Tip From the Archives

Full Explosion

Problem

Your ball landed in a greenside bunker.

Cure

Try a full explosion sand shot so that the sole of the wedge bounces through the sand instead of digging into it. This causes an explosion or giant splash of sand. A combination of the amount of clubhead acceleration at impact and the follow-through will determine the length of the shot.

Therapy

Open the clubface first with your trailing hand then grip the club. Take an open stance with the ball opposite of your forward heel. Flex your knees and dig your feet into the ground for solid footing. You need a steep swing, so cock your wrists early as you take the club back. By cocking your wrists steeply, the club should move more around your body than over it during the backswing. Most of the strength of the shot will come from the trailing side of your body. Using mostly power from your trailing hand and wrist, make a descending blow to slap the club into the sand two or more inches behind the ball. You should hit the ball a little closer to the hosel of the club. The back of your trailing hand should rotate quickly at impact. Limit the follow through to about the height of your waist or less, depending on the distance from the pin.

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