By Scott Hause, Special to Lone Star Golf
Confidence is a funny thing. It can feel like it takes forever to attain, but it can disappear after a single bad shot.
When I work with my students, I hear a lot of them talk about a lack of confidence when it comes to bunker shots. What I notice from them is their bunker shot mechanics don’t lead to consistent, competent play. Once those issues are addressed, however, it’s remarkable how much the student progresses. And, as we all know, confidence leads to success, which leads to more confidence.
So say it with me: “Bunker shots are easy!†Keep telling yourself that because it’s true. Once we build a good setup and competent swing, you will start to believe it. The first thing to address is the setup.
Here are some guidelines for the address position for “standard†bunker shots:
• Body aligned square to the target
• Ball position placed a few inches inside the lead heel
• Clubface open (amount varies on the shot)
• Arms hang naturally
• More weight on front foot
• Sternum lines up with where we want the club to enter the sand
Once you have a solid setup using the principals above, we can begin to move the club and pivot the body. The biggest issue I see is a lack of rotation. With no rotation, the shaft tends to swing vertically, which creates a position for a steep downswing. That’s no good. You’ll probably hit it fat and leave it in the bunker. Instead, we want the body to rotate slightly during the swing.
Here are some general guidelines for building a good, repeatable bunker swing:
• Hinge the wrists quickly
• Keep the sternum centered as the chest turns back and through
• Keep the loft on the clubface through impact (this will keep the bounce exposed for a longer period of time)
Once you practice these swing guidelines with a proper setup, you’ll gain the fundamental techniques to improve your bunker game. I have no doubt that if you apply yourself you will see dramatic improvement. That leads to that elusive concept we all desire: CONFIDENCE.
One last thing: In all my years teaching and coaching golf, I have seen that hard work is the key to improvement! Hard work, of course, is a relative term. It could mean daily bunker practice to one person or a few practice swings each day in the backyard to someone else. The point is, if you are struggling with something, you need two things: Quality information and HARD WORK. I’ve given you the first. The rest is up to you.
Scott Hause is the PGA Director of Instruction at Westwood Golf Club in Houston. Scott has been teaching and coaching golf since 2001. He works with players of all abilities, from the PGA Tour to the beginner who has never held a club. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your game. To learn more about Scott, click here.
