2-MINUTE CLINICS

How To Foolproof Bunker Play

Many amateurs have a hard time getting out of the sand, mainly because they can't consistently control the club’s entry point. If you find yourself hitting more fat and topped greenside bunker shots than good ones, try these foolproof tips to help ease your pain.—CJ Nafus, one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America

  • Dig in and set your feet as wide as your shoulders
  • Align your feet and body square to the target
  • Play the ball forward in your stance, opposite your shirt's logo
  • Set the shaft is neutral or slightly forward, and square the face
  • Hinge the club up allowing your trail arm to quickly fold
  • Feel like the club is being lifted from under the handle
  • Check that your lead arm forms an “L” with the club shaft
  • Keep your head centered
  • Unfold your trail arm to promote a steeper, more conistent entry point
  • Feel as if there’s some forward shaft lean through the strike
  • Maintain the flex in both knees
  • Place a towel three inches behind the ball and practice shots missing the towel
  • Rehinge both arms quickly after impact
  • Make sure the length of your follow-through matches your backswing
  • Rotate and clear your hips so that your chest faces the target
  • Settle onto your lead foot and keep your arms soft