Let's Help Your Golf Bunker Shot
and Lower Your Score Around the Green.
Sand Play:
Definitions: Before we
look into the golf bunker shot, let's look at two definitions.
Addressing the ball: Addressing the ball
means positioning your feet and grounding the club.
Taking your stance: Taking your stance means simply positioning your
feet without grounding the club.
The Rule for Sand
Play:
A
sand trap or "Golf Bunker or a Bunker" is classified as a hazard. A
ball in a hazard is
subject to the rule governing a ball in play in a hazard. The
rule states that a player may not ground his club (touch the sand)
while setting up for the bunker shot or during the backswing. He may
only take
his stance. The sand may only be contacted during the
forward swing. Failure to observe this rule penalizes the player one
stroke. (See rule 13)
Taking your stance in the bunker:
When
executing the golf bunker shot, without
touching the sand with your club, place your feet in an open stance.
(Turned more to the left as shown)
Position
the ball about opposite the left heel to promote hitting the sand
behind the ball.
Now, before
placing your hands on your club, make sure the two vertical lines of
your club head are pointing to the right of the target.
The
letter ''V'' will be created with the clubhead open and your
feet open.
This set-up provides
added loft and backspin and prevents the clubhead from closing and
digging in the sand.
The
stroke:
The swing is
similar to a normal shot making sure to contact the sand first
about 2 inches behind the ball and finish with a full follow throught
proportionate to the effort of your swing.
Drill:
Place
a circle around the ball as shown in the picture.
This
will indicate where to hit the sand behind the ball. The sand will
propel the ball out of the bunker. The ball will come out on a
cushion of sand which is why you need to swing about twice as hard as
for a normal shot.
Contacting the
sand in the right spot will eliminate the circle in the sand
which usually indicates proper execution of the shot.
Long distance bunkers
from 50 yards away and longer should be played as if
you were on grass where the ball is contacted first. The hazard rule
still applies.
This photo indicates acceleration during the
forward swing and a completed follow- through.
Why
practice in the practice bunker:
Regular practice in the practice bunker will
devellop confidence in executing this shot and you will become more
consistant in getting the ball up and down around the green.
Happy
Bunker Shot!!!
The
Bunker Shot
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