In this article I hope to give you some clarity on how to play greenside bunker shots from varying lies.
The loft of a Sand wedge can vary from 54 degrees to 60 degrees, but it is important to understand how the bounce of the Sand wedge can be your ‘friend’ when playing greenside bunker shots from varying lies.
‘Bounce’ essentially prevents the golf club from digging into the turf or sand excessively and ensures that the momentum of the swing continues through impact.
I advise spending time in the practise bunker experimenting with the following information – I’m confident that with practise it will make you far more efficient in saving par.
Photograph 1 shows four different lies you could be faced with from a greenside trap – behind the line of golf balls you will see a compressed line (made with a rake handle) This line is where I want you to focus on your club entering the sand (always remember that it is the ‘explosion of sand’ behind the ball that will propel it up forward and out of the bunker)
Photo 2 Shows a ‘fluffy lie’ where the ball is sitting up on a soft ‘cushion’ of sand – you will see that I am playing the ball positioned opposite the inside of my left heel and that I have opened the clubface. Opening the clubface adds loft and aims the clubface to the right of target so I have to adjust my stance (by standing slightly open – feet aiming to the left) to re-align my clubface with where I want the ball to go. By opening the clubface I am adding additional bounce to the sole of the club – this will serve to ensure that the club doesn’t bury itself ‘too deep’ into the sand at impact and will help in keeping the club accelerating through the sand with the momentum required to send the ball airborne and out of the bunker.
Photo 3 Shows a good lie – where the ball is resting atop of the sand. Position the ball opposite inside of left heel and ever so slightly open the clubface – again adjust your stance (stance aligned to left of target) to re-align the clubface.
Photo 4 Shows a firm/compact lie. I play the ball position slightly further back in my stance (still forward of centre) Keep the clubface square when playing this shot (not open) This ‘Square’ clubface retains the loft of the sand wedge and maintains the exact amount of bounce that is already built into the club. If you were to open the clubface and add extra bounce it would likely prevent the club from entering the sand sufficiently enough to create the explosion of sand required to execute the shot correctly.
Photo 5 Shows a ‘plugged’ lie where half or more of the ball is below the level of the sand – you will see that I have positioned the ball back of centre in my stance and have slightly closed the clubface. This helps to create the necessary ‘steeper angle- of-attack’ into the sand on this shot and reduces the amount of bounce on the sole of the sand wedge. On this shot it is important to reduce the bounce of the sand wedge (you want the club to dig deep) so I slightly ‘close’ the face of the club. Closing the clubface serves to reduce the amount of bounce on the sand wedge. Don’t be obsessed with following through – you almost want your power to be absorbed by a downward blow deep into the sand.
Be aware that when closing the clubface it will propel the golf ball to the left of target so you will need to aim slightly right of your target to re-align the clubface to the hole/target.
From a ‘plugged lie’ the ball will come out loaded with topspin – meaning that there will be more roll than flight.
Tom Long – Golf Professional