Correct swing from the sand?

Hi ya fellas,

I thought I'd get the brains trust opinions on this one. I hate the sand traps, because I feel really uncomfortable and off-balance in them. I have read a lot of different opinions from web-pros but I still feel uncomfortable in the beach.

So, what do you guys think about playing from the greenside bunkers? I know the theory is to open the face and firmly swing aiming 2 inches behind the ball, and the ball magically floats up onto the green on a cushion of sand. But do you open your stance as well, and does the backswing follow the shoulderline or your target line? How wide do you think the stance should be, and how high should the backswing be?

I admit that I tend to spray the ball left and right of the target and also tend to hit a "line-drive" about one shot in every 4-5 bunker shots.

Suggestions please. Cheers,

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MillenniuMcow

Innovation, not rumination.

We don't have all that many pots at my course, and if course management was just about not ever getting in one, then I'd be a tour pro...

On the very rare occasions when I find myself in one I like to use a technique that I picked up from a video tip I saw in which Laura Davies was explaining a bunker tip she had picked up from her good pal "Woosie..." (yes, Ian Woosnam for those of you not familiar) which went a little something like this...

Align your stance to the left of the target line then "hood" the club head. By this she means to close it some. Then, using as light a grip pressure as you can you take a reasonably fullish swing one or so inches behind the ball. The idea being that when the toe of the club strikes the sand, due to the loose grip, the toe grabs in the sand, the club rotates digs in and throws the ball out on a cushion of sand.

I have better success with this method than with opening the face. I'd say for me that when I do so, more often than not, I simply blade the ball. Not a good result.

I freely admit I'm no sand genius, just that I have better results personally with this tip I saw than the more conventional methods that better golfers than me use...

Try it in the practice pot next time you go out, see what you think...

Cheers

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Look at the Target, Look at the Ball, Swing... Dr Bob Rotella...

I open my stance, open my blade, focus on a spot a couple inches behind the ball, and take a smooth swing. Since I've started doing this, I've never, ever had a problem. The problems occur when I take a violent swing, or focus on the ball.

My club pro told me to do this when the ball is plugged and it works a treat but i've never tried it on a normal bunker shot.

If the ball is not buried too deep then:

Ball forward in stance, just inside left heel.

Stance pointing left of pin, around 17/20 degrees
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Open the clubface so that the leading edge is facing the target ( rotate shaft in grip, don't rotate wrists).

Hit through on the line of your feet, contact the sand a few inches behind the ball and allow the clubface to pass under the ball. The bounce on the front edge of the club will send a wedge of sand out of the bunker with the ball sitting on top of it.

Make a high follow through to ensure you have accelerated through the shot.

For a buried lie (Fried egg):

Stance pointing right of pin.

Close or hood clubface

Ball further back in stance.

Close (or hood) the clubface by rotating grip.

Same swing as in previous, hit behind ball.


Remember that you can use a number of clubs in sand not only a sand wedge. If the green is some distance away try an 8 or 9 iron.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Sand traps are very easy, basically aim 20 or 30 degree left of where you want it to go and setup just as you would for the driver, this ensures the low point of swing is behind the ball, aim the clubface torwards the target and swing with the feet line. If you have soft sand you really need a lot of bounce on the wedge 15 degrees or so, 10 degrees is a good general purpose, the bounce stops the club from digging. Make a three quarter swing, and don't stop, keep that club moving, this is the only shot other then the flop shot that you really want the clubhead to pass the hands, get the feeling the backside of club is hitting the ground first. Takes some practice, but you will get the feel for it.

All good advice. The only thing I would add would be if you are in soft sand, and you dig your feet into it, that you might want choke down on the grip to make up the inch or so that your feet are below the ball. GJS

I agree with Brian,

But I add, aim left of the pin because you are cutting the ball thus creating the side spin - the ball will hit the deck and will move to the right (for r/handers).

Also weight more so on the left side creating a steeper plane.

With the fried egg - aim for the biggest part of the green.

I think is was Sr, I like the idea of setting the feet in the sand, this allows me to feel the consistency of it. This determines how I play my shot.

Yes, you must aim left of the pin with an open clubface. The shot is the same as a lofted wedge shot except you have the ball forward in your stance.

I would just emphasise that you can play from a greenside bunker with clubs other than a sand wedge, especially if the green is further away or the sand is wet or compact, when it's wet use a club with less bounce like PW or a LW..

On a slight tangent, do you guys know of some video footage on the net of some of these different types of shots. I love watching Tiger on the Nike SwingPortrait website: http://www.nike.com/nikegolf/swingportrait/ because you can watch how he sets up and how he moves. I mean, what a beautiful rhythm! (Drool ...)

But I would love to see a similar thing for other clubs and shots than just the driver, because I think it would be a good education. So, do any of you know of any footage like this floating around the web for the different clubs?

Cheers,

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MillenniuMcow

Innovation, not rumination.

Back in January, Scragger 63 had this tip from Laura Davies, "Align your stance to the left of the target line then "hood" the club head. By this she means to close it some. Then, using as light a grip pressure as you can you take a reasonably fullish swing one or so inches behind the ball."

Scragger, this tip absolutely saved my sand game. I always had trouble getting the ball out, mostly digging too deep and leaving the ball in the trap. I started practicing this technique and immediately saw excellent results. Sometimes, too good. The ball would come out so nicely I would go over the green. Once I perfected the distance to hit behind the ball it all came together. In one round a few weeks ago I had 2 sandies in a row. I can't remember when I had just one. The clubface doesn't dig too deep with this method. It takes just the right amount of sand. I think it's because the toe leading guides the face through better. This past Saturday I had another beautiful sand shot. The ball popped up almost too high and I didn't get the roll down to the pin, but it was an awesome shot. I now almost looke forward to getting in the sand if that makes any sense. Thanks for the tip and for saving my sand play.

I thought "hooding" meant setting up with the club shaft tilting farther forward than usual, essentially a forward press in the setup itself. This doesn't entail taking the club face away from square, does it?

On the same subject, more or less, I've also read that (a) in a normal swing, the end of the club shaft should be a few inches left of the trouser zipper (so that the line from left shoulder to club head is pretty straight), but (b) in a sand shot setup, the end of the club shaft should be right in front of the zipper, because you don't want any lag in a sand shot. Does this sound right?

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Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

One other point, unless I missed it in the previous comments - never let the clubhead get ahead of the hands.

Also, keep the entire swing in front of the body - you don't want any swinging around the body on these type of bunker shots.

The final important point is to take quite a long backswing - so many people panic and rush the shot with a short backswing and stab. Keep the backswing long and smooth.

I don't agree with that statement, bunker shots are one of the few times that it is ok to have the clubhead pass the hands, actually it is desirable, helps get the bounce of the club involved and slides the clubhead under the ball.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that.....