Coyote Creek Director of Instruction Don Leone demonstrates how
to hit that bunker shot
Hitting a bunker shot can be intimidating even when the lie is good.
When you’re faced with a semi buried lie or more challenging buried lie, you need to take some time to think about the shot.
Remember the key fundamentals when hitting bunker shot.
• Inspect the lie.
• Adjust the clubface according to the lie.
• Set your feet slightly below the sand. This will lower the arc of the swing hitting the sand instead of the ball.
• Look two or three inches behind the ball, not at the ball.
• Make enough swing to hit the sand out.
Here are some suggestions to help you execute these difficult shots. First, you must inspect the lie. Second you adjust the clubface according to the lie.
For example, in photo No. 1, with the ball sitting up, open the club face slightly so the bounce of the club hits the sand first.
This will allow the club to skip through the sand, not dig. With a semi buried lie, photo No. 2, square the clubface to the target, this will take some of the bounce off the wedge allowing the leading edge to dig under the sand.
When the lie gets really ugly and buried, photo No. 3, close the face slightly so the toe is leading the heel of the club.
When the club enters the sand, the toe will dig turning the clubface open as it slides under the ball, popping it out.
Don Leone is the Director of Instruction at Coyote Creek Golf Course and a certified Nicklaus/Flick instructor. For more information about classes call 463-8024.
