How much we have to aim behind for bunker shot

[oztrainee]

For a good bunker shot, the routine check would be

• The lie
• Sand condition
• how deep we are going to dig
• how safe we want to play the shot
• a light pressure shot

Now, if we look at most of the GOLF CHANNEL and MAGAZINE.. most writer and presenter of the GOLF CHANNEL pros... they always advice golf to hit 1 -1.5 inch behind the ball.. how true is that.

If we just look at the divot of our normal 60 yds pitch shot, we can make a divot of 6 - 7 inches. Now, if we are doing the same thing in the bunker, we would have to aim at least 3 inches behind in order to get under the ball (digging say 3/4 of a inch underneath the ball - total length of the shot from enter the sand to exit the sand should be about 5-6 inches)to clear the bunker and land 20-25 feet from where we hit it from.

Obviously, we can hit 1 inch behind the ball if we scoop it out.

[Trig]

For me, it all depends on the sand conditions and the type of shot I need to hit. I think it would also depend on how much bounce you have on your wedges.

If I'm playing a long shot I aim closer to the ball then I do if I have to hit it a short distance.

Also, if I want the ball to hit and stop, I will open the face wide and slice under the ball very close. This will produce a lot of spin and the ball will stop quickly. If I want it to hit and run then I'll take more sand with a more close face.

[jim_0068]

The closer to the ball you hit the sand the more "ball" you will hit and the less sand you will hit which will create more surface area between the face and the ball and spin will increase.

[hue]

I find the closer you hit the sand behind the ball the more predictable the results are because the variation in the type of sand and the way the bunker is built becomes less of a factor than if you hit 2" to 3" behind the ball.

[oztrainee]

The debate is nothing to do with how to clear a shot, is all about the training that we had in to past to be a teaching professional. While learning to be a teaching pro, you are ask to teach a student to clear the bunker by hitting a inch or two. But if we think about it clearly, in order to clear a green side bunker, the enter and exit point of the sand should be about 5 - 6 inches (For TGMer, we know how to hit down and out) rather then being scoopy. Without a doubt, we can play a shot in any which way we like, but having said that, if we want to clear a green side (10 - 20 yds + 6 foot bunker) we would have to hit a bit more behind, rather then follow the instruction of what the Magazine or Golf Channel advice.

[jim_0068]

Something you will never hear in magazines that you will hear in TGM circles is that if you want to hit a "longer" bunker shot you don't have to hit the ball first and take less sand.

Simply add more accumulator #3 through the shot. Yup, give some roll through the sand, ball will go farther.