Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Bunker shots are the bane of most golfers' lives. It is a very common sight to see the reaction of most club players when they finish up in a bunker to be one of dread and the realisation that bad things are just going to get worse!
The reality is that bunker shots are not that difficult if you have good technique. When was the last time you practiced your bunker shots? I think if I wanted some peace and quiet, I could go to the practice bunker and not be disturbed for hours - it never gets used!
Most players' bunker problems come long before the swing: if you don't have a good set-up, you'll be lucky to hit a decent shot.
For every sand shot, start with three basics:
Your clubface should be open (so the back of the club head is lying almost flat above the sand);
Your body position should be pointing open to the target (to the left for right handers);
Your hands should be set lower than normal.
All these factors contribute to adding loft to the club and getting the bounce on the back of the wedge to slide through the sand instead of dig, thus producing a high-flying, soft-landing escape.
Even from a good set-up you are not guaranteed to get the ball out unless you have the right idea of what you are doing. For most, the bunker shot consists of swinging as hard, fast and steep as possible; resembling someone chopping fire wood and creating vast deep holes in the bottom of the bunker. The result? Your next shot is from the same bunker!
Concentrate on a long smooth swing, gliding the club into the sand approximately two inches before the ball with a long shallow divot of sand (about the size of a bank note). The impact on the sand with the club moving towards the target at a shallow angle will force the ball up and out of the trap.
