How to Hit Bunker Shots
May 30, 2008
I’ve wondered how to hit bunker shots for a long time now. What is the best way to go about it? - Tony in Ogden, UT
Great question and for those of us who have no clue how to hit bunker shots listen up. All of us at one time or another have hit a shot into the dreaded bunker or what is more commonly referred to as a sand trap. No fun is it? Actually, I think its quite a pain in the ass when you’re having a great game and all of a sudden the golf gods deem it necessary to blow your ball into something dirty that’s really difficult to get out of….
Anyways, if you simply need help with learning this skill and don’t actually suffer from the yips, then here is a simple drill you can use to hit golf bunker shots right every time. Find yourself a sand trap and take with you 3 clubs. These will be your sand wedge, lob wedge and pitching wedge. Take the time to hit a few shots with each club so that you begin to develop this skill and notice the difference in how the ball comes out of the sand. After that its just a matter of selecting the club that you’re most comfortable with.
1. First thing to understand is that you have to have your right index finger about an inch from the bottom of the grip. Doing so will give you more control of the club while allowing you to get a feel for the shot rather than smacking away at it.
2. Make sure to keep a narrower stance than you would normally have and address the ball a few inches forward in your stance. Applying this method provides better control of the shot which will lead to a higher ball flight.
3. Get your feet to where they are stable in the sand and make the most vertical swing as you can. Your left arm should be parallel to the ground and fully extended at the top of your swing.
4. As you start the downswing you should focus on hitting 1 inch behind the ball. Surprisingly, don’t focus on hitting at the ball and your arms and body follow the ball as it leaves the sand.
That’s pretty much all there is to it but the key is to keep a steep angle on the downswing towards the sand. However you don’t have to swing at the ball hard when you hit bunker shots because the point of this is to propel the ball out of the sand trap vs launching it into the blue yonder. Happy strokes!
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Vardon Grip Better vs the 10 Finger Grip
March 13, 2008
Hi Golf Virgin!! Is the Vardon Grip in golf better than the 10 Finger Grip? - Paul in Augusta, GA
The Vardon Grip in golf is the most common grip among professional players. Even though Harry Vardon did not invent this particular grip, he popularized it around the turn of the 20th Century. This grip places the club in the fingers and is the grip most likely to be taught by golf instructors.This style requires strong hands since you will be using fewer fingers to control your club.
Now as far as the 10 finger grip goes, it is the least popular grip among instructors. However, many noted pros have used this style and it is often suggested for virgins as it makes learning in the beginning much easier. The 10 finger grip is best for people who experience joint pain due to arthritis or small, weak hands.
Mainly it is up to the golfer in how comfortable they feel gripping their clubs. If you have a lot of grip strength built up from previous experience in other sports the Vardon Grip may be your calling. But for others, if you are not much of an adept at holding a long cylindrical object in your hands then the 10 finger grip just might be your fit.
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Should I Wear Gloves for Golf?
February 23, 2008
Hi I need a little help, I just started playing golf recently and I’ve noticed that its really difficult for me to relax when I hold the club and after going to the driving range lately I’ve got some pretty bad blisters. I was wondering if should I go out and buy some gloves for golf? - Andrew in Stillwater, OK
4 words Andrew… Release The Death Grip. You are not Darth Vader and you are not out on a mission to conquer and destroy. This is a game and you’re supposed to enjoy it. Not suffer afterwards. As far as you needing some gloves for golf… Until you can settle down on your G.I. Joe, Kung-Fu grip practice that you have going on, I highly suggest it.
I think I remember an old pro say that you should hold the club like a baby bird, tight enough to keep it from escaping, but not so tight that you would kill the little thing.
After you have properly trained your hands on what they should do when you hold the club, the best thing I can say is let them do it. I mean it’s not that difficult come to think of it, you should be used to it by now with all the other practice that you’ve had before, right? In turn, when you have a good grip you are able to keep other bad things from happening and creeping into your game such as hook’s and slices, etc.
Also, an overly tight grip will do nothing but drag your game down and frustrate you when you’re supposed to be having a great time smacking a bucket of balls down range or plugging away at 18 separate holes. So do you, Andrew, need gloves for golf so you can grip golf clubs better without blisters. Yes… yes you do. Go out and buy some. Do it now.
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