how to hit bunker shots out of hard sand

Slow Swing Speed. Lets talk about hitting draws. Callaway Rogue Max D 10.5/Tensei Blue 55R. We must hit behind the ball in the bunker and launch some sand up into the air. If the bunker is more of a hardpan type, dont open the face much at all. I didnt look at bounce when i grabbed my wedges. When a bunker has been hardened by rain or irrigation, the golf ball will spin more coming off the clubface. If you aim to get the ball out, finish up high, and go. Tour players don't fear bunker shots the way most amateurs do, but only a handful of the pros get up and down from the sand more than 60 percent of the time. On the downswing, aim for a spot about an inch or two behind the ball in the sand. Lots of bunkers like this in Arizona. We don't want the club to dig, but we also don't want to blade our chips. You are going to be a bit nervous when playing a bunker shot from behind a tall lip. Also, examine where your toes are pointed at the setup. Have you considered your penalty options? The essence of a good bunker shot is the clubface sliding under the ball, creating a cushion of sand to send it high into the air so it can . Especially when you lose a big match to that one guy that really pisses you off or fail to qualify for your club championship by a single shot. When hitting a greenside bunker shot, it can help to put a little extra weight on the left side. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington has taken to Twitter to keep golf fans entertained and to help them improve their games. The sand you find in bunkers is more likely to be hard when it is wet. Golf Podcast 473: Golf Ball Rollback: What You Need to Know About Bifurcation, Bad Hole or Bad Round? Often, proper posture at the setup position is confused with standing in a similarly vertical position to your current position up against the wall. It's hard because it's in between how to play a greenside bunker shot and not long enough to hit like a fairway bunker shot. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'SXrXsUnLS2Bd_fkY7wkv0g',sig:'RhOO0SFXizoxEkh3-6II-0Prmj41tcPnIiQhy4fST4A=',w:'509px',h:'339px',items:'1398778760',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Focus solely on your intent and not what you hope doesnt happen as you watch your ball fly through the air. Dropping the trail shoulder or raising your lead shoulder promotes a sweeping action at the bottom of your swing. 30 Days with GolfForever: You Wont Believe the Results! You cannot paste images directly. Again, this is a point that has more to do with budgets than anything else. Lets start by talking about how you should approach a standard bunker shot in soft sand. and note the landing and roll out distance and write it down. MEMBER REVIEWS: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! Here's why, How a popular green-reading method helped launch this young pro into contention in Mexico, This chipping drill will help you get up-and-down from anywhere, This is 2022's most-read ballstriking tip, Why Padraig Harrington 'strongly believes' LIV commits should be allowed in majors, 'You've got to stick to it': Padraig Harrington is disappointed in Henrik Stenson's Ryder Cup captaincy void, 'The more the merrier': Padraig Harrington welcomes the competition from LIV Golf, 'A bit of rivalry won't do us any harm at all': Padraig Harrington weighs in on LIV Golf defectors, Major champion reveals one of the biggest mistakes amateurs make in bunkers, Padraig Harrington Q&A: Why 'funky swings' work better in pro golf, When can and cant you replace damaged gear under the rules? For fairway bunker shots, try to clip the ball clean without taking hardly any sand. Golf Podcast 476: These Three Guys are Changing the Long Drive Game, Golf Podcast 475: Scottie Schefflers Rise to Success: His Trainer Reveals the Secret. Srixon ZX5 irons 5-AW, Nippon N.S. Amazingly, more than nine times out of ten, mid to high handicappers (15 and up) who seek my guidance each employ the following move during the golf swing: Their chest/upper body is positioned too far ahead of the golf ball in relation to the target. Just the degree lofts. Practice makes perfect. 50/54/60 Cleveland RTX6 Zipcore DG Spinner. He pounded his high, piercing cut dead down the middle of the fairway and made a lot of big putts inside ten feet. Don't ask me how it comes out so high, but it does. By sweeping the ball more, you will naturally hit the ball higher and have a better chance of turning the ball over with a draw. Technique for hitting high, spinny bunker shots Here are 7 at-home drills from Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, Padraig Harringtons latest backyard lesson backfired in hilarious fashion, Padraig Harrington reveals the 3 surprising swing keys you need to break 80, Try this drill from Padraig Harrington for more consistent chipping, 7 golf equipment tips that can help beginners improve right now, How to develop the perfect pre-shot routine, according to two of golfs best instructors, Perfect your impact position with this clever swing drill, This pro is chipping one-handed in competition. Generally on a full iron or wedge shot you want the shaft leaning a little toward the target at impact to the bounce isn't doing much. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Tpqp65v_T71VOMCYMolXgQ',sig:'d6r1RLR_MdErYy-R5reJudeK67k_byjqoi7qRyERGds=',w:'358px',h:'478px',items:'129301275',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); By moving the ball up, it often promotes a lower trail shoulder/higher lead shoulder in relation to the ground at address. How to hit a bunker shot: 5 easy steps to get up-and-down from the sand That's why I use the most lofted club I have, and then I pray it's enough to get over the lip! Would love your thoughts, please comment. Finishing high is not just about looking good for the photographers; it has everything to do with acceleration through the ball. But setup the same for everything, except put a little more weight forward. But when you need it you can execute a different kind of shot with the shaft more upright which "reveals" the bounce to the ground and prevents the club from digging. ! Darin de Lelys Golf on Instagram: "Better Out Of The Bunker!!! Based on We Played Golf at Sea Island for the First Time! Line your club up slightly right of the target with an open face. Obviously, this is a lot of information to consume in an effort the digest what Tiger is doing and trying to accomplish with this drill. Putter: Cobra Anvil 005 Ever Wonder How Much a PGA TOUR Pro Makes to Wear All Those Logos? If a course has the staff and equipment needed to regularly care for the bunkers, the sand will usually be soft. On the eighth hole, another bunker shot from a tough lie didn't quite reach the green, and he holed a 15 . As much as I wish this mode of thinking was something that we could achieve overnight, it requires practice. A Golfers Paradise! TRAVEL: Giants Ridge (MN) Should Be On Your Golf Trip Short-List! 4. Its as simple as that, make bunker shots routine, and you can pull it off every time. Play the ball a bit forward in your stance and then aim a bit to the left of your target. You can't hit a standard bunker shot here. Its a good idea to pay attention to the normal sand conditions on your home course. Mainly, his objective in performing this move is to feel his core/chest area covering the golf ball more prominently on the downswing. And theres no better choice among pros than Harrington to pass the secrets to their success on to the masses. On the golf course, especially under tournament conditions, you want to be hyper-aware of your surroundings. Going there, if you are not used to it, may seem very daunting in the beginning. According to Danny Maude's recent student Troy this bunker tip is probably the Best Bunker Tip Ever!Probably just like you Troy wanted to know:Simply how to . The WHY: In an effort to not get ahead of the golf ball with his upper body on the downswing/impact. But that doesnt mean there isnt a way to successfully navigate bunkers with too much sand. Hit The Sand Hard. Hole everything out and approach every shot the same way. Low expectations, just get it out and putt twice -> go next hole. Will take a lot of mulligans. ago. Swing the club along the line of your feet. This causes the ball to go higher and to stop faster on the green. If your lead foot isnt open enough, this may discourage you from delivering the clubhead into the ball so that it produces a draw. At the same time, you should feel your backside/thigh muscles being engaged. I sculled them all. At this point, you should have a clear picture of how youll want to approach greenside bunker shots when the sand is soft. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Wo1N74xKSWJZXMbr8eyMxA',sig:'rjBNqi7szWMQog3o2b637JNIDzwiQSjrPar_ql7zHHI=',w:'594px',h:'395px',items:'477241188',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Im saying that achieving more consistently solid contact and ball flight for most average golfers requires less lateral upper body movement on the downswing. If that doesnt do the trick, evaluate how level your shoulders are in relation to one another. The ball should explode out of the bunker with the sand you hit and settle safely on the green. Bob Vokey Bunker Tips: Which wedges work best from the sand? But, if your ball position is too far back, get it further forward. As Harrington demonstrates in the video, the secret to making short work of fluffy lies is to open the clubface and expose the bounce as much as you like, then swing hard to help it get up in the air. I like my lo. If the bunker is firm on top and compact beneath, square up the leading edge of your wedge (do not open up the face). The More You Open the Clubface, the More You Use the Bounce Check out Monte's "Use the Bounce" video series for some great info on this technique. In this article, I will focus on one simple and cost-effective way to get faster swingsspeed . Tour players don't fear bunker shots the way most amateurs do, but only a handful of the pros get up and down from the sand more than 60 percent of the time. @europeantour @pgatour #golfathome #staysharp pic.twitter.com/RI19l4qiA4. Or is the ball nestled down in soft sand? Just like a pitcher throwing from the stretch, they are exploding off their trail foot/side before releasing the ball toward home plate. You should also dig your feet into the sand to make sure your base is set. Sliding under the ball. Here's why, How a popular green-reading method helped launch this young pro into contention in Mexico, This chipping drill will help you get up-and-down from anywhere, 8 simple ways to banish negativity during your round, Use this hip rotation drill to develop more power through your downswing, Stop topping the ball with these 10 easy fixes, Seeking power and clubhead speed? If you dont select the correct club from the bunker, youll have no chance. Besides having a good base for the shot, which is vital, you get a feel for how deep the sand is around your shot. New Adams Idea driver, fairway wood, hybrid + Adams C-Groove putters. How to hit bunker shots from wet sand - World Of Short Game Join InsideGOLF for only $20 - includes instant $20 Fairway Jockey credit! Harrington begins by explaining that there are two distinctly different ways to play shots from bunkers with a lot of sand and ones with very little sand. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF. Think about it this way: Golfers who get ahead of the golf ball excessively either on the downswing or at the setup position also associate excessive lateral body movement away/towards the target during the backswing/downswing. Preferably hit to a flat green. In the last few years, Tiger Woods has received lots of attention for making the below body/swing rehearsals on the driving range: Throughout Tigers illustrious career, hes battled to keep the club/club head out in front of his body more on the downswing. Make sure you get out of the bunker and give yourself a chance at a one-putt, but for the most part be satisfied with getting down in three. Trust in the bounce on your wedge and the mechanics of your bunker swing to get the ball headed toward the target. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. The key, for me, is driving the club into the sand behind the ball, with force, so it does not bounce/glance off the hardpacked sand. The key to hitting out of hard sand, the easier of the two options, is to lean left and make sure you don't open the . SW: TourModel III True Temper S Here's how you can do it: Set up slightly open to the target. The trick to hitting good bunker shots is considering the fluffy, sticky resistance of the sand and hitting your shot twice as hard as you might from that distance but half as fast, so the club . If the clubface is open like you would normally do for an explosion shot, the bottom of the club will bounce up and hit the middle of the ball giving you a skulled shot over the green. TRAVEL: Horseshoe Bay Announces Spring Break Events & Activities, TRAVEL: Keswick Hall (VA) Offers Top-Tier Private Club Experience. The more willing you are to put it all on the line, the more youll accomplish in the long run. On the other hand, hard sand will cause your club to bounce off the top you probably wont be able to get down deep into the bunker with your swing. Hitting out of hard "sand" - The Sand Trap .com You want a wide stance when in the sand for better balance. Titleist 917F3 15* VA Composite Drago 75-X Or, theyll make the above change/changes and still struggle. 1) Have you considered your penalty options? The lob wedge is a bit more open, to begin with, and can make it easier if the bunker has a high lip in the front of it. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience. TaylormadeSIM 10.5*VentusTR Blue6TXTaylormadeSIM Ti 16.5*Ventus Blue 7TX||TaylormadeStealth+16.5*Kuro Kage DCXM Prototype 80TXCallaway Apex UW19*Diamana S+ 100TX||Taylormade P790 Black19*Graphite DesignAD-IZ95x HybridCallaway X-Forged UT 22*Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0BridgestoneJ40 DPC 4i-7i24*- 35*Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0Bridgestone J40 CB8i-PW39*- 48*Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0Taylormade Milled Grind Raw54*Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0VokeySM658*Oil CanLowBounceK-GrindBrunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0Scotty Cameron Newport Tour Red Dot|| Taylormade Spider X Navy Slant. A sand wedge is a smart investment in your golf game, one that is worth making. To be clear draws fly from right to left for righties and left to right for lefties. Approach your shot with soft arms and a weak grip. The fish grabbed on to the back of the fly, and kept it in its . Particularly when it's on the firm side. Squaring up the club face and trying to get the club to dig just seems like a recipe for inconsistency. My 55* sand wedge has a medium bounce that works well out of fluffy sand. Turn your brain off and fire your arms and hands thru the hitting area. With two small adjustments to the way you would play a normal sand shot: The first is that you will need to hit a bit closer to the ball and aim to take a smaller 'divot of sand' out then normal. So, grab your sand wedge and stick your . Learn the basics, so you don't fear the sand, and adjust your expectations. Thanks, yes this definitely sounds like the way to go. Like hitting off a dirt road. 3 Reasons You're Still Struggling with Greenside Bunker Shots It helps the club glide through or on top of whatever you're hitting from (turf, sand, hardpan, a mat or whatever). Commit to turning to a full finish, and you'll get the ball out every time. Give it your all, no matter what. If you feel a ton of sand below you, then you know you will have to alter your angle . How To Play A Bunker Shot out of Wet Sand (5 Tips) Knowing how to hit out of a bunker is important. There are a few factors that impact sand conditions on a golf course: Some courses fill their bunkers with soft, fluffy sand, and they refresh that sand regularly. I had 3 of these shots when playing with him at our course. This will dictate your approach. Combine that with the fact that every kind of sand is different, and you have a recipe for a difficult up-and-down. Now, lets talk about how you can alter that technique to find success in hard bunkers. In a greenside bunker, the swing path should be steeper. How to Hit a Bunker Shot Out of Hard Sand If the club face is square to your stance line the club will often dig into the sand resulting in a shot that does not travel far enough or fly high enough to exit the bunker. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'AjB58-GNRZFTU9YaB9rusA',sig:'Br2CeQnBSmNfvem9uaMAo1WvwUc_ZiP5RHG1OEeHhb4=',w:'424px',h:'594px',items:'1481228422',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Also, it may promote more weight transfer. Your link has been automatically embedded. How to Hit High and Low Golf Shots Join InsideGOLF for only $20 - includes instant $20 Fairway Jockey credit! He hit a lot of fairways, hit plenty of greens, and made enough putts. I hope to never need to use that one, but you never know. Brands Explained. Round 1 of the Masters did not disappoint! Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. I know youve heard this line before, but have you really approached your game in this manner in all environments? If the ball is positioned off the inside part of your lead heel, you are in a good spot. One of my favorite swing thoughts in a bunker is to finish high. Rapsodo MLM2PRO Launch Monitor Outdoor Accuracy Test (with Range Balls), Callaway Big Bertha and Big Bertha REVA Offer Ultimate Forgiveness, Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta, Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta, Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report 2023 Zurich Classic, Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions 2023 Zurich Classic, Golf Digests Course Raters Struggle with Maps, Five Takeaways From The Opening Round At The Zurich Classic, LIV Allowed Koepka to Rise Like the Phoenix. Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, knows a thing or two about playing out of bunkers. Honestly, the only way to really know how your game measures up is by putting yourself in those situations. Prepare to be BLOWN AWAY by this Course! Bunker Tips: How to Hit a Shot Out of Hard Sand - YouTube In the absence of that maintenance, however, the bunkers will get hard and playing shots will get tricky. on Instagram: "Here's a great look at Tiger practicing hitting bunker shots before a round in 2020. Hit a normal sand shot without manipulating the face. Keep Calm & Carry On. In bunkers, you cannot test the surface, however, you can use your feet to feel the density of the sand. In this video he addresses the unique challenges presented by different sand conditions. If this is you, you need to learn, at a bare minimum, how to neutralize your ball flight. Lastly, how do you dunk a basketball? Our bunkers all but lose their sand in the winter with all the rain. I used to struggle with these types of bunkers until an old guy I play with told me to keep the face square and let the wedge do the work. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 shafts. Keep in mind that grip changes are awkward and take time to get used to. 1,036 likes, 2 comments - Darin de Lelys Golf (@darins_wedge_work) on Instagram: "Better Out Of The Bunker!!! Find a practice green and set to work; this is not something you can learn on the course. To hit a low golf shot, take a shorter backswing and follow through to minimize the height of the shot. Besides lessening the bounce and almost squaring up the clubface I still swing as if hitting out of softer sand. Like Sean said. Perhaps a club with less bounce. With it, you can let the club enter the sand an inch or two behind the ball and exit an inch or two after it and the ball just jumps out with the sliver of sand you carved out with your wedge. Generally, the more we open or rotate our trail foot at the setup, the more we can rotate our lower/upper body during the swing. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and womens golf. Step 7: Slap the sand behind the ball. Remember, a neutral grip involves placing your lead hand on the grip so that you can see 2/2.5 knuckles on your lead hand when you address the ball. 3H: Titleist 910H 19 * Diamana Kai'li 80HYB Mid R At this point, you should have your clubface slightly open yet aimed at the pin, your stance aimed somewhat left of the pin, and your feet slightly dug into the bunker. Giving lessons, I often witness the same these inconsistencies among my students. How to play poorly maintained greenside bunkers with thin sand and a Most of the rest of the week went like that: just one hit during the day, although I knew many fish were swimming by, and were curiously following my lures right to the beach, over and over. Your next great success is right around the corner if you remain calm, stay motivated, and focus on the present moment. Greenside bunker shots often intimidate the average golfer, but they are actually pretty simple. King-of-Plebss 5 mo. Hitting out of a bunker with a pitching wedge can be very difficult. Hit the sand 2 inches behind the ball. Too often, players hit weak slices because they fail to transfer their weight optimally during the swing. Watch 'The Golf Fix' Mondays at 7PM ET. Paste as plain text instead, Make a hard swing with an open face and you will start to see results like the bunker shots you have seen professional golfers hit on TV. Swing only slightly harder than a chip/pitch of the same distance. Hard sand - bunker shot - Instruction & Academy - GolfWRX Some of you with over active trail arms might want to try as you come into impact squeeze the pinky and index fingers on the lead hand to stop the momentum. This also works perfectly for buried lies. It doesnt matter if that personal goal happens to be winning your weekend match, winning the club championship, breaking 80, or qualifying for the US Open. This might seem like a subtle difference, but it actually has a massive impact on how you should play the shot. You wouldn't know it but a lot of more accomplished players actually use a 60 degree lob wedge out of bunkers. You can play a lot of short game shots using the same technique. Understanding the Importance of Ground Force in Your Golf Swing, WATCH: This Vintage Payne Stewart Drill Is Still Relevant Today. What's the lesson in this? Might take a little less sand or even use the leading edge. Pro who taught me this technique had me hitting flops off of a wooden board with my 56 wedge with 14 degrees of bounce. There are various ways to get more yardage from your tee shots, or any other shot on the golf course. For many amateurs, sand traps and bunkers are intimidating and present a true challenge. A weak grip doesn't mean you hold the club with less pressure, but it actually refers to the release of the hinge in your wrists. Instead of trying to address the mechanical or technical aspects of your swing/stroke/game, commit to a mental change. You can post now and register later. The lob wedge vs. sand wedgebunker debate will probably never come to an end. With the driver, were supposed to set up to the golf ball so that its positioned slightly inside our lead heel. Review the general bunker shot guidelines below in order to correctly execute the shot. Definitely takes skill as these are tougher shots specially when you're not used to them. Simple things such as paying attention to the lie you have can help you save shots in the rough. If you slide excessively toward the target on the downswing or swing by demonstrating a reverse pivot (back foot finish), this drill is ideal for you. Opening the face and exposing the bounce just skips the club into the ball. However, exaggerating specific moves in an effort to reinforce new feels or ingrain new habits will help you achieve your desired results more effectively and efficiently. After hitting my shot out of the bunker on the first try, I might add McLachlin reassured me that the main reason was due to my setup and my . If your toes are pointed in too much, as if youre pigeon-toed, allow yourself more freedom by opening it up. I always move a ball out of a footprint, rake it and try and drop it as I think it landed in the bunker. Square the clubface to hit a better shot out of a bunker with hard sand. Opening the face and exposing the bounce just skips the club into the ball. How To Find The Right Wedge For Bunker Play? | Golf Monthly In this episode of How to Hit Every Shot, instructor Erika Larkin takes us through the basics of blasting it from the bunker. Some golfers prefer the lob and others the sand, but they are both capable of doing what you need them to do. In the sand however, the digging edge takes the clubhead down too much and forces the face shut. We have hard sand, especially after a rain. Before Sunday, Brooks Koepka did everything right at Augusta National. (@scratchgolftips) on Instagram: "Here's a great look at Tiger practicing hitting bunker shots before a round in 2020. Public courses in Tucson are the same way. This will ensure that the leading edge will make contact with the ball below the equator of the ball (see picture below). Hackinator, May 24, 2022 in Instruction & Academy. I treat it like a chip from a really tight lie. Golf Tips And Advice! on Instagram: "Here's a great look at Tiger Rotating the trail foot open will help you get your weight where it needs to be in order to deliver a more powerful punch at impact. Golf tip: Different wedges needed for softer or harder sand traps The ball will not have enough loft to carry the lip, and as a player, you wont have the control you need to stop the ball on the green. "You take your spine, [and] it's not comfortable, but you put it . By getting our arms/hands/club out in front of our body on the downswing. BREAKING: LIV Golf Signs Another Top-50 Golfer, Ex-Good Good Members Micah Morris and Grant Horvat Sign Equipment Deal With TaylorMade Golf, TRENDING: Costco Preparing to Release Kirkland Signature Irons. E.g. I should be able to draw a line perpendicular to the ground that runs through your shoulders, knees, and feet. After becoming a Class A PGA Professional, teaching professional, and golf membership director, she decided a career in golf writing was the perfect fit. Key is you don't have to hit it hard. Itll give you some definition and structure in how you approach your weekly rounds and practice routines. Pick a target, pick a ball flight, step in, and fire.

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