Bunker Shots

[revkev]

I practice bunker shots about once a month. My club has two practice greens with practice bunkers - those bunkers have different sand in them so it’s nice.

I was in two bunkers today and got up and down once, the other was easy out, easy two putt bogey so mission accomplished from the sand.




Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[EthanSterlingPrice]

Something you might want to try on the practice green is a kids 'hula hoop'. It creates a nice target are about 3' in diameter.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Done that but got tired of carrying the hoop. Now I use the rods since they’re already in my bag or I’ve even used string to make a circle.



In the bag
Driver: Callaway Rogue Subzero 9.5 Stiff flex
3 wood: Callaway Rogue Subzero 15 degree
Hybrids: 17 degree titleist 816 h2
Irons: Ben Hogan Ptx 22-46 degree (4-pw)stiff flex standard lie
Wedges: Callaway Mac Daddy 4 50,54,58 degrees
Putter: Odyssey EXO seven

Gig’em Aggies!

[fixyurdivot]

I've been experimenting with using my 8i to chip from shallower face traps.  One of the guys I play with does this frequently and with good results.  Anyone else use a club besides a SW? 

[PING Apologist #9]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

I've been experimenting with using my 8i to chip from shallower face traps.  One of the guys I play with does this frequently and with good results.  Anyone else use a club besides a SW? 

I've been practicing bump-n-run shots from the grass with a 9i and even my 50*, so I could see the use of an 8i for that type of shot...not sure if I'd have the guts to pull it off though..!

[Kenny B]

2 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

I've been experimenting with using my 8i to chip from shallower face traps.  One of the guys I play with does this frequently and with good results.  Anyone else use a club besides a SW? 

I've done it when there is very little or no sand in the bunker, but it's not something I practice.  With the wind here, certain bunkers are wind-blown until the superintendent adds more sand.

Not at my course, but I have also putted out of bunkers.

[fixyurdivot]

4 hours ago, Kenny B said:

I've done it when there is very little or no sand in the bunker, but it's not something I practice.  With the wind here, certain bunkers are wind-blown until the superintendent adds more sand.

Not at my course, but I have also putted out of bunkers.

Similar conditions here in Yuma.  Some traps have more packed, less fluffy sand that can be hard to "splash" out of.  I tried my 8i a few times the last several rounds using the same bump and run stroke I use around the green.  It seems to cut into the harder sand more reliably, reducing the chance of having a SW bounce up and gut the ball.  Also, the bunkers on the courses we're playing here aren't really deep or on high slope - though some are and still require a SW.  

I'm telling ya, some of these older guys have some little tricks up their sleeve that, while perhaps not conventional, work quite well.

6 hours ago, PING Apologist #9 said:

I've been practicing bump-n-run shots from the grass with a 9i and even my 50*, so I could see the use of an 8i for that type of shot...not sure if I'd have the guts to pull it off though..!

Try using your 8i for those bump n' run shots.  I recently switched from having used my 7i for these shots, for years. I'm finding the 8i loft just the right combination to lift them and control roll-out.  I've had many more chip in's (or damn near) since this change.

[PING Apologist #9]

Just now, fixyurdivot said:

Try using your 8i for those bump n' run shots.  I recently switched from having used my 7i for these shots, for years. I'm finding the 8i loft just the right combination to lift them and control roll-out.  I've had many more chip in's (or damn near) since this change.

Awesome, I will give that a go. Thanks Bud!

[Kenny B]

5 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Similar conditions here in Yuma.  Some traps have more packed, less fluffy sand that can be hard to "splash" out of.  I tried my 8i a few times the last several rounds using the same bump and run stroke I use around the green.  It seems to cut into the harder sand more reliably, reducing the chance of having a SW bounce up and gut the ball.  Also, the bunkers on the courses we're playing here aren't really deep or on high slope - though some are and still require a SW.  

I'm telling ya, some of these older guys have some little tricks up their sleeve that, while perhaps not conventional, work quite well.

Try using your 8i for those bump n' run shots.  I recently switched from having used my 7i for these shots, for years. I'm finding the 8i loft just the right combination to lift them and control roll-out.  I've had many more chip in's (or damn near) since this change.

There are no greenside bunkers on my course that I could get out of using an 8i and stay on the green.  Maybe Seve could have, but not me.  

[HardcoreLooper]

On 1/11/2019 at 12:01 PM, Kenny B said:

I've done it when there is very little or no sand in the bunker, but it's not something I practice.  With the wind here, certain bunkers are wind-blown until the superintendent adds more sand.

Not at my course, but I have also putted out of bunkers.

I am not above putting out of a bunker, but the lip cannot be curling back at you.  

My normal bunker shot is with the SW (54*).  On hard-packed sand, I'll use my 58* (less bounce) for shorter shots or the 49* (also less bounce) for longer shots.  I rarely leave it in the sand, but I don't get it as close as I'd like all that often.  I'm pretty much limited to the chunk and run; I can't get one to stop quickly.

 

[robertson153]

I am not above putting out of a bunker, but the lip cannot be curling back at you.  
My normal bunker shot is with the SW (54*).  On hard-packed sand, I'll use my 58* (less bounce) for shorter shots or the 49* (also less bounce) for longer shots.  I rarely leave it in the sand, but I don't get it as close as I'd like all that often.  I'm pretty much limited to the chunk and run; I can't get one to stop quickly.
 

There is one bunker at my home course that I putt out of, depending on pin location. Can only do it if they haven’t been raked for a few days and become hard.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[HardcoreLooper]

2 hours ago, robertson153 said:

There is one bunker at my home course that I putt out of, depending on pin location. Can only do it if they haven’t been raked for a few days and become hard.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Yeah, we have a few that are like that as well.  There's no shame in my game.  I'd rather look stupid by putting and getting on the green than look stupid by blading one 40 yards over the green.

[cksurfdude]

On 1/11/2019 at 9:34 AM, fixyurdivot said:

I've been experimenting with using my 8i to chip from shallower face traps.  One of the guys I play with does this frequently and with good results.  Anyone else use a club besides a SW? 

Oh yeah! If it's really shallow / no lip and really close to the green - try the putter!

[fixyurdivot]

1 hour ago, cksurfdude said:

Oh yeah! If it's really shallow / no lip and really close to the green - try the putter!

We played Yuma Country Club today for the first time and their sand is powder compared to the other course in the immediate area. One in our group did putt from a bunker today, and nearly holed out from 30+ ft.  It's rare that I choose to try this approach, but beginning to think about trying it when the situation presents itself.

[cksurfdude]

On 10/27/2018 at 5:23 PM, fixyurdivot said:

Do bunker shots strike fear in your game? 

Yeah..... This aspect of the game is still my nemesis and the weakest part. The taller and steeper, and closer, the lip is the worse I get. I know it's all mental but i just don't - yet - have that shot on command...

Trying to stimulate bunker practice in the garage by figuring out how to elevate the ball quickly. Still very low percentage of "makes". Gonna have to work on this with my instructor!

[Kenny B]

59 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Yeah..... This aspect of the game is still my nemesis and the weakest part. The taller and steeper, and closer, the lip is the worse I get. I know it's all mental but i just don't - yet - have that shot on command...

Trying to stimulate bunker practice in the garage by figuring out how to elevate the ball quickly. Still very low percentage of "makes". Gonna have to work on this with my instructor!

Club face to the sky...Swing faster.  

[fixyurdivot]

10 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Club face to the sky...Swing faster.  

You left out "hit behind the ball"... all of which are what we're generally trying not to do on other shots .

[cksurfdude]

12 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Club face to the sky...Swing faster.  

I'm finding through my trial and error experimentation - subject to review with my instructor! - that a "feel" that seems to be effective for me is like snapping the right hand (for a RH'er) through faster and "under" (the left) at impact. 

I guess this adds a touch of extra clubhead speed at just the right time along with holding the face open.

Work in progress........

[cksurfdude]

On 10/27/2018 at 6:37 PM, Rusty1885 said:

I may have stumbled onto a drill to help out beginners, usually they like to take a long back swing and slam it to the ball and stop, same happened to my niece, I told her to reverse it. Take a backswing about hip high then finish at the shoulder height.

THANK YOU!!!!!

[cksurfdude]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

You left out "hit behind the ball"... all of which are what we're generally trying not to do on other shots .

Yep yet another mental hurdle to overcome (vs swatting *at* the ball)!

[Kenny B]

2 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

You left out "hit behind the ball"... all of which are what we're generally trying not to do on other shots .

So, when in the sand... "hit behind the ball"?  Now that I figured that out, guess what I do in a fairway bunker?!  Arrrgh!  

[Jmikecpa]

I love bunker shots and it is a strong part of my game. Then again I hit about 50 of varying length at every practice session.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[cksurfdude]

1 minute ago, Jmikecpa said:

I love bunker shots and it is a strong part of my game. Then again I hit about 50 of varying length at every practice session.

Nice! That's a big thing I'm missing - good short game practice areas. There's a club not too far from me that offers "Practice Only" seasonal memberships ... gonna go take a look...

[Jmikecpa]

Nice! That's a big thing I'm missing - good short game practice areas. There's a club not too far from me that offers "Practice Only" seasonal memberships ... gonna go take a look...

We have two nice practice greens and a practice bunker on the side of the range. Nice pet is you can hit short, medium or long bunker shots as well as practice fairway bunker shots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fixyurdivot]

I had a two today in green side bunkers that demanded a bit longer than normal shot.  The sand was more typical (fluffy) than a couple of other courses and I used my SW. Both came out nicely, but short.  This continues to be a challenge for me.  Time to head back to YT and look for a good instruction video on adding distance.

[revkev]

I have trouble with bunkers when Florida transitions it’s sand. That time is just about past now though - I really need to pick up a super high bounce sand wedge for this two month period.

 

Don’t want to give up my 60 as is at least while I’m at Bayou. Need that loft around the greens. And I don’t hit it in bunkers that often.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

 

 

[gaussman1]

I have trouble with bunkers when Florida transitions it’s sand. That time is just about past now though - I really need to pick up a super high bounce sand wedge for this two month period.
 
Don’t want to give up my 60 as is at least while I’m at Bayou. Need that loft around the greens. And I don’t hit it in bunkers that often.
 
 
Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy
 
 

I've never heard of a sand transition period down there. Can you explain what takes place? Do they just add new fill?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[cnosil]

I had a two today in green side bunkers that demanded a bit longer than normal shot.  The sand was more typical (fluffy) than a couple of other courses and I used my SW. Both came out nicely, but short.  This continues to be a challenge for me.  Time to head back to YT and look for a good instruction video on adding distance.

What club did you use and was the face square or open?
I keep the face square for long bunker shots, half open for medium, and fully open for short. For longer than my sand wedge shot I pick a longer club


I fine tuned my approach after watching the skill code series with Cameron McCormick; they show it on the golf channel periodically.

[00sportsman]

10 hours ago, revkev said:

I have trouble with bunkers when Florida transitions it’s sand. That time is just about past now though - I really need to pick up a super high bounce sand wedge for this two month period.

 

Don’t want to give up my 60 as is at least while I’m at Bayou. Need that loft around the greens. And I don’t hit it in bunkers that often.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

 

 

I went through a stretch where every bunker shot came out, and even when they weren't perfect, they were pretty good.  Then, as you saw, that went to pieces.  I'd love to blame it on the sand, but I'm not so sure.....

[fixyurdivot]

40 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 

What club did you use and was the face square or open?
I keep the face square for long bunker shots, half open for medium, and fully open for short. For longer than my sand wedge shot I pick a longer club


I fine tuned my approach after watching the skill code series with Cameron McCormick; they show it on the golf channel periodically.

 

Both shots were green side bunkers, but large greens with the flag in the back (~40+ feet).  I used my SW for both. My main focus is to just get out and onto the putting surface - not leave in the bunker or gut and send flying. I'm doing pretty good at not committing those goofs, but I really don't feel like I have much control on distance. 

As I mentioned in the opening thread, it's been hard finding a place to practice and experiment with bunker play.  There is a course here in Yuma that has a practice area that includes a bunker, but it's part of a chipping green and gets lots of use.  I wish more courses had better opportunities to practice bunker shots.

[GB13]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

Both shots were green side bunkers, but large greens with the flag in the back (~40+ feet).  I used my SW for both. My main focus is to just get out and onto the putting surface - not leave in the bunker or gut and send flying. I'm doing pretty good at not committing those goofs, but I really don't feel like I have much control on distance. 

As I mentioned in the opening thread, it's been hard finding a place to practice and experiment with bunker play.  There is a course here in Yuma that has a practice area that includes a bunker, but it's part of a chipping green and gets lots of use.  I wish more courses had better opportunities to practice bunker shots.

If you are faced with a similar shot again, play it with exactly the same setup and swing, but use a 9 iron. It will make the ball go farther and run more, but won't change any of the key fundamentals you have in place.