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who’s technique do you prefer for bunker shots, mickelson or jason day?


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I prefer Montes use the bounce and an active trail hand

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Here are the 2020 sand save leaders on the PGA. To answer the question, the numbers say copy Day. Of course you could try to copy anybody but you need to practice more than anything else.

Though if you practice right, you won't be in bunkers in the first place.

20210225_101501.jpeg.3258cc4fd49d03bca4afd7613b2d4bc3.jpeg

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I'm definitely in the Mickelson camp.  I don't want to have to stand on the other (wrong) side of the ball like Day.😎

I always try to remember that I'm not good enough to get mad!

 

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Using similar swing thought to a full shot. Not a lot of wrist set. Day like Stricker use very little wrist set on pitch shots and that carries over for day. This type of swing works for being consistent for stock bunker shots.

 

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Tried to not use the wrists but can't be consistent- not sure why but different sand conditions might be part of it. In my home state we can have very heavy sand- used to prevent loss from the wind.  On bump and run have been more successful not using wrists.    Key is to do whatever works for you consistently.   Good group question,  my believe is that the Jason Day method should be the one taught as simpler.

         

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My bunker attempts are like rorys. I dont pull it off close to as well though.

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Some video might be helpful, I found this one for Jason Day

I wouldn't say this is "very little" wrist set, but not extremely wristy either.  To me, the biggest key for bunker play is to keep significant clubhead speed through the sand, while taking enough sand to "cushion" the shot.  Whether you get the speed from shoulder turn and limited wrist hinge/unhinge, or through very strong wrist movement, do what comes most natural.  But clubhead speed and controlled entry are the keys.

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2 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

"Of course you could try to copy anybody but you need to practice more than anything else."

THIS ☝️☝️ A thousand times this.

I LOVE watching Phil and watching his tips on the short game.  I think there's a lot to learn from arguably the best ever.  But if you just walk onto the course with Phil's video in your mind, it won't really help much.  (I suppose it's better than walking out there WITHOUT Phil's video in your mind, but...)


 

 

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14 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I wouldn't say this is "very little" wrist set, but not extremely wristy either. 

This wrist action is similar to what GG teaches for a stock bunker shot. It’s a small amount of wrist set and a slight elbow bend which keeps it leads than the 90* set. For Day it’s between his pitching motion and full swing. 

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Stand Utley - I actually have a chance of doing what he teaches.  Phil and Jason are a whole other ball game from me - 

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10 hours ago, rbsiedsc said:

I prefer Montes use the bounce and an active trail hand

Monte.  A few setup changes and make a normal swing.  Can't be any easier than that.  I went from a horrible bunker player to get a bunch of sand saves this past year.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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11 hours ago, Timmytoe said:

Jason day has very little wrist hinge while mickelson is quite handsy

I hate to admit it but Im Phil.  I like being quite handsy and feeling like the slap the sand with the back of the club.

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Resorted to buying a Cleveland smart sole wedge so that i can line up square to the target, not mess with opening up the clubface, and making a normal swing. Just bought it, lets see what happens. If it gets me out of the bunker in 1 like 75% of the time, my handicap will probably drop by like 3 shots. With my current bunker play, i expect it to take at least 2 shots to get out. And by get out, it means the ball probably only gets out of the bunker by a few feet. 

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9 hours ago, dlow206 said:

Resorted to buying a Cleveland smart sole wedge so that i can line up square to the target, not mess with opening up the clubface, and making a normal swing. Just bought it, lets see what happens. If it gets me out of the bunker in 1 like 75% of the time, my handicap will probably drop by like 3 shots. With my current bunker play, i expect it to take at least 2 shots to get out. And by get out, it means the ball probably only gets out of the bunker by a few feet. 

Just remember to keep accelerating through the ball and finish the swing...two things I'm still guilty of not doing all the time. But, when you do that, the Smart Sole makes you look like a bunker pro.

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52 minutes ago, MattF said:

Just remember to keep accelerating through the ball and finish the swing...two things I'm still guilty of not doing all the time. But, when you do that, the Smart Sole makes you look like a bunker pro.

As I said earlier, this is the key to any bunker shot, using any technique.  You're going to be moving sand, the ball is cushioned, you need clubhead speed to make that all happen.  The toughest thing I see for most newer golfers is a hesitancy with sand shots, a fear of hitting it way too far.  Its important to practice enough to learn that you really CAN make a moderately full swing, that you NEED to make a moderately full swing.  How full will depend on address, how open the face is, how firm the sand is, how far behind the sand you hit it, but its not a chip shot, its an explosion of some kind.

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I’m handsy/wristy, and was taught that way. Thinking about being stiffer with the wrists makes me think I’d dig down more instead of glide under the ball. Mike Bender has an interesting way to teach bunker play. Check it out on Instagram. 

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Whichever one keeps me out of the bunker in the first place 🙂.  I'd say Jason since it is less art and more fundamentals.

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I follow Golf Sidekick's tutorial videos and get very "slappy" with the sand. 

Rag tag bag, but it does the job. 

Taylormade R1 driver.

Ping G400 3 wood.

Cleveland Halo Launcher 3 hybrid.

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On 2/25/2021 at 10:17 AM, DiscipleofPenick said:

Here are the 2020 sand save leaders on the PGA. To answer the question, the numbers say copy Day. Of course you could try to copy anybody but you need to practice more than anything else.

Though if you practice right, you won't be in bunkers in the first place. emoji16.png

20210225_101501.jpeg.3258cc4fd49d03bca4afd7613b2d4bc3.jpeg

Take Dead Aim


 

I'm surprised that Lefty isn't in the top 10.

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8 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I'm surprised that Lefty isn't in the top 10.

Over the last 4 years or so he’s rarely inside the top 100 in strokes gained on the green and is usually around 75th-100 in strokes gained around the green. 

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On 2/25/2021 at 11:28 AM, DaveP043 said:

But clubhead speed and controlled entry are the keys.

This is my issue and the reason why I've always looked to JDay as a technique to copy out of bunkers. I've got a long way to go however...

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3 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

I'm surprised that Lefty isn't in the top 10.

Mickelson's stats don't seem to support mirroring any parts of his short game, at least recently... Maybe he had some good years back around 2010. The highlight reel flop shots seem to attract more attention and validation of his approach than his performance would justify.

Off topic: Watching him grip the putter regular and switch back and forth to claw at address is not something you would teach... 

I would lean towards guys like Day, Baddeley or Snedeker and Denny McCarthy on the putting side, who have stats supporting what they're doing. It doesn't take too many skulls over the green with a 60 deg to be losing strokes around the green. 

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On 2/25/2021 at 7:17 AM, DiscipleofPenick said:

Here are the 2020 sand save leaders on the PGA. To answer the question, the numbers say copy Day. Of course you could try to copy anybody but you need to practice more than anything else.

Though if you practice right, you won't be in bunkers in the first place. emoji16.png

20210225_101501.jpeg.3258cc4fd49d03bca4afd7613b2d4bc3.jpeg

Take Dead Aim


 

Jason Day is very, very good, but picking one year and making that conclusion is a bit much. I'll bet that over the average of their careers in their primes, they were quite close in their average place in the tour stats for sand saves. 🙂

I play more hybrids than irons. By a lot.

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I have a feeling that any of the pro techniques will work fine, if you spend enough time practicing them.  I know every one of those guys is better from the bunkers than I am.

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:Sub70: 5-wood

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Right handed

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