the ball up nicely over steeper faces or lands it softly when there is not much green to play with.

 

[d1217]

thanks gb72, i think i will give it a go to see what its like, i dont currently have a 60

 

[birdieman]

stick with the 56 but lay it right open so the face is almost flat, now regrip it laying open.
From here hit aggressively (never quit on the shot by decellerating) however far behind the ball into the sand you need to control distance. Think fried egg - ie ball is yolk, you need to hit edge of albumen (white).
Laying the 56 open will mean there is plenty bounce on the club which will stop it digging in too deep in the sand.
If you use the 64 you'll quite probably dig too deep with the low bounce a 64 normally has and leave the ball in the bunker.
If the sand is very hard packed then maybe the 64 would work ok in that situation only.

 

[Herbie]

hi,
i am currently not using my 56* wedge very well out of bunkers, i have one of those dunlop 64* wedges in my garage, is it worth me trying that from bunkers because i feel i need a little bit more height, and i like to have a good swing at the ball to get out of a bunker, so i sometimes over hit it. what do you guys reckon?

thanks in advance.

Its not the club you need to look at, its the way you play the stroke that is more likely at fault. We can all duff bunker shots, but when I practice, I can chuck 20 balls in a greenside bunker and have them in all sorts of different spots and even stamp some in and then comfortably knock all twenty out onto the green, using anything from a 7 iron to sw. If you are having trouble with bunkers its not the club.

My suggestion is that you get someone to look at how you play them

 

[d1217]

okay thank you i think i might get to the practice bunker and work it out, cheers guys

 

[RGDave]

Not enough height with a 56*.....must be a technique thing.

Learn one good bunker shot, get good at it (90% success rate) without laying the face way open, then build in another shot to your game where you really go for height.

If you can play those two, you might also be able to use a PW for longer shots.

I only had one lesson in a bunker and my pro told me not to get too clever with opening up the face....it's served me well. I open the face a little then take the grip, but not way open. i.m.o. the problem with way open is that the whole swing/shot feels too alien because you can't get a feel for where the clubface is, like you might with a regular pitch shot.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with Dave in that if you can learn one stock shot you'll get a much more consistant escape rate. You can vary the club to match the situation (60 degree for greenside/shortsided and 56 for stock recovery) and then just play the same shot. I tend to play the same shot and vary my swing length to control distance rather than opening the lcub to get height and distance. Works for me but I'm not the greatest bunker player and just need something to rely on.

 

[ball_basher]

hi,
i strated takin my bucket n spade and made a few sandcastles on the way , it was much more fun but the green keeper didnt seem too keen lol

 

[AliB]

Dave
"i.m.o. the problem with way open is that the whole swing/shot feels too alien because you can't get a feel for where the clubface is, like you might with a regular pitch shot."


I feel so much better reading this. I am told to lay face way open but then have no idea what I'm doing with the club. Will practice with a less accentuated approach.

AliB

 

[viscount17]

laying the face way open is an almost certain guarantee for me to go way right or to thin it, if I hit it at all.

my biggest problem is trying to over control the shot. fearful of blasting it right over the green you tend to quit instead, which leaves you with another opportunity to try it.

 

[brendy]

laying the face way open is an almost certain guarantee for me to go way right or to thin it, if I hit it at all.

my biggest problem is trying to over control the shot. fearful of blasting it right over the green you tend to quit instead, which leaves you with another opportunity to try it.

Practice practice practice, if it doesnt work one way, try something new and if that doesnt work, try something new. DOnt give up on bunker shots as you need to enjoy the challenge, not quake when you find one.
I found from way early on that putting the ball just inside the left foot and swinging hard enough to cut through the sand but retaining a fluid movement is the best way to get it out.
Each time I practice, I throw 70-80 balls into the bunker in all angles and lies. Our practice bunker has a green tilting slightly away from it and is a very good way of learning touch through sand. I dont need anything more than 56 degrees and have started practicing longer irons to see how each club reacts, the bunker has a 5-5.5 foot lip and can get up to a 7 iron out, the 6 iron is evading me by a few inches but im not giving up. I find it funny that my sand shots are more consistant than my 150 yard shots from the fairway/semi.

 

[viscount17]

I will admit that I'm not good at practising from the bunker but then our set up isn't conducive to it.

one bunker to a green shared for pitching and squeezed between the first tee and the lake. try to practice, which demands time, and if it's not a string of people getting in the way, it's the pro's wanting half, if not all, the space for a lesson.

I may have to forego a round to practice but I'd hate doing that.

 

[SammmeBee]

laying the face way open is an almost certain guarantee for me to go way right or to thin it, if I hit it at all.

my biggest problem is trying to over control the shot. fearful of blasting it right over the green you tend to quit instead, which leaves you with another opportunity to try it.

Aim further left and open your stance......

 

[bobmac]

If you're not getting enough height, where is your ball positioned, back in the stance?
For the high greenside bunker shot, move the ball way forward to your left heal and use a big swing.
Why not get a bunker lesson from your pro?

 

[Faldo_Fan]

You shouldn't need a 64 degree wedge to get enough height to escape even the tallest bunker face, 56 degs is plenty.

But you must open that face right up so that you could balance a wine glass on the face, and with an open stance swing along your toe line, the ball will have plenty of height.

I sometimes use my 53 deg wedge out of greenside bunkers if i want a lower flight and more run, but i can still get enough height to clear bunker faces.

Seve used to use his 3 iron (the only club he had as a kid) to escape greenside bunkers!

 

[mono217]

I just open the face on my 60*.

 

[RGDave]

I just open the face on my 60*.

Good for you.

How does this work if you've got 15 yards of green between the fringe and the flag?

I say, learn one shot, then practice hitting it with any wedge....