Have you ever just lost part of your game and can’t seem to get it back? That was my plight as I tried to remember the best way to get out of a sand trap. Let me be clear up front and say that I was probably average in terms of my conversion percentage. A lot better on powdery sand then on wet hard sand.
I had my knee replaced at the end of December and obviously haven’t played much. While my game is on the mend my ability to get out of a trap seemed lost. The teaching pro at my course had some free time so we went down to the short game area. She asked me to hit a few shots and then said “They operated on your knee and not your brain right? Did you forget everything?”
So she proceeded to open up my stance, get my stance more dug into the sand, put more weight on my lead foot and finish my swing through the sand. Turns out I was still being a little careful on my knee and probably needed her unique candor to get me to approach the shot correctly rather than protecting my knee.
I thought it might be a good idea to review the basics of the sand trap shot in case you run into a cold spell on those shots.
What is a Sand Trap Versus A Bunker
Just to make sure we are all on the same page there is a difference between a sand trap and a bunker. A sand trap is a bunker with sand put into it. A bunker is an inundation on the course that can have grass, pine straw, or other natural elements in it. For our purposes we will stick to the sand trap but much of the information can be used for bunkers also.
Get The Right Club
I would pick out a sand wedge rather than a lob wedge. There are differences in the width of the sole and other subtle differences. While some very good players carry two wedges depending upon sand conditions I think it will be best to get one well-rounded wedge. That kind of wedge will have a medium to wide sole, a moderate bounce ranging from 12 to 15 degrees and a swing weight of D-5 to E-0.
Get In The Right Set-Up
Get into the bunker and set up in an open stance. This will help you get under the ball. Dig your feet into the sand to establish a solid base. Shift your weight so that about 60% of your weight is on your front foot. Many golfers have a habit of leaning back to help the club lift the ball out. Try to avoid this as it will promote a steep swing.
You want the ball to be positioned forward in your stance. How far is up to what you are comfortable with. Some teachers advocate having the ball even with your front foot. For me I position the ball half way between my front foot and right in the middle
Use The Right Grip
It is important to use a weak grip which does not mean you hold the grip weakly. Rather it means to release the hinge in your wrists earlier which will make the ball go higher and stop faster on the green.
Make The Right Swing
When hitting from a fairway bunker you should approach the shot just like if you were on the fairway by hitting the ball first and not the sand. When you are in a greenside sand trap you want to hit only the sand. You should hit about two to three inches behind the ball and take about a dollar bill length divot in the sand. Concentrate on swinging the club through the sand under the ball. You do not need to dig deeply into the sand.
Your swing should be from the outside – in using only a slight wrist bend at the top. Make your back swing commensurate with what distance you want the ball to go. This swing pattern should help to produce a high and soft type of shot.
As mentioned before you will not be shifting your weight back and forth such as in a normal shot. Try to stay down longer though the swing with a full follow through. One of the most important aspects of this shot is to not decelerate or stop your swing when you feel the impact of the sand. If you do the ball will rarely get out of the bunker.
Conclusion
Let’s hope this review and pointers on how to get out of sand traps can help your game. I know I am regaining my confidence if I hit it into the sand trap. Sometimes all we need is a quick review to get our focus back on how to approach shots in our golf game. We should aim to no longer fear that sand trap.
Good luck finding your new to you clubs. if you want to share any thoughts or experiences, please leave a comment below.
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