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Face it: Everyone has to dig themselves out of the sand sooner or later. Fortunately, there are simple, reliable techniques for blasting out of bunkers. And good sand play doesn't just involve technique--equipment is also crucial, so I've covered the essential aspects of a good sand wedge here, too.

Read on for everything you need to know to enjoy your next day at the beach.

 

1. My Favorite Tips

• Use swing speed to alter distance. Practice until you can gauge distance by your personal swing speeds.
• Make the clubface enter behind the ball at a steep angle to hit shorter, and a shallower angle to hit longer. A steeper angle allows the clubhead to get under the ball and lift it.
• Take 2-3 inches of sand with each shot (see photo). Less sand will spin the ball more, but is risky. Practice by drawing a line in the sand behind the ball and hit that spot.
• Establish firm footing by digging the feet in slightly.
• Use an open stance (left foot spread to the left) to restrict backswing length and steepen the swing.
• Open the clubface slightly to offset the open stance. Open it more if you want a higher, softer shot.
• Keep your wrists firm through impact and don't release your hands until well after impact.
• Visualize a steep, "U-shaped" swing.

2. Beach Clubs

It's important to understand sand wedge design and how it can work for you. A well-designed wedge has three important characteristics:

• "Bounce" describes the rounded sole of the clubhead. Sand wedges have this to allow the club to glide, skid, or bounce rather than dig into the sand.


• "Loft" (angle of the clubface) is crucial for getting the ball in the air, over the edges of bunkers, and to ensure that it lands softly. Sand wedges generally have a loft of 56-60 degrees (by comparison, a pitching wedge is 48-52 degrees).


• "Toe-heel camber" is what gives sand wedges an oval-shaped look on the bottom of the face, to prevent the toe or heel from catching. (Think of the club "splashing" through the sand rather than digging.)

Remember, you're making things unnecessarily difficult if you're using a pitching wedge to get out of the sand!

3. Make it Happen in the Mind's Eye

Tension can ruin your sand shot faster than anything else. When tension occurs, the swing is inhibited and so is the chance for a good shot. Try to visualize a good shot. Stay muscularly light and mentally positive. Gary Player, one of the worlds' best bu nker players, once said, "If I am one of the greats, it's for one simple reason: no bunker shot has ever scared me and none ever will. Approach every bunker shot with the feeling you are going to hole it."

 

If you want to improve your Bunker game even more you should watch an excellent instructional DVD made by one of the top Teaching Pros - we recommend the PurePoint Golf The Bunker DVD, worth taking a look!

 

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