Gary Player reveals his secrets to elite bunker play

Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today look back at Gary Player’s bunker secrets from our March 1989 issue. For unlimited access to GOLF Magazine’s complete digital archive, join Inside GOLF tODAY; you’ll enjoy $140 worth of value for just $39.99 per year.

Gary Player is known as many things – grand champion, world traveler, storyteller like no other – but one that is sometimes overlooked is the elite bunker player. While his game was consistent throughout his career, his bunker play often stood out.

This is a concept that is foreign to most recreational players. Bunkers are seen as score killers for most weekend warriors and they seek to avoid them at all costs.

This was not the case for the Black Knights. While he may not have intended ABOUT bunkers, he certainly wasn’t shy once he found himself in the sand.

This success can be attributed to a fearless attitude and exquisite technique. And while we can’t teach a player fear, we can give you some insight into his technique.

Check out some of the best sandplayer secrets from the March 1989 issue below GOLF magazine.

Gary Player’s Bunker Secrets

I am honored that many great players and teachers consider me the best bunker player ever. I am too modest to agree, but such a ranking would put me in honorable company.

My list of sand geniuses includes some well-known players, such as Bobby Locke, Julius Boros, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Chi Chi Rodriguez, and Seve Ballesteros. I also count Jerry Barber, Norman von Nida, and Doug Ford among the lesser known but no less accomplished sand masters.

If I’m one of the greats, it’s for one simple reason: No bunker shot has ever scared me, and none ever will. The key to this bravado is practice.

I’ve practiced and experimented with hundreds of lies with different swings, in effect building up a bank of data in my memory that I can call upon no matter what kind of sand shot I’m facing. Just as importantly, I’ve developed my imagination to the point where I’m sure I can find my way out of any bunker, no matter how stark the lie.

I think you get the message: There are no shortcuts; you have to practice. Start with the basics – which are outlined below – then work your way up the experience ladder, adding more difficult poses to your repertoire.

Grounds

First things first: There is a club designed specifically for bunkers, so use it. A sand wedge should have a large heel, with its leading edge actually higher than the back of the flange. This angle is called the “bulge”. Wedges vary in their amount of bounce, with more bounce usually for softer sand. The nail will slide into the sand, pushing it up and throwing the ball out.

Which raises another key point: Unless you’re hitting a club other than the sand wedge—into a fairway bunker, for example—the club doesn’t hit the ball. The club hits the sand, which moves the ball. If you don’t understand this, you will have problems with all the advice that follows.

I said before that confidence is important for sand play. Approach every bunker shot with the feeling that you’re going to hit it. Increase your confidence using your basic swing, simply by modifying it for specific situations.

Placing

On a green bunker, take an open stance: Point your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders to the left of the target. (Don’t dig your feet in too deep, or you’ll limit foot action and throw off your balance.) And open up the clubface to make it easier to get into the sand.

The open stance will force you to move off the line going back and along the ball coming down. This puts shear spin on the ball so it will fly left-right. Compensate for this by aiming to the left of the target. But only hours of practice will teach you how far to aim, with the length of the swing depending on the shot in hand.

For shorter shots, open your stance and clubface more; this creates a higher and shorter stroke. For longer shots, position your body and club closer to square.

tremor

While you should use | basic swing technique, some modifications are necessary.

Facing a clean lie—when the ball lands in the sand—your swing should be shallower, almost U-shaped. Put about 60 percent of your weight on your left foot and swing the club mostly with your arms.

When the ball is fully sunk, swing up and down in a V shape. Set the club square; put 75 percent of your weight on your left leg; bend your wrists early in the backswing and pull the club down with your hands.

Once you’ve mastered these two shots, try them in other situations. For example, a V-shaped swing is useful for a very short sand shot; the same action that “knifes” the ball from a buried lie also brings it up, so it lands and stops quickly. The U-shaped swing is good for longer bunker shots when you need to make a fuller swing.

Ball position can also help. You can hit a higher shot by playing the ball forward in your stance, starting with your hands back and keeping more weight on your right foot. Reverse those steps for a low throw (which also spins more after landing).

As your experience and confidence grow, you should experiment. In a bunker with low edges off the green, try to chip the ball out. The shooter may also get the call when faced with a steep downhill shot from hard sand.

I am against greensand chipping. Trying to bite the ball is a low-percentage shot, and you’re likely to press it, hit it thick, or catch it thin. Don’t do it.

Fairway bunkers

First, use a stick with enough loft to get over the rim; even if you end up with no green, at least you’ll be out of the trap. Second, hit the ball cleanly; don’t hit the sand. Third, when hitting a fairway wood, focus on the front of the ball; this encourages an all-out strike. Now it’s up to you.

Practice, build your confidence in the sand and your whole game will improve.