Struggling with deep bunker shots? These 10 tips will help you

Hit from a deep bunker can be intimidating to many golfersas each presents added pressure to avoid a catastrophic outcome.

But only because has a larger than normal lip it doesn’t mean you should fear the challenge ahead. With great technique and confidence, you can see the success you’re looking for from any bunker depth – and I show you 10 ways to do that below.

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10 ways to have more success on deep bunker shots

Having made three golf trips to the UK in the last two years, I’ve seen my fair share of deep bunkers. Many of them are breathtaking and add a fun (and sometimes scary) obstacle for golfers.

If you want to escape these tricky traps in one fell swoop, you need the right plan and technique — so here’s how to succeed.

1. Do you have an attitude?

One element that makes a deep bunker shot so difficult is that, at times, it can be difficult to simply get into a stance to hit the ball. It’s not unusual to have one foot on the ground and the other at a weird, crooked angle at address.

If you lack the ability to get up, you may want to consider a less direct route from the bunker and simply plan to get the ball out and back into play. By simply “taking your medicine” and returning to the short grass, you will help eliminate potential disaster.

2. How close is your ball to the rim?

The closer the ball is to the rim, the higher you’ll need to get it in the air – which makes your club choice even more important. On extra steep bunker lips, you’ll need to use a higher club (like a lob wedge), then open the face and/or create a steeper backhand path with a more exaggerated hand swing .

3. Which clubs can you use?

While you may have more club options than “normal” bunkers, on these deep bunker shots that have extra depth, you’ll need to use a wedge that has a lot of loft and bounce—all about distance. your target, of course. .

Use your flat wedge for higher and shorter shots, your sand wedge for medium launch and medium distance, and your gap wedge when you have a lower edge and need to cover more distance.

4. Match your setup to the shooting distance

Always remember to match your setup to your desired stroke and distance. This means moving the ball position to be slightly forward – helping you hit the sand ahead the ball — and dig your feet into the sand to help hit the sand in front of, under and behind the ball.

When it comes to stance, it can vary depending on how much spin and lift you need in a shot. A more normal stance will create less roll and lift, but add more distance. A lower and wider setup will produce more hand hinge and a steeper angle in the sand, producing more spin for less total distance.

5. Sprinkle the sand

It’s imperative to be comfortable with the spray of sand on these deep bunker shots, which helps clear the ball off even the steepest lips.

I suggest practicing this in the short game area on the driving distance without a ball that gives you the feel you need to hit it on the course. When the goal is to get the sand out of the bunker, I often see a much better swing, helping players avoid the urge to try to lift the golf ball over the rim.

6. Speed

Now is not the time to slow the club down, which can be a common mistake amateur golfers make on bunker shots. Instead, you should add speed, which is necessary to push the sand and create spin and lift on your ball.

So what speed should you use? Generally, it should be your full swing speed – despite often being closer to the green. Just make sure you are hitting the sand first and not the ball, using good technique to execute this type of shot.

7. Finish up front

When hitting a deep bunker shot, always make sure you end up on your lead foot. Not only does this prevent you from trying to reach back and catch the ball, but it allows you to get the club into the sand and into the correct spot.

A good practice technique is to hold your finish and make sure your trail heel is off the ground. If your weight is really forward, you should be able to touch that toe without having to shift your weight to your forward foot.

8. Do you need to open your face?

This is a tricky one to answer because it all depends on the shot you encounter. A golfer with lower clubhead speed should rarely open the face – as the lower speed may cause the ball to not travel far enough to escape the bunker.

If you have a high bunker edge and also need to hit a shorter distance, players with high club speed may want to open the face a bit to increase loft, bounce and also spin.

9. Have wedges that suit your playing style

To be a good bunker player, you need to have a wedge that fits your technical profile. So if you tend to be shallower (hitting draws and hooks), you’d typically want less bounce. Conversely, if you tend to be a little steeper (hitting fades and chunks), you want to increase the bounce.

That’s the simple way to explain it, but there is LOT more that goes into it.

When players need more help with their club and wedge equipment, I send them True Spec Golfwhich allows them to try different heads and shafts from almost every golf manufacturer, ensuring they get the right loft, bounce and grind for their game.

10. Try this ‘sweeping the tee’ drill

One of my favorite deep bunker drills is to place a wedge just slightly into the sand on the target side of the ball and then make sure the wedge head stays low enough to make proper contact, helping drive of weight movement. ahead. This also minimizes the error of trying to get the ball out.

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Nick Dimengo

Editor of Golf.com