Up-to-date information on Clone Golf Clubs
Our Featured Golf Writer
This is the secret you've been searching for. The
Golf Swing Secret...get it today!
How To Play Bunkers And Sand Traps
By Lee MacRae
Getting out of a bunker or sand trap in one shot can do wonders for your confidence and your golf game. Follow along as we lay out some tips, tricks and hints to help you with your sand play and watch the improvement in your next round of golf.
Hitting from a buried lie in the bunker [otherwise known as a "fried egg"] isn't as difficult as most golfers think. In fact, a shot that gets the ball out is closer to a normal golf shot than a conventional bunker shot is. That's because you play the shot with your clubface closed. Remember that the flange of a sand wedge is designed to prevent you from digging into the sand. But with a buried lie, digging in is exactly what you want to do. Close the face of your wedge, hit down into the sand and inch or two behind your ball. This is one of the few sand shots in which a follow-through isn't just important, it shouldn't exist at all! Some golfers have even been known to let the club go at impact. Note; this shot can also be played with a pitching wedge, which is almost guaranteed to dig in.
When your ball is sitting up in sand on a rise that is caused by someone's footprints, don't be fooled into thinking this is an easy shot. Players tend to try to get the ball off the surface of the sand, or take too much sand in an effort not to hit it too far. Do the former and you may blade the ball. Do the latter and you may hit it fat. This is an instance where you want to hit not under the ball, but down and through it. Take your spot, about two inches behind the ball and slightly below it [because of the rise] and swing as you would for a normal chip shot. If you're still worried about getting it too far, move your weight back to your right foot. This will force you to swing more with your arms and will take some power out of the shot.
Simply because the technique is similar to that used for a level lie from a bunker the sidehill lie is not that tough. While you take into account the affect the slope will have on the flight of the ball, you do not alter the steepness of your swing. A ball above your feet will want to go left. A ball that is below your feet it will tend to go to the right. Just adjust your stance accordto the circumstances and swing along the slope. To make this easier, flex your knees more and stand closer to the ball when it lies below your feet; stand straighter and farther from the ball when it lies above.
And no matter what you do, even for sand play, always imagine the shot before you take it. And imagine the shot being succesfull! Not much sense in defeating yourself before you even start. Imagine yourself being successful throughout your golf game and watch your game flourish.
About the author
Lee MacRae runs several online stores where you can find a great
golf swing aid or a great
putter today!
Golf Snippets
Golf Putting Aids
Short practice sessions regularly are better than one long period. Practice, and good repetition, will teach your muscles to learn to feel - creating your own internal dialog from within that you, and only you, can describe to yourself.
For more information go to
golf
Golf Related News
Off to a Fast StartTue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Titleist Ambassador Ernie Els Completes Comeback from Knee Surgery
New Season of Golf Fitness Academy Presented by Titleist Premieres on The Golf ChannelTue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Third Season Begins April 10 with the first of 10 new episodes for 2006
Titleist Tour Report: The MemorialFri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Check out this week's Titleist Tour report from The Memorial, featuring the defending champion Bart Bryant.
Titleist Golf Ball Operations To Be Featured on National Geographic ChannelThu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Titleist Tour Report: Ford ChampionshipFri, 03 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT
This week's Titleist Tour Report from the Ford Championship at Doral features PGA Tour player Ryan Palmer.
Kingston Captures South African Airways Open for First Career PGA European Tour TitleMon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Dream Start for Daniel Chopra at Mercedes-Benz ChampionshipMon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Wins All-Pro V1 Playoff with Titleist Ambassador Steve Stricker at Kapalua
Harmon dumps Daly over 'shenanigans'Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:37:34 GMT
John Daly has been cut loose by swing coach Butch Harmon, who said Tuesday he was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.
"My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life," Harmon said from his golf school in Las Vegas. "And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk.
Labels: golf wedges | golf putters