Bunkers: An Opportunity to Be Fearless
Effective green-side bunker play demands consistency. Depending on the external sand conditions, a motion that takes 1-2 inches of sand behind/before the ball will breed the most success.
Some students may stare at an imaginary line or a grain of sand 1-2 inches behind the ball rather than staring at the ball. Envision “splashing” the sand and ball out of the bunker will also help.
There are three principle “methods” for hitting a basic bunker shot*:
- “Regular swing”
- Ball position = 1-2” forward of center.
- Take your regular FULL swing while entering the sand 1-2” behind/before the ball.
- Remember to commit to a complete finish since the sand will take a lot of the swing-speed energy, and we need to “blast” the ball out of the bunker.
- “Frontloading”
- Ball position = 1-2” forward of center.
- At set-up, lean/put 60%+ of your weight on your left/front leg at address.
- Take your regular swing while entering the sand 1-2” behind the ball also committing to a full finish position.
- “Old-school” (a.k.a. “Chicken Scratch”)
- Ball position = 1-2” forward of center.
- Open your club-face.
- Open your stance an equal amount as the club-face.
- Take a steeper/outside backswing path.
- The downswing path should match the backswing path.
- Feel as though you are swinging to the target while your right hand “slides” under the ball. (Please note, this is a very subjective experience!)
- Commit to a full finish position if the sand’s conditions require.
*There are many other creative and technical ways to hit a bunker shot. These are simply the basics that I have found to be the least risky and most effective.
Above all, view a bunker shot as an opportunity to be courageous. Our fearless mindset influences the outcome and success rate more often than technical skills.
Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Seamless Golf,” “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and is the founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, golf schools, and performance coaching for in Santa Cruz, CA and Reno, NV.