Hinge action in bunkers
 

I know my 3 hinge actions(horizontal,vertical and angled).In the bunker would you use vertical hinge most of the time and very rarely horizontal? Could someone give me examples of when to use which hinge action in certain circumstances.
Thanks....

Vertical Hinge Addict
 

I use VH for most all my bunker shots, but I am a VH addict.:rolleyes: I would say AH or HH could be used for long bunker shots (especially out of shallow bunkers). I probably use AH when I take a gap wedge for 20+ yard greenside bunker shot.

Take my comments with a grain of salt, however, as I am not an expert player from the sand. Greenside sand play is one of the final pieces to place in the jigsaw puzzle that is my golf game.[-o<

My home course just put new bunkers in last year so my world has changed.My VH leaves a lot to be desired but I do spend most of my time working on it.

Sand is Everything, IMHO
 

I think the condition of bunkers is far too often overlooked when folks discuss technique. Reading bunkers in order to execute a bunker shot to me is as important as reading a green before putting. If I perform the standard technique on most of the bunkers around this neck of the woods I will blade the ball a country mile (bunkers are hard as bricks with little sand). You will have to get used to your new bunkers and adapt your technique a little to them before your bunker play will get real good (IMHO as always).

Others might dispute my assertions. I would welcome the commentary because I struggle at times with these issues as well.

First, HH is out of the picture.

For regular green-side bunker shots, open clubface with AH.

For higher than normal, open clubface with VH.

For barried lie, square clubface with AH.

I found that the most important factor in "getting out" of the sand is using any hinge action. Flat left wrist, bent right wrist, hinge through impact (don't swivel through impact). It looks to me that most people cannot fight the urge to swivel or to throw the clubhead under the ball. I was playing with better players a few months ago, and this guy we call the "Slammer", (325 yard tee shots, 150 wedge) landed his tee shot in a green-side bunker. It took five strokes for him to get up and down. I said to myself, "God, what a waste". Four holes later he did the same thing. Geez. A few holes later he was in a bunker again and I approached him and told him to keep his G-D right wrist bent during impact. It took him four practice strokes to get it, then out in one, two putts, and par. I should have charged him. I haven't played with him since, but I think it helped him.

When in the sand, I focus on keeping the right wrist bent through impact, keeping the right shoulder on plane and not even swiveling after the impact interval. I've done it every way imaginable, but each time I've gotten close to the pin, it's because I kept my right wrist bent though the impact interval.

I have found that you can get out of almost any bunker with any hinging. VH, AH, and HH give you relatively higher, medium and lower trajectories, but in most cases, any of them can get the job done. I prefer AH because I can count on it (and because VH is too damn hard). The ball lands softer and distance control is easier by just adding a little pressure.

Bunker Play And Hinge Action
 

Daryl is right on here. Two PGA TOUR players I've worked with -- John Riegger and Brian Watts -- use Horizontal Hinge Action (with an Open Clubface) from the Sand. Brian Gay uses Angled Hinging (also with an Open Clubface). Each is a wonderful Bunker player.

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I prefer AH because I can count on it (and because VH is too damn hard). The ball lands softer and distance control is easier by just adding a little pressure.[/quote]



I agree with you that VH is too hard.I have watched Lynn's and VJ's video on VH over and over.For me the VH is very elusive.

I'm sorry but this is not correct. There is a place for horizontal hinging in both greenside and "not too far away" fairway bunkers.

You would use HH in a greenside bunker when you have a low lip and really need the ball to run out far, obviously you would need a big green.

You can also use HH when you have say a 60-80 yard bunker shot. Everyone always says it's the "hardest shot in golf" when if they realized all they had to do was still hit the sand first and give the some "Roll" through impact and they'd be fine.