This story is for you if...
• You often leave bunker shots in the bunker
• When you do escape, you always come up short
The Situation
You left a few shots in greenside bunkers during your last round, and didn't get up and down in one swing when you did escape because you left yourself too long of a putt. The reason is obvious: You took too much sand with every swing.
The Solution
If you take too much sand it's usually because you mistakenly use your normal wedge swing, which is very steep and up-and-down. Your swing for a standard bunker lie needs to be wider and flatter than your wedge swing from the fairway.
How to Hit Perfect Sand Shots
Find a practice bunker, plop down a few balls and get down on your knees. This isn't a trick shot, but a practice drill to get you in the habit of swinging on the correct plane in sand. Choke down on the grip a few inches and make your best effort to get the ball out. With a shorter posture you're forced to swing more around your body, not so much up and down. Make everything else the same — play the ball just forward of center and hit a few inches behind the ball and let the sand carry it out.
After you get a few balls out with one swing, take your normal address and use the flatter swing you just practiced.
Also, make sure to keep your lower body quiet, just as it was when you were swinging from your knees. A wider swing and a quiet lower body are two of the key elements in a successful sand swing.
