IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR GAME

Different bunkers demand different techniques

By T.J. Tomasi

One of the things that make the game of golf difficult to learn is the myriad of techniques you have to know in order to play all the shots. A case in point is playing from the sand. Two types of shots are needed from the sand -- one from a fairway bunker and one from a greenside bunker.

Fairway bunker

Although this is a sand shot, you want to pick this shot cleanly, as opposed to hitting it fat as you would in a greenside bunker, so everything you do is dedicated to picking. Stand a little taller than you normally would at address by narrowing your stance and bending less from your hips. This will make you taller and raise the bottom of your swing arc through impact.

Play the ball in the center of your stance -- more insurance against hitting the sand before the ball. Next, work your feet into the sand just enough to give you stability. And don’t forget to choke down a quarter to half an inch on the club to compensate for your lowered feet.

For the swing itself, first, you need to keep your spine angle throughout. Second, keep your back shoulder high, i.e., don’t try to get under the ball. Third, keep your legs quiet during the swing. Excess movement when hitting from any unstable lie, such as sand, can easily throw your swing arc off, causing you to hit the sand first or top the ball.

And take an extra club or two with enough loft to clear the lip. Always err on the safe side of too much loft.

Greenside bunker

The key here is to hit the sand first. This enables the ball to ride out of the bunker on a cushion of pebbles. To do this correctly, you’ll need to slice across the ball, so move the ball forward in your stance, opposite your front heel, and then open your stance by drawing your front foot back from square at least 12 inches.

When you open your stance, let your hips and shoulders open, too. This sets your entire body in position to swing outside to inside along your heel line. With the ball forward, set the face of your club so it points directly at your target.

To be successful, you’ll need to swing along your heel line and trust that your clubface will propel the ball to your target. Your open position also settles your weight onto your front side, where you’ll leave it throughout your swing. This shot requires an upper-body motion, but you won’t need the power weight transfer of a full swing, so be sure to leave the pressure in your front leg throughout your motion.

And last, don’t allow your forearms to roll over through impact as you would on a fairway bunker shot.

Takeaway

In the greenside bunker, hit the sand before the ball. In the fairway bunker, hit the ball before the sand.

Dr. T.J. Tomasi is a teaching professional in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Visit his website at tomasigolf.com.

Fairway bunker shots rate among the most difficult in the game for the average player because most people don’t know the technique. The key is to adjust your swing to make sure you pick the ball first, then take sand.

PGA Tour pro Luke Donald, winner at this year’s Heritage Classic, is having a blast in a greenside bunker, using a technique that takes sand first — just the opposite of the technique used from a fairway bunker.