Golf Tip
GOLF TIP: HOW TO MASTER THE BUNKER SHOT
The bunker shot can be one of the most difficult shots to master. With a couple of easy tips, you can learn how to get up-and-out of the bunker like a pro! If you enjoy reading tips like these, check out our Nike Junior Golf Camps!
There are plenty of bunkers on the golf course that you may find yourself in. The two most common bunkers are near the green and on the fairway. Depending on which bunker you land in, you will have to calculate the distance to the green and how much space you are working with. First, you will need to choose the correct club. If you end up in a bunker close to the hole, you will need to choose a club with a higher loft such as the 60-degree lob wedge. If you are a little further from the hole or have plenty of green to work with, you will want to choose a club with a lower lofted wedge such as a 56 or 52-degree wedge.
Second, you need to have a good solid stance with great positioning to effectively hit your shot. Now, approach your ball and align it with the inside of your front foot. For most bunker shots, the ball will go higher the closer you move the ball to your front foot. After you have positioned the ball correctly, you need to twist and dig your feet into the sand. Next, open your stance and clubface to allow for a higher trajectory. Lastly, your weight should be on your front foot so you can dig into the sand, creating a backspin with the ball.
Third, you need to perfect your swing and have a good follow-through. When hitting out of the bunker, you need to make sure you hit the sand behind the ball to push it out of the bunker. A good rule of thumb is to have sand fly out after each shot when hitting out of the bunker. Make sure to hit down with an outside-in swing path for an effective shot. Lastly, sticking with your swing and following through the ball is a very important step to mastering the bunker shot. If you stop or decelerate in the middle of your swing, you risk the ball not going far enough and possibly landing in the bunker again.
Now that you have all the steps to make for an effective bunker shot, pull the trigger and never worry about the bunker again.
About Nike Junior Golf Camps
Nike Junior Golf Camps is a division of US Sports Camps, Inc (USSC). Headquartered in San Rafael, California, USSC is America’s largest sports camp network and the licensed operator of Nike Sports Camps. The company has offered summer camps in the U.S. since 1975 with the same mission that defines it today: to shape a lifelong enjoyment of athletics through high-quality sports education and skill enhancement. Nike Junior Golf Camps offers junior overnight and day camps, as well as advanced player camps at over 130 locations nationwide. Since 1994, more than 200,000 junior golfers have participated in the camps.