Feet Outside Bunker/Ball Inside Bunker
You hit a solid approach shot, but the ball sails left a bit. When it comes down, it gets hung up on the left side of a greenside bunker, about 10-15 yards from the green. The only way you can play this shot is to stand outside the bunker and reach into it—a challenging shot. Almost anything can happen—a shank, a complete miss. You name it. A bad shot here can cost you par adding several strokes to your score.
Five keys to this shot:
1. Establish a solid foundation
2. Close the clubface
3. Lower your rear end
4. Keep knees flexed
5. Swing straight back and down
This shot resembles any shot where the ball is below your feet—only more so. The trick to making solid contact is to stop yourself from falling forward as you swing. Here are the keys to this shot:
Take a normal stance but spread your feet a little bit wider than shoulder width length to create a solid base. Now flex your knees, and drop your rear end down to get the club down to the ball. Don’t just bend forward with your torso.
Some golfers play the ball in the middle of their stance. Others play it near the left heel. Experience tells you which works for you. Keep the clubface closed in your setup. If you open it, you’ll shank the shot, causing the ball to go right.
The steeper the slope, the more the ball tends to go right, so aim left of target accordingly. Also, hinge your wrists quickly during the takeaway. You want to come straight back and down as with most bunker shots. Keep your knees flexed and your lower body quiet as you swing. This is critical.
You won’t have this shot often. When you do, it’s a challenge. Use the five keys described above and you’ll escape the bunker in one.
