Know How To Play Golf Bunker Shots
Golf bunker shots are not nearly as difficult as they seem to be, but are feared by many golfers. The problem with golf bunker shots is that we dont get a chance to practice them very often and lack confidence when we play them. However, the key to successful golf bunker shots is know how to set up properly for them. Once you know how to set up for golf bunker shots, the rest of the golf swing is relatively simple.
Below are a few golf bunker shot tips (for right handed golfers) for the two most common golf bunker shots green side bunker shots and fairway bunker shots.
Greenside Bunker Shot Golf Tips
1. When setting up for the golf bunker shot, set up with your weight 60/40 favoring the left sidemaintain throughout the swing.
2. Use sand wedgeopen the clubface and open your stance (with clubface facing target). If the sand feels soft underneath your feet, open the clubface a little more. If the sand feels firm, open the club face a little less.
3. Setup so that the ball is forward from center in your stance.
4. Hit sand 2 inches behind ball. Keep left arm straight and control shot with body rotation, not arms, ensuring that you rotate fully through the shot.
Fairway Bunker Shot Golf Tips
1. Grip down on club 1 inch. Take one more club than usual (i.e., a 5-iron instead of 6-iron) but make sure you have enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker.
2. Distribute weight evenly at address
3. Position body so that ball is in the middle of the stance.
4. Stand taller at address to avoid striking the sand first.
5. Swing smoothly and strike the ball cleanly.
Do not be intimated by golf bunker shots. Just remember that golf bunker shots take a special kind of set up and once that set up is achieved, they are as easy as hitting a pitch shot. If you want to practice golf bunker shots, one effective golf bunker shot drill to try at your practice facility is to assume bunker shot address without the ball, then splash the sand out of the bunker taking a long, narrow sand divot. Repeat this drill 3 to 5 times, then try the drill with a golf ball. You will be amazed at how well you execute your golf bunker shot!
Below are a few golf bunker shot tips (for right handed golfers) for the two most common golf bunker shots green side bunker shots and fairway bunker shots.
Greenside Bunker Shot Golf Tips
1. When setting up for the golf bunker shot, set up with your weight 60/40 favoring the left sidemaintain throughout the swing.
2. Use sand wedgeopen the clubface and open your stance (with clubface facing target). If the sand feels soft underneath your feet, open the clubface a little more. If the sand feels firm, open the club face a little less.
3. Setup so that the ball is forward from center in your stance.
4. Hit sand 2 inches behind ball. Keep left arm straight and control shot with body rotation, not arms, ensuring that you rotate fully through the shot.
Fairway Bunker Shot Golf Tips
1. Grip down on club 1 inch. Take one more club than usual (i.e., a 5-iron instead of 6-iron) but make sure you have enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker.
2. Distribute weight evenly at address
3. Position body so that ball is in the middle of the stance.
4. Stand taller at address to avoid striking the sand first.
5. Swing smoothly and strike the ball cleanly.
Do not be intimated by golf bunker shots. Just remember that golf bunker shots take a special kind of set up and once that set up is achieved, they are as easy as hitting a pitch shot. If you want to practice golf bunker shots, one effective golf bunker shot drill to try at your practice facility is to assume bunker shot address without the ball, then splash the sand out of the bunker taking a long, narrow sand divot. Repeat this drill 3 to 5 times, then try the drill with a golf ball. You will be amazed at how well you execute your golf bunker shot!
