Coaching Corner - Bunkers
A shot feared by many golfers needn't be with a few simple adjustments.
Too many golfers and instructors make this shot complicated by making wholesale changes to the club, stance and swing when faced with this shot. The best bunker players of all time make this hot seem simple because they keep it simple!
Don't mess around aiming left, opening the face of the club far too much and then trying to swing to the left and hit behind the ball an inch and half, then making sure you follow through.......... good luck!
The worlds best do 2 things, first is they hit the sand up to 5 inches behind the ball, not 1 or 1 1/2 like some believe, hitting the sand that close to the ball is impossible to do consistently. The second thing they do is to feel that impact is dominated by the right hand (one hand swings in the bunker is a great drill!) In the image above you can see Bernhard Langer's right hand has passed the left but kept the club looking up to the sky, great way of using loft and the bounce of your sand wedge.
So remember 5 inches behind the ball and hit it with your right hand (left for left handers)
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