Bunker Buster - Golf instruction for the sand

By Blair MacGregor

When a golfer's shot ends up trickling into the bunker, you can usually
hear profanity all the way back to the clubhouse. It's not that
they are neccessarily bad; but most beginning golfers feel bunkers can defeat
them. And they can if you don't learn how to play them right.

However, there are a few hidden tips that many beginning golfers haven'tcaught onto yet. Here are a few hidden bunker busters that will make you wish that you knew them before you hit your
first bunker.

Your first step is to imagine that landing your shot in the bunker is not the worst thing that can happen. If you think the bunker is your worst enemy, you will fear them and this will have an adverse effect on
your game, because instead of trying to hit a straight shot towards
the tee, you're going to think about avoiding the bunker. And odds are,
you'll end up in the bunker.

So the next time you shot lands in a bunker, don't just give up, hit the
ball, and hope. That will get you nowhere. You will just
end up taking another shot while mired in the sand; and the scorecard will
increase with every shot you take.

Another important thing to keep in mind is your footing.
Many people will simply allow their feet and legs to adjust
to the sand. That is not the best thing to do; make the
sand work for you by taking the time to establish your
footing.

The next thing you should do is use an open stance and get
relaxed. If you are comfortable on the tee, then why can't
you be comfortable in the bunker?

After this, you will need to distribute your weight in a
effective manner; usually more to the left-hand side is
the best way to go when you are trapped in a bunker.

Now try and practice your motion. When swinging the club, move
the same distance backwards as you do forward. Learn it and
remember it: the shot in the bunker will always be tricky.

You should now prepare for the shot, but remember to hit
the sand roughly two inches before the ball. This creates
a scoop effect that will allow the ball to be played
out of the rough instead of rolling straight into the
same bunker.

You should also accelerate through the ball. This allows
for more power in the shot and will give the ball that
little bit of extra distance towards the hole.

Always remember that the sand is your ally, not your
enemy. Don't fear the bunker and you will constantly
surprise yourself with the one-shot bunker trick.

Blair MacGregor is the webmaster & publisher of GolfReviewSource.com