| For so many beginners, escaping from a bunker is | | | | your club in the sand before you play a bunker shot! |
| the stuff of nightmares. Just the thought conjures up | | | | If you do, you'll face a penalty. |
| images of shot after shot spent hacking away in the | | | | Finding your ball in a fairway bunker presents an |
| sand. Here are tips on how to make the right golf | | | | entirely different challenge from being caught in a |
| bunker shots to escape the sand trap. | | | | green-side sand trap. You'll need to take a much |
| The truth is that when you know what to do, there | | | | longer shot, so you'll be using a different club. You |
| really isn't very much to be afraid of. Whether you're | | | | won't be trying to achieve an explosive effect when |
| splashing your way out of a green-side bunker or | | | | splashing out of a bunker near the green - instead, |
| escaping a fairway trap, if you have the right | | | | you should aim to nip the ball off the top of the |
| techniques you will soon discover that getting your | | | | sand. |
| ball out of the sand can be one of the simpler shots | | | | 2. Green-side Bunkers |
| you'll play. | | | | It may sound strange, but when playing the |
| Adjusting your setup is key. Dig your feet into the | | | | green-side bunker shot you should deliberately aim to |
| sand and get a more solid foundation for your shot. | | | | miss the ball. This is because your target is an area |
| When playing out of a green-side bunker, aim just to | | | | of sand about 2.5 cm (an inch or so) behind the ball. |
| the left of the target if you are right-handed, and | | | | Striking the surface of the bunker here creates a |
| just to the right if you are left-handed. For fairway | | | | pocket of sand that helps to lift the ball up and |
| bunker shots, try to hit the sand 1 inches (2.5cm) | | | | forward, and out of the sand trap. |
| behind the ball. For all bunker shots, keep your eyes | | | | As you swing back towards the ball you should feel |
| focused on the point at which you want the | | | | as if you're cutting across the ball, or, as golf coaches |
| club-face to enter the sand. Whatever your position, | | | | say, from outside to in. While this may feel unnatural, |
| remember to accelerate through the ball. | | | | trust your swing. Even though you think you're going |
| 1. Fairway Bunkers | | | | to hit the ball too far left, the fact that your |
| Fairway bunkers are usually fairly shallow and allow | | | | club-face is open will actually take the ball to the right. |
| you to make regular club selections according to the | | | | As ever, it's vital that you accelerate through the ball |
| distance you need to make. For shots from | | | | when you play your shot. Similarly, you should also |
| green-side bunkers, which are often quite steep, you'll | | | | make a proper follow-through with a good hip and |
| need to use a sand wedge. | | | | shoulder turn. The last thing you want is the club |
| This is an iron that has a very lofted face (typically | | | | stopping in the sand and the ball staying in the |
| 56 degrees) and is specially designed to bounce off | | | | bunker. |
| the under-surface of a bunker. Its fat profile | | | | All in all, golf bunkers are nothing to fear: With the |
| produces an explosion of sand that helps lift the ball | | | | right training and tactics, you'll be able to escape sand |
| out of bunker and onto the green. Never ground | | | | traps with ease. |