Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
Bunkers can be scorecard killers for recreational players. While professional and high-level players make escaping the sandbox look easy, for weekend hackers it’s anything but.
For many disabled seniors, only coming out of sand is cause for celebration. But if you really want to become a stick, you have to learn not only how to escape, but also to give yourself a reasonable chance to make the follow-up putt.
The problem recreational golfers encounter with bunker shots is typically either a lack of understanding of proper technique. Of course, many of them are familiar with the basic principles (opening the clubface, hitting behind the ball, etc.), but in practice they are still making critical mistakes.
Heck, I struggle with this too. While I know HOW to hit a proper bunker shot, sometimes I still struggle to execute correctly.
fortunately, GOLF Top 100 Teachers Joe Plecker showed me a trick that makes hitting the bunker easy. See below.
This hack fixed my bunker game
In the past, when lining up to hit a bunker shot, I would grip the club as usual. However, this turned out to be one big mistake.
With one neutral syllable (or even strong), I was making it very easy to close the club site as I approached impact.
“This is it the worst the thing you can do on a bunker shot is close the clubface,” Plecker says.
To combat this, Plecker suggested loosening my grip by rotating it more. TO the objective. With my hand pre-rotated in this direction, it made it harder to lock the clubface – and dig the leading edge – into the sand.
“If you were really struggling with your bunker shots and closing the club too much,” says Plecker. “The easiest thing you can do is move that (lead) hand around the club, put it in that weak position a little bit more and make sure you can’t close the clubface.”
If you do this, you will find that getting your ball out of the bunker becomes a breeze.
Divot Board Turf Mat 4×5 – Pack
Optimize Your Golf Game with Turf Flooring Elevate your golf practice with our premium 4×5 golf mat, designed for realistic practice at home with the added benefit of instant motion feedback. This package includes the popular Divot Board, which fits seamlessly into the specially designed cutout inside the mattress. You won’t just be hitting off a mat – you’ll know exactly how your swing affects the ground with every shot, thanks to the Divot Board’s instant feedback system. The mat’s durable 1/2″ foam base and commercial-grade synthetic turf provide a true grass feel, perfect for practicing iron and driver shots. The non-slip base keeps the mat securely in place, so you can practice with confidence. The Divot board is fully portable, so you can take it off the mat and use it anywhere. Whether you’re practicing on the course, in the backyard, or on a surface next, the Divot Board is portable and easy to move Get the ultimate in dexterity in your practice while getting instant feedback on your swing Key Features: Premium 4×5 mat with realistic grass surface Includes Divot Plate for instant feedback on every swing Durable, non-slip base for practice stability (Sm, Md, Lrg) Improve your practice with instant feedback and the freedom to use your divot board wherever you go! The Turf Mat serves as an essential training tool for players of all levels. This mat replicates real fairway conditions, allowing you to improve your swing technique and gain confidence on the course. Because the Turf Mat absorbs impact well, ensuring a comfortable practice experience. Unlike regular practice mats, the heavy-duty construction withstands countless swings without showing signs of wear and tear. What’s more, this mat can handle indoor and outdoor use for your practice sessions. So whether you’re practicing in your backyard or in a garage, this mat offers the same performance, making it a worthwhile investment for serious players. The Turf Mat is not only high-performance, but also incredibly user-friendly. This simplicity makes it a popular choice among players who appreciate convenience. So if you want to maintain a regular practice schedule without the hassle of complicated setups, the Turf Mat is the perfect solution.
View Product
