My Name
Lionel Sandiford
My Experience
I have been golfing for 47 years and have been the resident golf professional at Sandy Lane in Barbados for more 35 years.
How my tip will help:
You'll learn the best way to play from inside a bunker and how to successfully get out of one.
Here's my tip:
When playing a ball from inside a bunker, the most important first step is to evaluate the environment. You want to make a quick assessment of the bunker's conditions. Is the sand wet? Is it soft? Is it compact? Is it powdery? Your swing will be determined by these conditions.
If the sand is soft and powdery your swing should be light and deep into the sand. Never focus on hitting the ball directly, you want to hit about one inch behind so that your club hits and goes under the ball. When you make contact, the ball should take a heap of sand along it.
For wet and compacted sand, your swing should be harder and your focus is to hit the ball directly, which will result in picking it up off of the sand.
Advice
- Determine the type of swing by determining the condition of the bunker.
- For soft sand, keep your body open, facing the target, and hit the sand one inch behind the ball.
- For wet sand, focus on making direct contact with the ball with the face of the club open.
