Golf: The 40-Yard Bunker Shot
Golf: The 40-Yard Bunker Shot - Our resident golf expert teaches you to master one of the hardest shots in golf.
-
Step 1:
-
The club
-
You play this shot with the clubface open - turned to the right - so the sole of the club head can pass through the sand permitting an easier follow-through. Use an 8 iron for this shot, not a sand wedge. With an open clubface, an 8 iron has less loft than a sand wedge, so it makes the ball fly further.
-
Step 2:
-
The set-up
-
Place the club behind the ball and take your normal 8 iron set-up. The ball should be forward in your stance so that it is easier to hit the club into the sand before it reaches the ball. As the open clubface puts sidespin on the ball, making it fly to the right, you have to aim about 20 feet - 6 or 7 metres - left of the hole. Then, open the clubface so that it is aiming at the target and take your grip. You are now ready to start your swing.
-
Step 3:
-
The swing
-
The swing is the same as your normal iron swing, but your hands stay passive, keeping the clubface open throughout. The clubhead should enter the sand about 1 or 2 inches (or 3 to 5 centimetres) behind the ball. The key to a successful shot is to make sure you follow through, so the sand propels the ball gloriously onto the green.