| Being trapped in a sand bunker is an easy way | | | | as possible. As this requires you to swing |
| to add a lot of strokes to your score. If you | | | | with only your hands and arms, you'll want to |
| miss that first shot, you can easily become | | | | take a club or two more than usual [but bear |
| concerned and over anxious. Take your time | | | | in mind that playing the ball farther back |
| and keep a few things like this in mind. | | | | than normal will deloft the clubface |
| | | | slightly]. For anything up to 75 yards, the |
| One way to prevent dipping and hitting your | | | | average players to use a pitching wedge hit |
| ball heavy when playing a long bunker shot is | | | | with a three quarters swing. |
| to concentrate on keeping the knees "on the | | | | |
| same level" throughout the swing. Note that | | | | There are occasions when it's a good idea to |
| we say he "on the same level" and not just | | | | putt out of a bunker, or use the "Texas |
| "level". The idea is to stop you from lifting | | | | wedge". The bunker should have firm sand and |
| up or bending down. If you lift up, either | | | | little or no lip, and there should be a |
| you hit the ball thin or you run the risk of | | | | smooth surface between the ball and the edge |
| hitting it fat if you bend down again. If you | | | | of the bunker. Address the ball as you would |
| bend down first, you'll almost definitely hit | | | | a putt, with the ball in the center of your |
| the ball fat. | | | | stance. Swing with the arms and shoulders, |
| | | | but keep the wrists firm and the rest of your |
| Ask any professional golfer the toughest shot | | | | body, especially your head, absolutely still. |
| in golf and he'll say the 60 yard sand shot. | | | | The key is to make solid contact. Be careful |
| Even the top players have trouble deciding | | | | not to ground the putter. If you do, you will |
| whether this calls for an explosion shot or a | | | | be penalized. |
| normal wedge shot. Fortunately, we average | | | | |
| players don't have to make that decision. The | | | | Knowing the basic techniques of bunker sand |
| 60 yard explosion just isn't in our bags. So | | | | play and understanding the subtleties of the |
| we'll make do with the normal wedge shot. | | | | various problems you can encounter will |
| Stand squarely, with the ball in the middle | | | | actually lead you to even enjoy the play from |
| of your stance. As with the long bunker shot, | | | | a sand bunker. Visit Golf Training Aid |
| you should make contact with the ball first, | | | | Online for more help on your golf short |
| to remain as steady as possible for as long | | | | game.. |