[ExpodoDop]

Just curious as to how people get out of the sand.
It's something that I've had a lot of trouble with generally although it has been a bit better recently when I've set up a bit differently.
I've started to play the ball about 1-2 ball lengths in front of where I would normally play it and just swing normally (but a little bit harder). I've only had 3-4 shots out of the bunker since I made the change but they've all been pretty good ones and I haven't ended up having to hit another shot from the same bunker yet

I even had one shot end up about 3 feet from the hole from about a 30 foot bunker shot so that's a big positive.

[wonceinee]

One of the best bunker videos I have ever seen.

[moopierof]

Here is a great bunker tip from THP TV on how to play sand shots.

http://www.thehackersparadise.com/?p=1536

[Xiciljed]

I open my stance up, widen my stance, put the ball forward in my stance, open the face of my wedge, and swing normally. I find that the ball comes out just fine when I play it like that. I consider myself a pretty decent bunker player.

[SeLvesTr]

Like Damaikis, I put the ball forward in my stance, widen my stance, and open my wedge up. Swinging with a smooth tempo, through the ball, I usually get a decent result out of greenside bunkers. If the ball is plugged, I have the same stance and ball position, but open the wedge up less (sometimes I take my lob wedge and don't open it up at all) and make a powerful swing behind the ball that will stick my clubhead into the sand, popping the ball up and forward. I'm so-so with plugged lies, but decent out of the sand on a good lie.

Don't ask me about fairway bunkers though. They hate me and I hate them.

[ExpodoDop]

I've tried it where I open up the clubface and put the ball forwards in my stance but quite often I end up just being in the sand again a few feet ahead of where I was. The bunkers that I'm in aren't usually the greatest though and maybe that has something to do with it?

[wonceinee]

You need to manipulate the club so the leading edge never gets caught in the sand.

I've tried it where I open up the clubface and put the ball forwards in my stance but quite often I end up just being in the sand again a few feet ahead of where I was. The bunkers that I'm in aren't usually the greatest though and maybe that has something to do with it?

[Clilmence]

Don't be scared either. I find a lot of people open the face, then get scared in their back swing and decrease swing speed. Make sure you commit to it and don't be scared to take a hard swing at it.

[sFs4aOok]

This is what I do.
54* wedge open it a bit
open my stance
ball forward
look at the target and waggle repedidly over the ball looking at my landing area feeling and visulaizing the shot
quick glance at where I want the club to enter the sand about 2-3 inches behind the ball
and the big thing for me is getting the feel of accelerating through the sand and throwing the sand to my landing area and not even think about the ball at all in my swing
When it's hard or damp sand I like to use a 58* with a low bounce

[cemDrymnVem]

Don't be scared either. I find a lot of people open the face, then get scared in their back swing and decrease swing speed. Make sure you commit to it and don't be scared to take a hard swing at it.

This!! Take a hard cut at the sand. For distance control I try to splash sand to where I want to land the ball.

[derty]

After seeing the pics from True Blue, looks like I need to work on my bunker play too!

[spacecrafty]

If I don't have a lip to worry about, and it's not a real long bunker shot, I'll putt that sucker out. Hopefully it will be up a slope and come out high in the air so it lands softer.

[derty]

If I don't have a lip to worry about, and it's not a real long bunker shot, I'll putt that sucker out. Hopefully it will be up a slope and come out high in the air so it lands softer.

I have been known to do that too...lol

[spacecrafty]

I have been known to do that too...lol

It works best when it's hardpan sand. But if it's not too fluffy, it can work OK too.

[derty]

It works best when it's hardpan sand. But if it's not too fluffy, it can work OK too.

I suck out of bunkers! And there is no place to practice here because the bunkers on my course are horrible! JN made fun of me, but I am seriously thinking about driving to the beach with wedges and a big bag of balls

[spacecrafty]

I suck out of bunkers! And there is no place to practice here because the bunkers on my course are horrible! JN made fun of me, but I am seriously thinking about driving to the beach with wedges and a big bag of balls

That would be a good way to do it.

[redDoodia]

Put the ball forward in your stance, open up your club face and stance, lean shaft forward line up at least 4 inches behind the ball, then hit down with a lot of wrist hinge and use a nice 3/4 swing then pretend like you want to hit a pancake from under the ball. Weight should be towards target but this depends on the lie.If done right, the ball will go over the lip of the bunker and stop softly o.n the green Make sure to shuffle your feet into the sand for stability before you swing. do this and you will hit the ball out every time.

[PHOTOSHOPoem]

That's a great video!

[wonceinee]

Just take one or two. Less to pick up, and rather than just beating them around you only take one or two shots every once in a while, like on the course.

I suck out of bunkers! And there is no place to practice here because the bunkers on my course are horrible! JN made fun of me, but I am seriously thinking about driving to the beach with wedges and a big bag of balls

[kvitacencia]

I used to live just across from a sandy beach when I was younger and had a 9-iron and some balls. I believe all that messing about has transitioned well to me playing seriously in the last few years. The only bunker shot I'm scared of now is where I have no swing because i'm under the lip.
Probably only three types of shot I play, nice clean lie with distance to the hole > i pick it off the sand, playing it like a fairway iron
Short distance and slightly plugged > wider stance, open stance, aim 2 yards left, solid swing down and through about 1in behind the ball
Short distance, plugged or trying to pop it up and down in a hurry > as above but think mickelson flop shot, trying to scoop the club face just under the ball