Out from the "Bang Ka"

Golf Tips for Bunker Shots

See Yourself in the Clubface

One of the keys of this bunker tip to getting out of greenside bunkers is to keep the clubface "open." When you close the face, you get a lower trajectory and the Golf Club tends to dig in the sand. Here's a trick to help you achieve this: Imagine that the clubface is a mirror, and that you're going to see your reflection in it at the finish of your sand shot. This will ensure that you take the club all the way to eye level and that you've kept it open all the way to the finish. Good luck!

"Splash" Some Sand

Next time you're in a bunker, focus on sliding a thin "divot" of sand from under the ball and onto the green. Open the clubface a few degrees (clockwise) and line up slightly to the left. "Splash" the sand toward the target and the ball will follow!

The perfect Bunker Backswing

This drill helps you get a feel for taking the Golf Club back in a more upright plane out of the bunker. By taking the club back more abruptly, you increase your chances of getting under the ball properly and impacting the sand more precisely. Have a friend stand behind you in the sand and place a rake about two feet behind your ball--holding it in approximately a 45-degree angle. The goal here is to get you to swing up the rake handle and feel as though your bunker backswing is steeper than that of a normal swing. Take several swings like this and soon you'll hit high, soft shots from the bunker.

Chipping from the Bunker

Many golfers make the sand trap shot more difficult than it has to be. This is because they were taught that the only way to come out of a trap is with an explosion shot, a rather unnatural stroke for the beginner since the club head has to strike the sand behind the ball and does not strike the ball itself.

There are a number of occasions when the lie of the ball and the lay of the land make playing an explosion shot unnecessary and even unwise. Whenever the bank of the trap is low and there is enough putting surface between the trap and the hole, a golfer would be more sensible to play a variation on a chip shot with the club head contacting the ball cleanly and lofting it onto the green. Allow for some roll.

A chip from the sand is played the same as a chip from any other lie, with two modifications. First, you grip the club low on the shaft, as far down as the bottom of the leather if this is comfortable.

Secondly, glue your eyes on the left half of the ball rather than on the right half as you do on ordinary shots. This enables you to deliver a clean, descending blow, and that is the essence of all chip shots.

[Mun ani jua alum mau keluar bola atu, proven tah tu yang kau Cawieeeee!!!!]