No Longer Be Afraid of the Dreaded Golf Sand Shot

The sand shot in golf will be one of those shots which strikes panic into almost every high-handicap golfer playing the game. It will be ironic how the high level and professional golfer doesn't consider the shot with the least bit of apprehension. In reality, pros would much rather play a golf ball from the bunker than deep rough, as they have superior command of the golf ball when it's in sand. However it is important to understand how to carry out this golf shot to have a complete golf short game.

So let us break down the variation. To begin with we will mention that even though professionals are quite relaxed executing the golf shot, statistically only just a few will get up and down in two greater than 60% of the time. Is what that affirms is, you shouldn't established your expectations too high. Getting out in one and two putting should be considered success.

Then, remember the most important difference with your sand shot versus every other shot: inside a green side bunker you can never hit the ball first. That will go contrary to all of our thoughts on golf ball contact, and until you really feel self-confident hitting sand shots that thought process may work against you. So your aim should be as great as two inches in back of the ball, force the club all the way through the sand and then let the sand take the golf ball onto the green.

Everything appears quite simple, and there really is a lot (in relation to the standard golf shot) of margin for error. The following step might get dicey, and that is blasting the golf ball out. It actually should not be thought of as finesse shot, since if you try to finesse the golf ball out you will not have the power of the club head required to get through all the sand. Most high-handicap players get the club head into the sand, sense its resistance and stop. And of course the sand stays where it is, and subsequently will the golf ball.

To make sure this can't happen, be certain to keep balanced within your stance(that's the reason you dig your feet into the sand at set-up), then accelerate through the sand, at all times ensuring you finish the golf swing with your hands high. Although many instructors will say to keep a square stance to the golf ball, for me especially on shorter golf shots I open my stance. This makes it much less difficult to speed up through the golf ball, as you won't lock the hips when using an open stance.

One last thing to watch out for with your sand shot and you will be good to go. Specifically, keep your hands leading through the golf ball, or in other words don't attempt to flip the ball out using a wrist action. When you look at the sand wedge loft, you'll see that it is highly lofted. As you halt your arm movement and flip the clubface, the loft for your golf club will become even more pronounced, almost to the point of being level to the sand. Instead of your club face taking the sand and the ball and then launching the whole thing toward the green, the club face cuts underneath your golf ball, leaving the ball still in the sand.

This is merely a beginner's course on sand play. In an additional piece I'll elaborate on the different types of sand shots and the way they all should be played a little differently. But if you can master these points, you should always have the confidence to get out of the sand every time.