Most players have trouble with bunker shots because they are afraid of this shot. Why? Well, the reason is they usually end up hitting a scud missile over the green or leaving it in the bunker.

The bunker shot is the only shot in golf in which we ask you NOT to hit the ball — we ask you to hit behind the ball anywhere between two and four inches. The worst thing you can do on this shot is hit the ball.
Here are some things you can do to improve on your bunker play.

The one mistake I see the most is people taking too short of a back swing, which doesn’t give enough power to get the ball out of the bunker. This is why it is very important to take a full back swing and have a full follow through.

Make sure you open your stance up and stand a little further away from the ball with a good knee flex. Your feet, shoulders and hips should be left of the target. You should also open your clubface, weaken your grip and make sure your ball position is forward or just inside your left heel.

The amount of sand you take depends on the length of the shot. The shorter the shot, the further behind the ball you should hit. The longer the shot, the closer behind the ball you should hit. Practice this by drawing lines in the sand behind the ball.

It is very important to feel all right hand on this shot. A good drill to get this feeling is to take practice swings with just your right arm. Make sure you take a full back swing and have a full follow through, releasing the right hand. Try to slap the sand on the green.
Try these tips this weekend when practicing and your bunker play will improve.

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