Golf Technique: Out Of The Bunker
By Kerry Graylor
One of the first things to learn as you develop your golf technique is how to get out of the bunker. If you do not master this quickly you are in for a great deal of frustration. Some courses seem to have bunkers everywhere, and even on those that only have a few it can seem that your ball is drawn to them by a kind of magnetic charge.
In fact, what can happen is that in our dread of the bunker we focus on it to the extent that unintentionally we direct our shot there. So when faced with a bunker ahead, be sure that your focus is firmly on the flag.
Having sent a ball into the bunker, take a good firm stance by turning your feet down into the sand. You do not want to slip or sink as you make your shot. You will take a sand wedge, of course. Prepare for a steep swing path with the club face square to the flag. Keep your weight on your left side (assuming you are right handed).
The back swing and follow through should be equal and smooth. The club should enter the sand about 2 inches before the ball and exit about 2 inches after. You must exit the sand correctly to send the ball out of the bunker.
If you have a buried lie with the ball in the sand, closing the club face will help in entering the sand. In this case you might use a 9 iron or a pitching wedge. Entry should still be 2 inches behind the ball. Expect the ball to roll on much further because the sand will have prevented any backspin.
A buried lie in the bank of the bunker can be difficult to deal with but a little practice will help you here. Do not try an upward swing as if to scoop it out, that will not work. The aim is to send your sand wedge hard into the face of the bunker just below the ball, so that it jumps out and onto the green.
Practice dealing with sand by drawing two parallel lines and without using a ball, send your sand wedge into the sand to a depth of about a half inch, and have it exit again around 4 or 5 inches further. Keep doing this until you are used to the idea of taking out the sand. Then you can place the ball and when you take out the sand this time, the ball should go with it.
For more tips on golf technique, check out advice from the professionals in a golf book or DVD.
More on Sports and Recreation for Baby Boomers
Do You Know The Golf Rules Of Etiquette?