Golf Tips: Controlling Bunker Shot Distance

Kitty litter.  Sandbox.  Bunker.  Trap.  Hazard.  Sand traps have many names but the results are usually the same for most amateur golfers.   Traps are usually score killers.  Sometimes amateurs hit their shots too short, leaving them in the bunker.  Sometimes they hit them way too far, flying over the green and perhaps ending up in a trap on the opposite side. So why do some shots come up short and some go too long?  How does a golfer control distance out of the sand? The answer usually lies (no pun intended) in how much sand is taken out of the trap with the swing.  On those shots which fly over the green, one might notice that this shot is a product of hitting it too thin, and not taking much, if any sand.  The shots which are too short and often end up in the same bunker are usually results of hitting too much sand.   The sand slows down or stops the club so much that there's not enough velocity to get the ball out of the bunker or even airborne.

• More sand = shorter shot
• Less sand = longer shot

Next time you are practicing your sand shots, try to concentrate on the amount of sand taken and notice how far the shot goes.  With the same basic swing, try hitting directly behind the ball and you'll likely notice the shot goes far.  Next, hit 5-6 inches behind the ball and you should note that the shot goes very short. In Play Next time you are in a sand trap and short-sided, with the pin very close and not much green to work with, take a lot of sand out with the ball by aiming several inches behind it.  The ball will come out short and soft, and roll out with little spin. Next time you are in a sand trap and the pin is on the other side of the green or far away, take less sand.  The ball will fly farther and stop quicker, as the ball will have more spin. Try it!