HITTING the green or advancing your ball as close to it as possible from sand bunkers and wastelands is one of the most difficult shots in golf – and something most amateurs very rarely practice – if ever.
This shot places extra emphasis on ball striking because hitting just a couple of grains of sand before the ball could rob you of distance or leave you in the hazard.
But a few simple tweaks to your set-up and swing could produce clean contact.
1 Adjust your set-upMove the ball a little further back in your stance and grip down by a couple of inches to help you hit the ball first and try to brush the top of the sand rather than hitting down into it or trying to scoop the ball. 2 Analyse your lieThe quality of your lie will dictate how ambitious you can be with the shot. If the ball is sat on top of the sand you can treat it like a normal fairway shot but if it is sitting down – or there is sand behind the ball – limits options. 3 Focus on the front
Looking at the front edge of the ball – rather than the back edge – should help you make a crisp strike because it encourages the low point of your swing to come a fraction after where you make contact. 4Get your weight through
Make a conscious effort to transfer your weight through impact and reach a full finish position. Getting your weight stuck behind the ball is more likely to produce a fat shot, which will leave the ball in the sand.
