ALL BUNKER SHOTS ARE NOT ALIKE
Hitting your shot into a bunker can be frustrating and deflating. Often, I see golfers hit the same shot out of the bunker regardless of whether the bunker is in the fairway, greenside or somewhere in between. Learning the differences between bunker shots can help you have more confidence in the bunkers and hit better shots. There are basically 3 different bunker shots. Fairway bunker shots, greenside bunker shots, and bunker shots around 40 to 50 yards which occur between the first two. The difference in how we hit different bunker shots can be found in the clubface position and the point of impact.
When we make a fairway bunker shot, we take a full swing and try to advance the ball as far down the fairway as possible. There are two important factors to remember when hitting a fairway bunker shot. First, we address the ball with a square clubface to hit the ball farther to advance the ball down the fairway. Second, make sure to hit down on the ball striking the ball first and the sand second just like you would with a typical shot from the fairway. Figure 1 shows the club impact of a bunker shot. This impact will compress the ball and create backspin causing the ball to get up in the air and travel as far as possible.
A greenside bunker shot is played differently than a fairway bunker shot. With a greenside bunker shot we want the ball to come out of the bunker high and land soft on the green. The two factors that enable a greenside bunker shot to exit the bunker high and land soft is to open the clubface and hit the sand out from underneath the ball. Figure 2 illustrates the clubface open and impacting the sand a couple inches behind the ball. By using an open clubface and impacting the sand before the ball, the clubface can slide under the ball causing the sand between the club face and the ball to lift the ball up.
A forty to fifty-yard bunker shot is considered by many to be the most difficult shot in golf. The goal of the forty to fifty-yard bunker shot is to advance the ball shorter than the fairway bunker shot but farther than the green side bunker shot. This mid-range bunker shot is like a hybrid of the other two bunker shots. With the forty to fifty-yard bunker shot the two important factors are a square clubface like the fairway bunker shot and impacting the sand a couple inches behind the ball like the greenside bunker shot. Figure 3 shows a square face and an impact position a couple inches behind the ball. A square clubface will allow you to advance the ball but impacting the sand first will not advance the ball too far.
To many golfers, bunker shots create anxiety and uncertainty. That anxiety and uncertainty is elevated because all bunker shots are not alike. Understanding the difference between a fairway bunker shot, greenside bunker shot and a forty to fifty-yard bunker shot can increase your confidence and can improve your chance of success.
Wildfire Golf Academy is offering summer lesson packages. Contact Matt Keel for more information.
