Part IV: Bunkers And Trouble Play
Lesson #62: How To Make It Sit

Most average golfers would love to know how to play that sand shot that takes one bounce and then stops dead. Well, here's how I do it.

I start with the open stance and open, laid-back clubface just as for the running shot (the higher the lip I have to clear, the more open and laid back the clubface is.) But the difference is that I play the ball forward in my stance, up off my left Instep. This enables me to hit the shot more on the upswing, lifting the ball on a rising wave of sand.

Just before the swing, I tell myself, 'slow back, slow through,' because smooth tempo is important on this one. If you've watched the Tour pros on TV carefully, you've noticed how slowly they swing on some bunker shots.

On the other hand, you can't become so languid with this swing that you decelerate at impact. That's why the finish position is also important. Be sure that you come through the ball and raise your hands into a high follow-through. When you've done that it means that you've accelerated through the ball and imparted the force necessary to lift it out of the bunker and to the flag.

When you play this shot properly, the ball will fly to within a couple of feet of the cup, take one bounce, and then drop like a bean bag.

Illustration by Jim McQueen

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