WATCH: Amateur golfer produces shot of the year contender from the bunker
03/05/2024 17:56
Is there anything better than a bunker save?
Bunkers are awkward, and striking a ball well out of them is difficult by design.
The greenside bunker is the great guardian of the pin, ready to strike down the proud.
But this amateur conquered a bunker in emphatic fashion.
The pure joy when he sinks this shot is one of those great golf feelings.
How to escape from a bunker
An amateur golfer’s toughest opponent on the course can be the sand trap or bunker, from which they can rarely escape without losing strokes.
Getting your club choice right is key to making your escape from the sand with minimal damage to your scorecard and dignity.
You want to select a lofted club to launch the ball high and out of the bunker.
Most players would have a dedicated sand wedge in their bag, with a 60-degree wedge favoured for escaping a greenside bunker for many players.
You don’t have much time to get the ball into the air since bunker lips are often elevated.
The club you use isn’t the end to the zeroing in on play out of the bunker. You’ll want that wedge to have High Bounce Sole Grind.
A high bounce and forgiving sole grind will prevent your clubhead from sinking into the sand and losing speed as you approach contact, making it more suitable for the average amateur.
The skillfully designed sole grind increases your chances of delivering a clean hit by allowing the club to glide through the bunker sand rather than dig in.
Players should be aware that high-bounce grinds can make it challenging to get under the ball from the fairway for a flop shot.
To launch your ball into the air quickly and promote a steep descent and comfortable landing, the loft is crucial.
On top of using a lofted club, you also have the ability to modify the wedge’s dynamic loft by opening the clubface farther at address.
It can be helpful to prop the clubface open with your bottom hand before employing your desired grip to maximize the angle. Once you are satisfied with the position, grip the club with your lead hand and concentrate on keeping the clubface open.
For a bunker stroke, you want the ball forward in your stance, unlike other short-game shots.
To allow yourself time to open the clubface, grab sand, and propel the ball out of the trap, position your wedge a blade’s length behind your front foot.
Combining a front ball stance with more weight on your lead leg can propel your clubface through the sand and into impact and help you escape the bunker.
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