| Alignment is a precursor to your shot. If you’re | | | | where you must—such as when you have a |
| not aligned properly in the box or on the fairway, | | | | decent lie in a greenside bunker and the hole is up |
| you’ll be away with your shot. The same holds | | | | close. If you can’t hit the ball high from the |
| true in putting—especially when it comes to | | | | bunker, it will be hard to drop it close using your |
| mid-range putts. If your putterface points open just | | | | standard bunker shot. Instead, try this alternative. |
| a degree left or right of your intended target on a | | | | Below are 7 keys to this shot: |
| 15-footer, you’ll miss the hole by three inches. | | | | 1. Set up square to your target |
| If you want to drain more 15-footers, aligning | | | | 2. Play the ball forward in your stance |
| yourself to the hole is key. Below are six keys to a | | | | 3. Tilt your upper body away from target |
| dead on alignment method: | | | | 4. Aim for an inch behind the ball |
| 1. Hold your putter with your dominant hand | | | | 5. Keep your weight back at impact |
| 2. Stand behind the ball with your putter | | | | 6. Allow the club to pass under your hands In this |
| 3. Walk to the ball holding your putter in one hand | | | | situation your standard bunker shot calls for you to |
| 4. Set the putter behind the ball | | | | hit a cut shot. |
| 5. Keep your eyes on your line the entire time | | | | This won’t work here. Instead, grab your lob |
| 6. Turn your eyes down to the ball If your read is | | | | wedge from the bag and set up square to the |
| right, you have a good chance of draining mid-range | | | | target, with the clubface pointing to your landing |
| putts. | | | | spot. Position the ball off your front heel and tilt your |
| The best way to make sure your read is right is by | | | | body away from the target. In addition, aim for a |
| aligning yourself with the hole. Start by taking the | | | | spot an inch behind the ball and keep your weight |
| putter in your dominant hand. Then walk behind the | | | | back as the club enters the sand. |
| ball to determine your line. Make sure you’re | | | | You should feel like you’re slapping the club |
| directly behind the ball. Now walk to the hole, holding | | | | against the sand under the ball. As you swing the |
| the putter in your hand. Keep your eyes on your line. | | | | clubhead past your hands, don’t slap it to the |
| Set your putter behind the ball and point the face at | | | | left (right, if your left-handed). Your right hand should |
| the target. Keeping your eyes on your line, take your | | | | flip under your left, so that the club points straight up |
| stance and place your other hand on the grip. Once | | | | in your follow-through, not back behind you. The ball |
| you’re settled in, turn your eyes down. Look at | | | | should come out high, like a flop shot, and drop near |
| the hole to identify distance and pull the trigger. Once | | | | the hole. Normally, you shouldn’t disregard the |
| you set the putter down, don’t re-aim it. | | | | fundamentals. But sometimes, you must. |
| You’re already aligned it dead straight. Practice | | | | Hitting a flop shot from a bunker is one of those |
| this method a few times to you nail it down. Once | | | | times. This shot is worth trying if your bunker shots |
| you do, it will help you drain more 15-footers. | | | | barely clear the bunker’s front lip, or you take |
| Knock It Close From Ultra-Short Range | | | | too much sand when using a sand wedge and leave |
| Normally, you shouldn’t break the game’s | | | | the ball in the bunker. |
| basics. But sometimes you find yourself in a situation | | | | |