Bunker Set up Question

[Johnson]

When you are in a green side bunker, flat, level lie. You play the ball middle of stance - slightly forward. Where is you weight? is it distributed 50/50 or do you put more weight on the forward foot?

[nearace]

I would play the ball slightly forward,aiming left of the target,weight evenly distriuted,full swing :)

[goshawk]

This is one of those "feel" shots that needs to be practiced. Your setup is basically as you said, with the weight slightly on the front foot, the stance slightly open, and the clubface open to point to the target. There's no weight shift. The length of the swing will be determined by how far you need the ball to fly. However, the follow-through is ALWAYS higher than the backswing.

[xander.uk]

IMO - it depends how high the lip of the bunker is and how far away the flag is.

if its a deep bunker or the flagstick is near to the bunker i would move the ball a little further forward in my stance to get it up quicker and land with less forward momentum.

if it isnt a high lipped bunker or if i wanted to run the ball across the green to a flag a little further away it would be in the centre - you can also just close the clubface a little ( or not open it as much would be more accurate to say)to get less backspin and run it out.

As goshawk said its difficult to say exactly where it should be as its a feel thing that you develop when u practice your bunker technique and also depends on the bunker and the sand in the bunker ( ie wether its wet and hard or dry and powdery).

I also agree with him that its vital that your follow through is complete to make sure the ball comes out at all :)

[goshawk]

Also, if you're playing one of our famous "hardpan" bunkers around town (i.e. Rolling Hills), you might want to actually play the bunker shot like a regular chip from the rough. It works out better in this instance, and there are a lot less variables to consider. You have the choice of a chip and run, or a flop, or a pitch.

[Quest]

According to Dave Peltz he suggest the following setup for a "scoot and spin" blast sand shot.

(From Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible)

1. You must set up and aim your body and swing line a little to the left of the flagstick. Not a lot - about 17 degrees (two or three steps left of your target - but with every part of your body, stance, shoulders, and swing line.

2. Set the clubface extremely open, more than most golfers realize is possible. the face should aim 45 degrees to the right of your swing-line direction (the clubface lines will pass directly in front of your left toe), so it scoots through the sand without digging into it. Your club should penetrate only about half an inch below the surface.

3. Position the ball forward in your stance on a line at the inside of the heel of your left foot. If you don't make any compensations, your natural swing arc will have the clubhead contact the sand at about the centre of your stance, about five inches behind the ball.

If you make these three changes address, then all you need to do is make a normal finesse swing parallel to your foot/body line (don't steer the club back toward the flagstick during the swing); swing back to a 9:00 o'clock position (left arm straight out, parallel to the ground); and swing through to a full, high finish (don't ever leave your club in the sand). Finish with 99% of your weight on your left (front) foot, the back of the right foot turned up and the right toe touching the ground for balance.

[Pingeye2_fan]

According to Dave Peltz he suggest the following setup for a "scoot and spin" blast sand shot.

(From Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible)

1. You must set up and aim your body and swing line a little to the left of the flagstick. Not a lot - about 17 degrees (two or three steps left of your target - but with every part of your body, stance, shoulders, and swing line.

2. Set the clubface extremely open, more than most golfers realize is possible. the face should aim 45 degrees to the right of your swing-line direction (the clubface lines will pass directly in front of your left toe), so it scoots through the sand without digging into it. Your club should penetrate only about half an inch below the surface.

3. Position the ball forward in your stance on a line at the inside of the heel of your left foot. If you don't make any compensations, your natural swing arc will have the clubhead contact the sand at about the centre of your stance, about five inches behind the ball.

If you make these three changes address, then all you need to do is make a normal finesse swing parallel to your foot/body line (don't steer the club back toward the flagstick during the swing); swing back to a 9:00 o'clock position (left arm straight out, parallel to the ground); and swing through to a full, high finish (don't ever leave your club in the sand). Finish with 99% of your weight on your left (front) foot, the back of the right foot turned up and the right toe touching the ground for balance.
I agree, I was terrible in bunkers until I read the Pelz book, it made sense and works.
Was able to figure it out myself without a teacher.

[hoganben]

According to Dave Peltz he suggest the following setup for a "scoot and spin" blast sand shot.

-however, Peltz isn't telling Johnson how to distribute his weight before the shot. Most tips on hitting sand shots leave this out. I used to wonder too. I saw Player and Els separately on the Golf channel talking about how to hit it out of the sand. They said to put more of your "weight" on your front foot prior to taking the shot. It has worked great for me. Hope this helps.

[setter02]

I have to agree with adding more of a weight shift to your forward foot. I used to play the ball forward in my stance with even balance and I would leave it short all the time. Now with weight shifted forward, I make a better swing at the ball and can even hit far bunker shots with my 60*, the club I use 90% of the time out of bunkers.

[landlord]

I think the reason most people advise more weight on the front foot is that it minimizes weight shift, which should be next to none. If you start out with the weight on your back foot, OTOH, you'll almost automatically shift to the front foot as you come through. That little weight shift throws everything off.

[Johnson]

That is the answer I was looking for - weight forward.
But arent you trying to splash the ball out slide the club under the ball? so if the weight is forward doesnt the promote more of a descending blow and prevent the club from getting thru the sand in a shallow plane?

[nearace]

That is the answer I was looking for - weight forward.
But arent you trying to splash the ball out slide the club under the ball? so if the weight is forward doesnt the promote more of a descending blow and prevent the club from getting thru the sand in a shallow plane?I think your weight forward keeps you from hitting the shot thin.imo

[justinn]

the PGA pro, villegas (sp) had a feature on a tournament during a summer regarding setting up when hitting a bunker shot. He stated that one must place the ball in the middle of the body and to open the club face slightly.

[hoganben]

That is the answer I was looking for - weight forward.
But aren't you trying to splash the ball out slide the club under the ball? so if the weight is forward doesnt the promote more of a descending blow and prevent the club from getting thru the sand in a shallow plane?

Don't think too much! If the ball lands by or in the hole you don't need to worry why you set up as you did. I think Nearace is right -"your weight forward keeps you from hitting the shot thin." If you tend to pick the ball when you are on the fairway you may ten to hit shots thin from the sand.

[hoganben]

Just noticed that on page 34 of the Sept. 07 Golf Magazine that Mike Weir says, "To escape greenside bunkers, take Gary Player's advice. He told me to lower my front side. I used to move around a lot in the sand, and he had me set my body low with my weight shifted to my front foot, which stabilized my swing."

[Queen of the Beach]

When you are in a green side bunker, flat, level lie. You play the ball middle of stance - slightly forward. Where is you weight? is it distributed 50/50 or do you put more weight on the forward foot?

This was a great question Johnson. I really enjoyed reading everyone's answers too. I used to be Queen of the Beach. Now I try to stay out of the Beach as much as possible. Pelz 's tips are great. :rofl:

[Bellyhungry]

From fairway bunkers, I set up normally and try to hit a 'thin' shot so that I catch the ball before sand, and if I happen to hit it slightly on the thin side, it is not the end of the world. Worst case scenario is if I hit the sand before the ball.

At green side bunkers, I do the opposite, If the pin is close with little green to work with, I use an open stance. If there's a long way to the pin with lots of green, I will use a square stance. I might even use a PW or 8 or 9 depending on how much lip I have to clear. In both cases though, I always keep my weight on the front foot.

Probably not the perfect set up, but it is the technique I use.