This month I would like to cover a much fear area for most golfers, “The Bunker.” Most players call it the “Sand Trap.” The first person to call a bunker a trap definitely struggled when they entered the sand.
The first step in healthy, improved bunker play would be a more positive and committed mind-set as we enter the bunker. Focus back to your usual mental impressions when you are standing over a bunker shot. I’m sure if we monitor your thoughts most often they are timid, confused, and doubtful. Secondly, all players could spend much more time practicing bunker shots. My observation is most people struggle out of the bunker but rarely spend time in the sand. Bunker practice is a small after-thought. Regular practice would save many a large score on a hole or two.
The key to solid bunker play is to splash the bounce of the wedge through the sand. The bounce is the back bottom sole of the club. The bounce of the wedge acts as a hydrofoil through the sand. The club itself never strikes the ball. I imagine a square around the ball (photo 1). The square is like an island on which the ball is placed. I take out the whole island with the bounce of the wedge and the sand propels the ball out of the bunker.
As I practice I attempt to out the square with a consistent point of entry and the same depth of sand on every shot. This is the key! Open the face more with a shorter bunker shot. A longer shot the face of the club is more square. A quick note-most players do not have the clubface open enough out of the bunker (photo 2). When the clubface is slightly more open, more bounce is exposed and more splash and less digging takes place out of the bunker. Good news.
Another key to improved bunker play is our set up and stance. A wider stance that is slightly further from the ball is a good start. It is always to our advantage to lean left at address with our chest on top of the ball. This will help to get down and through the sand rather than fall back and hit fat and thin shots.
A wonderful drill is to place a 2x4 level with the sand and practice hitting the bounce or bottom on the board (photo 3). You can place sand and a ball on the board and hit shots feeling the bounce strike the board.
Jeff Coston is a former PGA Tour Player and a 11-time Pacific Northwest Player of the Year. He
can be reached for appointment by calling Semiahmoo Resort at 360-371-7005.
