How to Win From Sand
Find your go-to bunker shot to avoid disastrous scores

By Dave Pelz
Golf Magazine's technical and short-game consultant

You're one up in your match on the 18th hole. Your approach shot has found a green-side bunker, but your opponent has opened the door by dropping his approach in the water. All you need to do to win your match is to get out of the sand and into the hole in three shots. Your lie in the sand is good, and although there's water behind the flag, there's plenty of green out to the right.

If you saw last month's cover story, you know about having go-to shots when you need them. A go-to shot is one you can pull off successfully at least 90 percent of the time. Go-to shots aren't the greatest shots you can possibly hit, but the ones just good enough to ensure that you win. You need go-to shots all the time in golf, so let's take a look at your options here.

FIND YOUR GO-TO SAND SHOT

Hit 10 balls with each technique outlined on the follow slides. Count how often you fluff and leave shots in sand, or skull balls long. It's not how many good ones you hit; keep track of the bad ones. Your go-to shot is the one that gives you the lowest bad-shot percentage. You never know in this game when you'll need to play safe, and it's good to know how and when you need to do it.

Credit: Leonard Kamsler