Bounce Out Of Bunkers

The bounce on the sand wedge is the flange on the sole that extends below the leading edge. It holds the key to you becoming a consistentbunker player. Here's how to bounce your way onto the green.

• TILT THE GRIP. Play the ball up in your stance even with your left heel. Set up with the grip of the club pointed behind your belt buckle. You'll know if you've got the correct position if the club shaft is roughly parallel to your left leg. This lays the face back and exposes the bounce to the sand. You don't want to open the face. With your wedge's bounce pre-set like this you will be able to hit behind and into the sand with little concern of the leading edge hitting first.
• YOUR ALIGNMENT. You want to feet aimed slight RIGHT of the target. Your shoulders should be left of the target. The reason for this is you want to cut across the ball. This cutting action will help the club enter the sand at a angle that will help it come out high and with spin - making the ball "bite" and stay where it lands.

• THE SWING.Like I said you want to cut across the ball. Swing the club back up and outside your target line and then down and in or left of your target line. You want to hit one to three inches behind the ball. That is the great thing about a bunker shot. You don't want to hit the ball you want to hit the sand.
• WITH THE HANDS.On the downswing, lead the bounce into impact with your hands which allows for maximum effect. The bounce prevents the club from digging to deep into the sand, so don't worry about hitting it fat. Go ahead and make an aggressive swing, and follow all the way through. The ball will float out on a cushion of sand.
• HIGH OR LOW.After you get a better feel for the shot you can start adjusting how much you lay the club back to hit different length and height shots. Laying it back more will hit is shorter and higher. Laying it back less will hit it farther and lower.

Brad Redding
PGA Master Professional in Instruction
Director of Instruction
The Resort Club at Grande Dunes