Playing out of a sand bunker for many is a frightful experience where 'who knows what will happen'. In fact, the greenside sand bunker explosion shot or blast is one of the easiest shots in golf to hit.
Why? Because you don't have to hit the ball first in order to escape the bunker. All that is required is a proper setup which will promote hitting the sand first to pop the ball onto the green from a greenside bunker.
That's right! In this shot you intend to hit the sand first and allow the ball to ride out on a cushion of sand. To do this, you will need to trust in a big swing to hit the ball a short distance and a few setup adjustments.
- Open up the stance significantly by aiming considerably left of the landing area.
- Compensate for a very open stance by equally opening the clubface, which should point to the location on the green where the ball is to land.
- Swing from outside-to-in and make a much bigger swing than normal for the distance. A big swing is necessary because you are impacting the sand first.
- Skim through the sand and allow the club to work underneath the ball. The bounce of a sand wedge will prevent it from digging and will allow this to work properly.
- Finish higher to ensure that enough force was delivered to accelerate the ball from the bunker.
- The ball should pop out while gliding on a cushion of sand and land softly, often with a good deal of backspin.
Some things about the blast to note are to hit about 2" behind the ball. Hitting any further behind the ball lessons the chances of successfully hitting out of the bunker and landing the ball on to the green without swinging harder to compensate for the extra sand.
Hitting closer to the ball increases the chances of the ball sailing way too far as less sand is impacted.
Stay down throughout the shot and do not rise up. Standing up during the swing will encourage a thin shot which will send the ball flying uncontrollably across the green and probable into more trouble.
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