How to get the perfect ‘splash’ out of the bunker every time

“Enter the sand behind the ball.” 

While not horrible recommendation, most leisure gamers take it too actually and focus their consideration on — and even stare at — solely an space behind the ball and overlook that the space beneath and previous the ball is simply as essential. The outcome? The membership bottoms out too early, leading to both a fats shot or, worse but, a bladed one the sails the inexperienced. 

The right approach to develop consistency and distance management from a greenside bunker is to carve out a “splash” of sand that begins and exits in equal quantities on each side of the ball. To get a really feel for it, attempt my “Superman X-ray vision” shot. 

X-ray imaginative and prescient shot

Tee a ball in the sand till it sits properly on prime of the bunker’s floor. Set up like regular, then hit the shot together with your consideration centered on reducing the tee in half. The secret: Look by way of the ball to the tee beneath as you swing.

By doing so, you’ll naturally enter the sand behind the ball, go beneath it and exit simply after it, leading to a predictable, constant splash. The size of this splash will differ relying on swing velocity, the bounce in your wedge, assault angle and sand texture. Regardless, the essential half is the symmetry of the entry and exit. 

It’s a fowl! It’s a aircraft! It’s an excellent save! 

Jeff Warne is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the director of golf at The Bridge in Bridgehampton, N.Y.