“The bunker shot has the greatest margin for error of any shot in the short game,” says Titleist staff member Tom Patri. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep the club accelerating. Seve Ballesteros taught me that to do this, you set up neutral or negative conditions – a weak grip, a very open club face – so that you can swing the club positively, offensively.”
For many amateurs, the sight of their golf ball lying at the bottom of a green-side bunker can induce cold sweats. Because of this common fear, Tom often describes bunker play as “the Darth Vader of golf”. But with a few simple setup adjustments and an understanding that you must swing assertively, the light side of the force will be with you and bunkers will trouble you no longer.
Offensive Bunker Technique:
° Open the face of the club to add loft and expose the bounce on the sole of the wedge.
° Weaken (rotate counter-clockwise) the grip of your left hand (for a right-handed player) on the handle of the wedge.
° Move the ball position up in your stance, closer to your lead foot.
° Swing aggressively through the hitting area, making contact with the sand 2-3 inches behind the golf ball.
° Keep the club moving. Be offensive!
We hope you enjoy the tip and to learn more about Tom and the instructional programs he offers, check out his website at as well as his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.
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