Basic Bunker Play SANDY BUT CLEAR

BY DALE PEDERSEN

RULE NUMBER 1: Use a sand wedge. If you don’t have one, get one. You need it. A sand wedge is designed to bounce through the sand, not dig like your pitching wedge, so that will solve one problem.

Now take your new wedge, lay the face of the club open and holding the club with your right hand only, try splashing some sand out of a practice bunker. You will quickly realize that with the club laid open it can’t dig in. This is a great practice tip that is helpful in making you realize that you can (and must) hit the sand every time before you hit the ball.

With the club laid open, or pointed to the right, it is important to make a compensation in your alignment. Open your stance so your feet, hips and shoulders all point to the left of your target, keeping in mind that you’re trying to balance or offset the openness of your club. If your club is aimed 10 feet right of the target, then aim your entire body 10 feet left of the target. This will help ensure the ball goes towards its target.

Once you get accustomed to the open setup, make sure you swing the club along your body alignment, not towards the target. Practise hitting the sand several inches behind the ball, and make sure you continue moving the club through the sand after contact. The two worst things you can do are: (1) not hit the sand, or (2) stop the club at impact.

With the proper setup and a little practice, you’ll soon find that escaping the sand is easy.

BY MARC PETERSON

EVERY TIME YOU hit the driver it is a push fade or a slice.

A common fault in the golf swing is to position your upper body ahead of the golf ball at impact. By doing this you will be crowded at impact making it almost impossible to extend your arms and square the clubface. (top photo)

A key move in the golf swing is to bring 70 per cent of your weight on the front foot at impact while keeping your upper body behind the ball. (lower photo)

By keeping your upper body behind the ball your arms will react and extend through the hitting area. Good extension will give you solid contact, and help you square the club face, resulting in better consistency.

Remember, keep your head behind the ball at impact and improve your accuracy.