My aim this week is to take all the terror out of your
bunker shots. By making a few simple alterations to your address position,
and with some positive swing thoughts, I know that you will be able
to escape from the bunkers EVERY time. You're not convinced? Then
read on!
1.
The cardinal sin of bunker play. I see this technique
again and again and again. What goes through the mind is that
to get the ball to pop up out of the bunker, you need to scoop
it up. By leaning back, the ball is inevitably hit thin, on
the upstroke, resulting either in the ball hitting the lip and
rebounding back into the bunker, or sailing over the green into
more trouble on the other side.
2 and 3
Let's get down to business. Address the ball and then open the
face of your sand wedge, so that it is pointing well right of
target.
Now work your feet into the sand, which will help create a steeper
attack, as well as improving your balance, and shuffle round
to
the left until the blade of your club is pointing at the target.
Place your weight 70% on your left foot.
4 and 5
Pick a spot two inches behind the ball and concentrate on swinging
down and through the shot with your weight still on the left.
You shouldn't feel as though you're hitting the ball itself.
It will be lifted out on a bed of sand.
From there it's just a case of making a full follow-through.
The ball will come out high and land softly.
Sarah's Secrets
I like to think of bunker shots as being like quarry blasts. You
hit the sand behind the ball, keeping your weight towards the left
side throughout the shot and that produces the explosion that propels
it onto the green.
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