Saving the Sand Shot

By Patrick Quernemoen, PGA Golf Professional

The shot in golf that most people either love or hate is the sand shot. If you go to the local golf course and ask most players, many will respond by saying they don't like hitting out of a bunker. However, if you ask a golf professional whether they would hit out of a bunker or rough, they almost always choose the bunker. Professionals like the consistent lie that they will have in a bunker.

What is the secret behind hitting a bunker shot?

1. First, you must have a sand wedge. This sounds very intuitive, but many people try to hit out of a sand trap with a nine iron or wedge. A sand wedge is important because it is specifically designed to cut through the sand. A sand wedge's loft is not the most important thing. A sand wedge has what is called “bounce”. Bounce is on the blade of the club and makes the club literally bounce off of the sand.

2. Next, alignment is very important. Keep in mind, you want the blade of the club to cut through the sand. You do not want to scoop the ball out of the sand. In order to set your swing up to cut through the sand, you need to aim left. This can also be called an “open stance”. For a short shot, maybe ten yards, aim close to forty degrees left of your target. If the pin is around twenty to thirty yards aim about twenty degrees left of your target. Next, place the ball toward the middle of your stance. The ball will feel further back than middle; this is because you have taken an open stance.

3. Now that you are aligned left of the target, your club head should also be aimed left. Turn your club in your hands so that the club head is pointing to the hole. This will make sure the ball will travel toward the hole.

4. Swing along the path of your feet. You will feel like you are pushing the club away from you on the back swing and toward your left pocket on the down swing. Some players call this a cut shot. If you play tennis, the feeling is very similar to hitting a cut shot in tennis. Make sure that you do not use your wrists. If you cock and uncock your wrists, you will be scooping the ball out of the sand, which is harder than cutting through the sand.

5. Think of the ball being on top of a bill of money. You want to sweep or cut the club under the bill of money. Make sure you hit behind the ball so that the club doesn't make contact with the ball. The sand should make contact with the ball and lift the ball out of the trap.