Bunker Play – Three Great Tips

Bunkers……..just the thought of them is a negative for most amateur golfers. You know the feeling. You might be having a great round, then all of a sudden you find yourself in a bunker and all that confidence you had is suddenly gone, replaced by self doubt. How am I going to get up and down from here? What if I hit it fat? What if I catch the lip?

Well, although bunkers are challenging for amateur golfers, the pros love them. They make bunker play look so easy, and the reason for this is simple. Technique. And just as the pros know how to play bunker shots, you can also learn how to play them, and become a better golfer in the process.

So what are the secrets to good bunker play? Well here are a few tips for you. But a word of caution. They won’t make you a bunker star overnight. You will need to practice, and it’s a good idea to practice these tips and perfect them before attempting them in a competition.
Best of luck:

Tip 1
Aim to hit the sand, not your ball. This is crucial. The theory is that you allow the sand to take the ball with it. Depending on how far you need to hit your shot, you will need to aim between 1 and 4 inches behind the ball. Now focus on the point in the sand that you want to hit. Don’t look at the back of the ball as you would if taking a shot from somewhere else on the course.

Tip 2
Align yourself slightly to the left of your target (if your are a right hander). Open the face of the club. When you do this you will gain extra height and ensure that your ball clears the lip of the bunker.

Tip 3
Swing through the ball. Don’t worry about distance too much at this stage. Practice a nice smooth swing and imagine that the sand is taking the ball with it. Whatever you do, don’t stab at the ball. Follow through with your swing. Once you are comfortable with your swing you can then practice varying the length of your swing to refine the distance of your shot.
Practice these three tips and your bunker play should improve dramatically.

Happy Golfing
Dave