Getting Out of the Bunker Successfully

The greenside bunker shot is different then any other shot in golf. It is the only shot where you're actually trying to miss the ball. When playing this shot, you actually aim for the sand behind the ball. When doing this, you will create a pillow of sand that will carry the golf ball out of the bunker and onto the green.  The sand wedge is designed specifically for this unique shot with more bounce (a wide, rounded mass behind and below the leading edge of the clubface) than any other club in the set. The extra bounce on the sand wedge will promote the club to slide through the sand rather than dig. This is important, as well-executed sand shots slide the club through the sand and under the golf ball.

Like all other shots in golf, the set-up predetermines the script for the swing. At address, position the ball forward in the stance with the feet shoulder-width apart. Dig your feet in for stability and let your weight favor the lead foot. Next, create more loft by slightly opening the clubface and set the shaft perpendicular too slightly away from the target. This added loft is very important in maximizing the wedge's bounce at impact.

For the swing, use a long and lazy motion. You want to create a big arm swing in both directions but maintain a sense of laziness. Keep your arms and hands very relaxed and swing with enough speed to propel the sand and golf ball out of the bunker.

I often tell my students you don't have to be violent in a greenside bunker. Don't use your arms in a fast and tense motion, but rather in a slow and lazy manner, which creates this sense of heaviness at impact.

With that said, your upper body will need to support this by going with it to a relatively full finish. Look at your upper body as the engine or speedometer of the swing, if you want more speed increase your rate of turn which will in result propel your arms, hands and golf club faster.