Bunkers Made Simple - How and Why?

By Paul Holtby
Bunkers are one of the highest probability shots in golf because you do not actually hit the ball. Yet they are one of the most feared. All other shots in golf we are required to connect to the ball first with approximately 1/8 inch of error. Fortunately, bunker shots have a 1 to 4 inch margin of error when executed with proper technique.

Two origins of bunkers:

When the game of golf originated during war time hollows were created for soldiers to hide in combat. In later years these hollows were filled in with sand and became bunkers.

Also with the strong winds on the open lands dunes or lips were created with the prevailing winds and in turn when links style courses were created these remained intact and bunkers were created which also became known as sand traps.

Our goal is to get the ball out of the bunker on the first shot. If you remember four simple fundamentals you should be well on your way to not be fearful of them in the future. The following explains not only what to do but most importantly WHY.

1) Enter the bunker square to your target and then open the clubface 2 to 4 degrees. Why: This allows you to utilize the bounce of your sand wedge or most lofted club which can range in loft from 56 degrees to 60 degrees. Take your most lofted club at eye level, rest in on your hand and slightly open your club face and you will see how the bounce of the wedge will come into effect allowing the club to slide through the sand rather that dig.
2) Open your stance, meaning aim to the left of your target, by approximately 10 feet or 10 degrees. This is for a right handed golfer so vice versa for you special lefties. Why: In step 1 you opened the clubface so we need to offset that with our alignments otherwise the ball will go to the right.
3) Ball position will be played just a little to the left of center in your stance. Why: Our objective is to hit anywhere between 1 to 4 inches behind the ball or in other words hit it fat. This will promote us catching behind the ball. Remember the clubface should never touch the ball. The sand will get caught between our clubface and the ball and propel the ball out of the bunker. Note: If the sand gets out of the bunker there is a very high probability the ball will go with it.
4) Weight distribution is 60 to 70 percent on our leading foot, the one closest to the target, and our weight distribution should remain very constant throughout the swing. Why: This will quiet our body movement, create a descending blow and allow our hands to remain slightly ahead at impact.

For different distances you have three choices either increase your club head speed, decrease the amount of sand between the ball and your clubface at impact or my preference is to take more golf club. Yes, you could even hit a pitching wedge or 9 iron out of a green side bunker based on the number one priority of how high you need to hit the shot to get over the lip of the bunker.

Again, our primary goal is to build a set of fundamentals that you can do every time with the intention to get out of the bunker the first time and not have to avoid or fear them. Head to the beach one evening with 3 golf balls at sunset and blast away, you will learn to enjoy the sand and not fear it.

Additional Pro tip: Use the same techniques out of deep rough around the green.

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