There aren’t many places where you can practice bunker shots. Fortunately, the skills you need to escape a greenside bunker are rather simple. One skill you must learn with bunker shots is to take just the right amount of sand during the shot. Players sometimes take to much sand and sometimes not enough. As a result they either leave the ball in the sand or they fly it over the green.
Below are five keys to escaping the sand in one:
- Turn your shoulders
- Kick your knees
- Spread your feet
- Hinge your hands
- Finish with a cup
Let’s start with your address. Spread your feet slightly wider than the width of your shoulders when you first address the ball. A wider stance produces a more rounded swing, which is exactly what you want.
Take the club back slow as you start your backswing. Make sure cock your wrists fully as you go back. By the time you reach hip high, you should see wrinkles in your wrist left wrist (right wrist for lefties).
Once you’ve reached the top of your swing, kick your knees toward the target. This move not only shortens the left side of the body, it also creates a sweeping upswing through the sand.
Another key to remember when escaping the sand is to turn your shoulders during the shot. Too many weekend players use their hands to hit the shot. It’s the shoulders that do the heavy lifting, not the hands. Point your front shoulder at the target through impact.
Aim for a spot and inch behind the ball as you swing down. Release the club by cupping your left wrist. Also, keep your hands low to the ground. If you see your right thumb after impact, you’ve done it correctly.
There aren’t many places to practice bunker shots. Fortunately, the skills needed to escape a bunker shot are easy to master. Keep the keys discussed above in mind when making a bunker shot and you’ll get out in one every time.