Making Sand a Day at the Beach
Making Sand a Day at the Beach Being in the bunker doesn’t have to be a scary proposition! Use the following keys to increase your success and make your next greenside bunker shot a “day at the beach”.
Pre-Swing Keys for Success 1. “Open” your stance which means the alignment of your feet and shoulders will be more to the left (for right handed players) than they normally would be (see picture, left). 2. “Open” the clubface to match the open stance. Opening the clubface means rotating the club so the clubface points more up in the air and then replacing your grip on the club (see picture, left). 3. The ball should be even with the heel of your front foot.
Alignment of Body Target Line
Practice making shots in the bunker without a ball using the pre-swing and in-swing keys for success. Draw a small “X” and see if you can knock the “X” to the front of the bunker. When you get comfortable hitting the “X”, place a ball on top and see if you can still knock the “X” underneath to the front of the bunker. The sand will carry the ball out of the bunker!
4. Place more of your weight to your target side (left side for a right handed player).
In-Swing Keys for Success 1. One common mistake is swinging to the sand instead of swinging through the sand. Make sure you swing to a full finish on each shot to keep the club accelerating through the sand! 2. Keep your weight more on your front foot throughout the swing (left foot for right handed players). 3. The most important thing in the bunker is to hit the sand rather than the ball. Try this image and see if it increases your success: Hit 1 inch of the sand that is right under the ball to the front of the bunker. Let the sand carry the ball out of the bunker.
EWGA Proprietary and Confidential. For use with authorized EWGA programs only. EWGA Golf Education & Player Development programs and materials developed by the EWGA Foundation.
Pre-Swing Keys for Success 1. “Open” your stance which means the alignment of your feet and shoulders will be more to the left (for right handed players) than they normally would be (see picture, left). 2. “Open” the clubface to match the open stance. Opening the clubface means rotating the club so the clubface points more up in the air and then replacing your grip on the club (see picture, left). 3. The ball should be even with the heel of your front foot.
Alignment of Body Target Line
Practice making shots in the bunker without a ball using the pre-swing and in-swing keys for success. Draw a small “X” and see if you can knock the “X” to the front of the bunker. When you get comfortable hitting the “X”, place a ball on top and see if you can still knock the “X” underneath to the front of the bunker. The sand will carry the ball out of the bunker!
4. Place more of your weight to your target side (left side for a right handed player).
In-Swing Keys for Success 1. One common mistake is swinging to the sand instead of swinging through the sand. Make sure you swing to a full finish on each shot to keep the club accelerating through the sand! 2. Keep your weight more on your front foot throughout the swing (left foot for right handed players). 3. The most important thing in the bunker is to hit the sand rather than the ball. Try this image and see if it increases your success: Hit 1 inch of the sand that is right under the ball to the front of the bunker. Let the sand carry the ball out of the bunker.
EWGA Proprietary and Confidential. For use with authorized EWGA programs only. EWGA Golf Education & Player Development programs and materials developed by the EWGA Foundation.
