Do you know how to play a greenside bunker?

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5: The key to greenside bunker play is to hit a high, soft shot. 

One of the most common errors I see when coaching, is players not opening the clubface enough and/or lean the shaft too far forward at address. 

This dynamic creates a lower initial launch angle, promoting the player to create a short-arm swing and/or decelerate to counter the lack of loft. 

But even more importantly, when this occurs the bounce on the club is minimized and as a result the club digs rather than skids. It is not that you cannot hit a good shot like this, but that it is much less likely. 

If you dig you must hit the sand exactly two inches before the ball or the club will dig and the ball will stay in the bunker. 

If you skid you can hit the sand two to eight inches before that ball and still hit a good shot.

Here are some things to consider at address to help create an environment that allows for enough loft and bounce which promotes the bigger arm swing and acceleration:

1. Put the clubface open with the shaft neutral to leaning slightly back. Look at adding loft not only through the clubface but also by not leaning the club shaft towards the target. Although there are situations that call for this, most greenside bunker shots call for the hands to be more in-line with the clubhead to leaning slightly back in relationship to the target to create the loft needed for the shot.

2. Ball position forward, in stance with the butt of the club pointing at belt buckle. With the shaft more neutral to leaning slightly back, it is important to position the body so the butt of the club is pointing at the belt buckle. This will help secure a forward ball position, leading to a higher launch.

3. Weaker grip, I encourage my players to move both their hands on the grip towards the target (weaker) which allows the clubface to open more during the backswing. This is an advanced approach, but it can help those who normally have a very strong grip and struggle out of the bunker. n

Paul Adams is the PGA director of Golf at Rosewood Tucker’s Point.