‘Bunkers’ or ‘sand traps’ are considered ‘hazards’ under the rules of golf. The rules of golf state that a golfer cannot ground a club in a hazard. Touching the sand prior to the actual ‘stroke’ is a breach of the rules and therefore the player touching the sand will incur a penalty of 2 strokes.
- The bunker shot is a more ‘horseshoe-shaped’ swing than a pitch shot and requires a noticeable ‘follow-through’ or ‘finish’
- Usually a sand wedge is the club used for this shot – not only because of the high loft but also because of the exaggerated ‘bounce’ on the sole of the club (acts as rudder for sliding through the sand)
- The ball should be positioned slightly forward of centre in an open stance
- The clubhead should be slightly open and the swing path can be more out-to-in than usually desired.
- The handle of the club is situated slightly behind the clubhead in the address position (unique to this particular shot)
- The hands and arms should be inert (‘dead’)
- The bunker shot is a gentle shot. There should be no obvious aggressive motion or acceleration through impact.
- The clubhead enters the sand an inch or two behind the ball causing the ‘explosion’, which propels the ball upward and forward.
- When properly executed, the clubhead doesn’t connect with the golf ball, only the sand beneath the ball – causing the ball to spin a great deal more than usual for a golf shot of this length.
***Footnote (literally): Lose sand is slippery. It is a good idea for the golfer to dig in with their feet until they are firmly planted (the legs are very much involved with the swing). The deeper the sand, the more the golfer needs to ‘grip down’ (a more positive way of saying ‘choke up’) on the club to compensate for the difference in height of where the ball lies and where the feet dig down to. If the golfer digs in three to four inches, the golfer should ‘grip down’ or ‘shorten’. the club by the same three to four inches.
