Tip From the Archives

Splashing the Sand

Problem

You understand that you are supposed to hit into the sand for greenside bunker shots, however you keep hitting the ball.

Cure

After you set up to the ball and determine where you want to enter the sand, ignore the ball. People tend to hit wherever they are staring.

Therapy

At set up, remember to dig your feet down into the sand. This will encourage you to make contact with the sand instead of the ball. Hover the club above the sand, about three inches behind the ball. Stare at the sand, just below the club and not at the ball, throughout your entire swing. As you practice, do not use a ball; just use the butt of your club to make a mark in the sand to use as a mental image of where the ball would be. Now, simply practice splashing sand out of the bunker, up onto the green. Ideally, you want to try to hit into the sand two to three inches behind the mark and have the club leave the sand the same distance past the mark. Once you have a feel for splashing the sand onto the green, practice the swing with a ball.

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