Beat the Bunker

When out on the course, the bunker seems to be the most feared of all places, but it doesn’t have to be that bad. If you play the shot the right way, then you could have a greater margin of error than anywhere on the course. Here are a few tips on how to beat the bunker.

Mentality
When playing a ball from the bunker, the best way is to have a consistent mentality and technique. When playing the shot you should always think "low and slow”. This will mean that you will need to create a shallow angle of attack and have soft hands whilst making the play. If the club remains lower for longer you will find the ideal sweeping attack and swinging the club slowly will mean the ball will hit the green softly, allowing you to have more control.

Bounce
In order to gain the right technique for bunkers it is important to understand how the bounce of your wedge works. The basic principle is, is that when the bottom of the sole of the club hits the sand, the bounce angle ensures that any speed is not lost through the sand. The ball should emerge softly with a cushion of sand on to the green. You can alter the amount of bounce by altering your position. The closer to the ball you stand then the more bounce the ball will have, as there is more of the club contact to scoop the ball upwards, and therefore the further away you stand, the lower the bounce angle.

Splash
It is sometimes hard to know how much sand to hit when trying to get your ball from out of the bunker. Some golfers shy away from hitting the sand, but it is necessary to hit the right amount of sand in order to make the perfect shot. So how do you know how much sand to hit? The best way to do this is to place two tees either side of the ball, about 3 inches either side. Do a few practice swings and try to keep your swing within this distance between the tees. Then when taking the shot you want to ensure that you clip both tee pegs.

Hit the Sand
The worst thing that you can do when trying to get your ball from the bunker is to hit the ball without hitting the sand first. Hitting the ball first will either result in the ball hitting you in the face or flying over the green. Try to adjust your position to find the shallowest angle of attack and ensure that you hit some sand before the ball.

Practice will always make perfect. You will find that the more you practice in the bunker then the more confidence you will have. Try lining up different shots and lies when practicing so you can feel confident whatever shot comes up in your game.