Golf Tips: 1-2-3 Steps to Perfect Shots from the Sand

According to many teaching pros, as well as Marty Fleckman, Director of Instruction at BlackHorse Golf Club, being good at hitting shots from the sand depends on three very important things: good setup, proper technique and consistency.

The tool best for green-side bunkers is quite obviously the sand wedge. The loft of your sand wedge may vary from 55 to 58 degrees. It may also very in 8 to 12 degrees of bounce - "bounce" lifts the leading edge of the club off the ground, which helps to prevent the club-face from digging into the ground or sand. You might be tempted to use a Lob wedge because it has even more loft but beware - a lob wedge typically does not have the amount of "bounce" that sand wedges have and tend to dig deeply into sand instead of bouncing off.

After you have pulled your sand wedge for your shot your next goal is to get yourself in proper setup. For the proper setup, try to visualize three lines in the sand. One line going from the target to the ball and then extending beyond the ball. This is called the target line. Another line that is about 10 degrees open to the target line is where you should set the angle of our feet or toes. Then imagine a line perpendicular to your target line originating at the ball. This shows the ball position, which should be slightly back of center for right-handed golfers. Now that your feet are aligned for the shot, sit down slightly with your knees in an athletic stance. Since you want to hit slightly below the ball do not be afraid to sit slightly more down than a normal full swing stance - but when I say slightly, I mean slightly! Too much bending at the knee will make the shot feel awkward and far less consistent.

Now that you have a good setup, the face of the club should be slightly open. This will put loft on the ball and allow the back portion of the bottom of the club to bounce off the sand causing a "splash-like" shot.

The beginning of your back swing should be straight back or slightly outside the target line. There is an immediate cocking of the wrists as you begin this motion naturally, which produces a more vertical swing and encourages the club to enter the sand about two inches behind the ball. When practicing bunker shots off the course, it is a good idea to physically draw a line in the sand about two inches behind the ball. But remember to only do this when practicing, as it is illegal for your club to touch the sand when your ball is actually in play.

What you are trying to do is to take as little sand as possible without contacting the ball. Allow the sand to lift the ball from the bunker in what will seem like a splash of sand. Ideally, the amount of sand that you take should only be a thin top layer below the ball but do not be afraid of taking too much as the "bounce" built into a sand-wedge should help to keep the club from digging too deep. Opening the club-face also assures that as little sand as possible will be "splashed" out.

When contacting the sand on the forward swing, you should try to take the back of your left hand and move it towards the logo on your golf glove. This action is called "cupping the wrist" and it is a necessary action in hitting consistent sand saves. Since this motion prevents the club from closing, the ball is lifted in the air with backspin. Be careful only to concentrate on "cupping the wrist" while practicing so that this becomes a natural movement when you take it to the course. Too much "thinking" of the shot will detract from the natural smoothness that these short-game finesse shots require.

With these three important tips regarding sand play, you should be able to consistently get the ball safely out of any green-side bunker in one shot. Practice, of course, makes perfect so hone your skills at the practice green first. Soon you will begin to see bunkers as the pro's do - chances to get the ball very close to the hole!

Sources used: Marty Fleckman http://golf.about.com/library/tips/aa102904a.htm