At some point, as you learned the basics of bunker play on the green, you probably learned to open your stance – aiming to the left of the target to compensate for your open face.
That approach may have worked years ago, but with modern wedges, those old-fashioned techniques no longer apply. If you’re still aiming left into the bunker, it could kill your sand game.
As Keith Bennett, an instructor at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, explains in a recent Instagram post (which you can view below), the goal is to keep your energy moving toward the goal. Aiming to the left makes that much harder to achieve and disrupts your ability to land well on target.
“When we open,” he says, “we’re going to do some crazy things to try to get it all together.
“If I’m open like that to the left, I’m going to have to try to drop my shoulder, get the swing direction more toward the target line, toward that flag.”
These compensations often cause the club to enter the sand too early, leading to patchy shots – or even the occasional blade. Aiming left can also lead to bad habits that can be difficult to break in the bunker.
“I’m also more likely to drag the lever to work the clubhead along the target line,” says Bennett.
Two adjustment keys for a better bunker game
Instead of opening up your posture and body, Bennett recommends focusing on two simple installation keys: start square and lower the handle.
Being perpendicular to the target line allows the club head to release naturally along the ball.
“[When we’re square] the energy of the club flows along the target line and if you splash sand towards the target you can create a nice, shallow divot,” he says,
Lowering the handle is important because it helps compensate for an open clubface.
“As I lower the lever, the face starts to become squarer to the target line,” he says.
The end result is a high, soft bunker shot that splashes towards the flag. With more practice, you should not only feel more consistent, but also more confident in the sand.
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